A woeful performance by Maidstone at the Mote against this busy non-stop action Devonian side, lost them the opportunity to reach the third round of this national EDF Energy National Trophy. The fact Maidstone lost by only by two points was the result of a lightning seven-point start after two minutes and a flourish at the end.
For almost the entire match it was misery for the home spectators pleading for the referee, close to full time to blow his final whistle. Maidstone’s mini revival and final score through final try and conversion came well into injury time.
Paignton who lie second in the South West Division’s Tribute Western Counties West – equivalent to one league below Maidstone are clearly looking for promotion. This would bring them on a par with London Two South and they had clearly prepared well for this cup match.
Paignton’s pack had a definite edge with their gritty determination to secure the ball in the loose with regularity after their early slip. Maidstone in contrast were slow and their failure to hold on to their tackles, cost them dearly throughout the match. Some home spectators felt the early score by Maidstone, which followed a superb down the line movement for skipper Martin Arnold to score, and conversion by Craig Whitehead made the team complacent.
Maidstone badly missed the presence of Steve Matthews for his line out work and all round ball carrying ability. Also too many of the pack did not appear to show any of their normal fitness levels, with some of the pack appeared to wander from one set piece to another. Craig Whitehead at scrum half came out of this match with credit. along with prop replacement Sam Bailey on his 1st XV debut, who came on mid way through the second half.
Still Maidstone managed to have a narrow 14-13 lead at the interval with a second try from winger Ian Howson on the left, converted by Craig Whitehead. Paignton’s first half points came from a 23 minute try from centre Sam Nelson- Smith with James Wood converting and then kicking two further penalties.
Early in the second half, it was Paignton who ominously scored first when Sam Nelson-Smith ran from half way to slide through the home defence with ease and score his second try. Once in front Paignton held their composure and did not lose the initiative again. With their noses in front the Devon side lost none of their first half eagerness and Maidstone regained little of their form which has given them a strong position in the league. With the ball in hand Maidstone still threatened but too often simple handling errors let them down and Paignton continued to break the tackles too easily. Craig Whitehead kicked a penalty to close the gap to 20-17 before Maidstone’s indiscipline earned no favours from the Referee and his RFU appointed touch judges and gave Paignton two more penalties which full back Woods duly kicked to keep Maidstone on the back foot. Maidstone continued to press in the final quarter with fresh legs appearing from the bench to raise the tempo. However it was all too little too late when with the final play of the match replacement Dane Smith fed an inside ball for Scott Mitchell to touchdown, Craig Whitehead’s conversion brought the curtain down on this years EDF involvement in a match that the players will look back on as a real missed opportunity, as with the ball in hand they always look capable of scoring if they can cut out the errors. But Paignton well deserved their win to consider on the long journey back to Devon, and will host Blackheath in the next round on December 8th
Maidstone scorers.
Tries: Martin Arnold, Ian Howson, Scott Mitchell
Cons: Craig Whitehead 3
Pens ; Craig Whitehead 1
Paignton Scorers
Tries Sam Nelson-Smith 2
Cons James Wood 2
Pens- James Wood 4
