RUSTY Devizes slipped off the pace in the battle for fourth place as Maidenhead secured the spoils at London Road.

Out of action since their 21-17 win at Grove in late January, the Saddlebacks succumbed despite charging into a 12-0 lead and leading 20-8 with 20 minutes left.

They spent the opening 20 minutes camped in Maidenhead’s 22, fly-half Rory Brown missing a penalty before Chris Lewis and Craig Bryant punched holes in the defence and centre Mark Warburton’s pass sent winger Luke Rapson to the try line.

The home dominance continued, Maidenhead losing a player to the sin-bin and Mark Carter ran in a second try after first-phase ball off a lineout, Brown converting to leave the hosts in command.

Maidenhead responded just before the break with a penalty and started the second period the better.

Devizes’ Chris Barter was sin-binned and the visitors rumbled over for a try to trail by four points.

Second team skipper Matty Holloran and Julian Taylor led Devizes back upfield, winning a penalty that Brown landed.

Barter returned before Rapson’s quick feet allowed him to power in for his secind try, leaving the home side 12 points clear going into the final quarter.

But the visitors responded with a converted try and, with Devizes under pressure, were then awarded a converted penalty try as Taylor was sin-binned.

Devizes struggled to get out of their own half and fell foul of the referee again when second row Damon Murphy was sin-binned to leave his side down to 13.

But the visitors maintained possession to close out a frustrating result for the home side.

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