Westall & Co not feeling the pressure (From Swindon Advertiser)

Westall & Co not feeling the pressure

7:00am Friday 20th January 2012 in Rugby

SWINDON will travel to South West 1 East leaders Maidenhead tomorrow in a relaxed frame of mind according to fly-half Adam Westall.

The Greenbridge Road side came out 34-27 winners when the two sides met earlier in the season, but Westall told the Advertiser anything they bring back from Berkshire will be a bonus.

“They are the best side we have played this season I think, and we were lucky enough to come from behind that day and grab the win earlier in the season,” he said.

“Our first task has to be to try and stay in it until half time, and if we are still there then we are in it as much as anybody and we would have given ourselves a real chance.

“From the outside we have no pressure to perform and we will be relaxed about it. We would be happy with a bonus point, but if we can win we will have knocked the league leaders off the top of the table, so that has to be our motivation.”

Westall knows his side will have to improve on last week’s performance which saw Swindon scrape a 12-5 win over struggling Swanage & Wareham, but admitted the weather and Maidenhead’s tough forwards will make it easier said than done.

“We have to improve on last week and put in a better performance, but that will be weather permitting,” he said.

“They have a very big pack which is also very mobile, and they have a kicker who is knocking them over for fun at the moment. Their captain plays at inside centre and is probably their best player and biggest threat, so we will have to look after him.

“We are targeting every game as a win, but we have to be realistic. At the start of the season Maidenhead away would not have been one we expected to win. If we get enough ball we can challenge any team, but we will have to work hard.”

Swindon will have to do without second row duo Nick Warren and Dave Cox who miss out through injury, but Michael Fitchett could return after a long lay-off.

Chippenham travel to Exmoor in National League 3 South West looking for a win to move themselves up the table and build on their impressive victory over Oxford Harlequins.

Wootton Bassett will be hoping to keep the pressure on at the top of Southern Counties North when they play host to Wallingford, who are struggling at the bottom of the table.

In Dorset & Wilts 1 North, Supermarine make the short trip to Minety looking to maintain their position as the leading first team in the division, while Fairford host Sutton Benger.

Cricklade entertain Wootton Bassett 2nds in Dorset and Wilts 2 North.