Second-half blitz fires Maids to crucial victory over winless Wimbledon

Maidenhead 41, Wimbledon 34

Maidenhead ran in more than 40 points for the second time this season as David Mobbs-Smith's side won an action packed clash with Wimbledon at Braywick Park on Saturday. 

Maids were back to their thrilling, free-scoring, expansive best after having struggled to make much of an impact in consecutive defeats to Bracknell, Camberley and leaders Jersey. 

Both Maids and Wimbledon have surprisingly struggled for form in the Regional 1 South Central Division this season, with Wimbledon yet to register a win - despite being one of the best teams in the division over previous seasons. 

With Maids having won only one of their five matches heading into Saturday's clash, the pressure was on both sides, with Mobbs-Smith having admitted in the week the consequences of defeat in this clash could be lasting. 

Thankfully, after a shaky start, Maids recovered brilliantly in the second period to win the match 41-34. 

The home side trailed 15-22 at the interval, and Mobbs-Smith must have been concerned Wimbledon were starting to find form and confidence after their difficult start. He felt they were surely due a victory soon. 

But while they've been free-scoring this season, they haven't been able to keep teams out at the other end. Wimbledon have scored more than 30 points in each of their last three matches, but they've  lost all of them to Worthing (38-31), home to Farnham (43-44) and now away to Maids (41-34). 

In the second half, Maids played with a bit more focus and intensity, moving the ball with more freedom and speed, running in 26 points to Wimbledon's 12. 

The result moves Maids onto 10 points for the campaign, just four behind Camberley, who've won the same number of matches but picked up four more bonus points. What  this result has done, though, is bring the teams above them in the table back within range. Wimbledon remain in 11th spot on six points. 

They visit the London Scottish Lions on Saturday, who played out an entertaining, if disappointing 35-27 defeat at Farnham this weekend. They sit sixth in the table, 11 points above Maids. But Maids will be buoyed after putting in another strong performance at Braywick.