Saturday 6th January 2007
Wimbledon 15 Maidstone 13 

Maidstone’s second league match against Wimbledon was as tough as the first and again they had their chances to win.2  equal sides on a rain sodden pitch with gallons more to come was not going to produce a large score.The biggest surprise being that 3 tries were scored within the first 10 minutes!!

First blood to wimbledon scoring wide out.But Maidstone hit back almost immediately. From a line out,Dave heads broke  to find Ian Howson,playing his first league match of the season, at his shoulder to stride through the home side then straighten his back line to let young Harry Stockford use his pace to score at the corner.

Wimbledon in turn bounced back pressing the visitors line forcing a 5 metre scrum and delivering good ball for the backs to produce the score.With this the ‘heavens opened’
And playing was becoming ever more difficult.Both packs were gaining possession but the conditions didn’t allow backs to prosper.Maidstone showed some excellent driving mauls and after one such fly half Scott Mitchell sidestepped his defence to be held up a metre short and subsequently penalised for his efforts.
Further enforced errors finally let Mitchell slot a penalty  just on half time.

With the weather deteriorating still further with the very likelyhood of the match being abandoned it was no surprise that the main purpose was to stay afloat!
Wimbledon had a lineout on the 22 and a perfect catch and drive got them to the line.

Yet again Maidstone struck back with a kick charged down on the wimbledon 22 by Mitchell  who chased the ball over the line to get the touch down.This set up a desperate final 10 minutes with either side having the chance to take the points.Most of this period was with Wimbledon who used their now superior pack to continually attack the Maidstone line.Credit must be given to the visitors as their defence held firm.

With the match now in injury time,a strong wind at their backs they knew that by getting the ball to the hosts 22 they had their best chance.First they were awarded a penalty which Mitchell just went wideand shortly after he attempted to drop goal for victory,the ball just slewed forward in the mud! Keeping the ball live may have got the points…….

On another day he would have been the hero!.Afterwards Maidstone’s newly engaged skipper Martin Arnold said’he felt it was a fair result’ 
This match has been yet another that could have been won! This has been said too often this season but just shows how little there is  between the sides in this league.

Next Saturday Maidstone Play London Irish Amateurs at the Mote KO 2.15

Scorers Tries Mitchell,Stockford
Penalty     Mitchell

Team:Aukett,Howson,J Smith,Arnold(capt),Stockford, Mitchell,Heads,Farbrace,Jeffrey   Rogers, Bacon, Matthews,Taylor,Sargent,Ridgean
Replacements;Hollister,Court,Wilford