By Elliott Josypenko
September 29 2004

Nick Baxter believes he is back to his try-scoring best after shedding the pounds and even opting to shave off his trademark goatee - although his mum no longer recognises him!

Pertemps Bees' flying winger is sporting a new look this season and has made a scorching start with a try in each of the unbeaten part-timers' three league games.

Baxter will be aiming to keep his rampant form going when the early-season table-toppers travel north to face Orrell at Edge Hall Road today.

And the 30-year-old speedster has hinted that if he continues to enjoy his rugby and can keep up his try-scoring exploits he may even reverse his decision to hang up his boots at the end of this campaign.

"At the start of the year I told our director of rugby Phil Maynard my plan to pack it up after this season, but the way it's going at the moment you never know - I might keep going," said Baxter, who has won England Sevens and Barbarians honours.

"I've been feeling really good so far and the joints are fine - it's down to a weights programme that I went on during the summer that helped me lose a stone but none of my power.

"I've also lost the beard and even started to grow the Afro back - it's the new improved version.

"However, my mum saw a picture of me in action recently and didn't even recognise that it was me. I guess that tells you how much I've changed."

Henley Hawks, Penzance & Newlyn and London Welsh have already felt the full force of the Bees' sting this season as the club emerged as early pace-setters.

However, despite a maximum points haul, Baxter has issued a chilling warning to the rest of National Division One after insisting the Bees juggernaut is still to hit top gear.

"Winning your first three games is great for confidence, but no-one is getting carried away and we know we haven't really put it together as a unit yet," said the former Kings Norton flier.

"At the moment we're playing for about 50 minutes to an hour. We've still not clicked as a team, but when we do someone is going to get walloped.

"We went down to our bogey club, London Welsh, last weekend and it was far from the complete display, yet we still put 49 points on them. That can't be bad.

"Next up we have Orrell away and that's always going to be a difficult task because we lost twice to them last year.

"They were once a very good Premiership side so there is no way we will underestimate them. The money may have gone but they are always capable of putting it together."

Baxter has shattered try records during his career, including becoming the first player to score 100 league tries in senior rugby in England.

His form at the start of this season indicates he will easily surpass the eight tries he gobbled up last season.

However, Baxter is refusing to set targets and admits he will just be happy to hold on to the number 11 shirt for the rest of the campaign.

He said: "Competition is fierce - the most it's ever been - so in a way I've got no option but to keep scoring.

"We've got plenty of quality players in the wings here like Lenny Woodward, Geoff Gregory, Luke Smith and Roman Pitrowski who are all putting the pressure on. You can take nothing for granted here."