This was a comfortable victory for Maidstone except for some hiccups late in the second half, against a struggling Sidcup side with only one London 2 South League win this season.
Sidcup had their prop, Jim Roques, a former Blackheath player, sent off for head butting a Maidstone player nine minutes into the second half. But this made no difference to the final outcome, with Maidstone having their 25 point total, already on the score sheet.
Maidstone fieldedsix senior sides on Saturday with a seventh side appearing on the Sunday in the Evergreen Cup, their highest for some years, and claimed to be the most of any club in Kent. With their second team, the Mustangs winning against Beckenham, confidence is understandably high at the Maidstone club.
Traditionally slow starters, Maidstone had to absorb some pressure at the start, as Sidcup, who reckon to have the strongest front row in this league got to breakdowns first in the early stages.
They quickly got on the scoreboard after three minutes with a penalty from full back Jim Hardy.
After that Maidstone clicked into gear with the backs with Scott Mitchell and Mark Ryan prominent. But it was the experienced winger Ian Howson who took the plaudits scoring a brace of tries.
He scored Maidstone’s first try down the line from well timed pass from skipper Martin Arnold coming the line. The second came from Martin Arnold himself with him soaring through as Sidcup had a complete lack of cover. Scrum half Craig Whitehead converted.
With Maidstone playing down their slope, Sidcup resistance really did begin to falter despite the reputation of their front row and having the edge in the line outs. With increasing confident Mark Ryan breaking through from the 22 metre line.
The die looked to be cast when Craig Whitehead kicked a penalty close on half time, for Maidstone to reach 20 points, though Sidcup reduced the arrears, with a second penalty from Hardy just before the break.
All started well again for Maidstone in the second half after seven minutes, when a searing break from fly half Gary Whitehead, playing complete assurance went to Ian Howson for him, with still a bit to do, to score.
The reduction to 14 players, when Jim Roques was sent of had a galvanising effect on the Sidcup and conversely Maidstone went completely off the boil.
Sidcup had some recompense for their hard work, when they broke clear on the blindside for their replacement left winger Richard Clarke to race over from near the ‘22’to score.
End
Scorers
Maidstone
Tries Ian Howson 2, Martin Arnold and Mark Ryan
Cons. Craig Whitehead
Pens Craig Whitehad.
Sidcup
Try. Richard Clarke
Pens. Jim Hardy 2
