Saturday    30th December   2006

Maidstone 29 Tonbridge Juddians 0

Maidstone entertained local rivals Tonbridge Juddians on a very wet and windy mote park on Saturday.Both sides were understrength but were keen to play as the league matches begin again in earnest on Saturday January 6th and needed to retain their match fitness.Maidstone were soon on the scoreboard following a lineout catch and drive to the Line where hooker Tom Rogers got the touch down. Kiwi Scott Mitchell added the points. From the restart Maidstone recycled the ball well for Steve Matthews to break out into the TJ’s half.Mark Ryan was on hand to crash through the defence using his considerable height and weight to make the try line. Mitchell again added the points from a difficult angle. Ryan was in the action again with another break and with his sweetly timed pass to fellow centre Jamie Smith saw him cross the line again.Ryan left the field with a badly cut head.By now the conditions were deteriorating fast and handling was getting ever more difficult.Keeping the ball closer to the pack was the preferred option and after another rolling maul  prop Rob Jeffries got another touch down.
The second half was more akin the the nearby swimming baths than to a rugby pitch.
Tonbridge to their credit never gave up and continued to run the ball at any opportunity,but were thwarted by maidstone’s good defence.
Nick Sargent got the last touch down after the visitor’s scrum broke up near their line.
A satisfactory game nonetheless inspite of the weather.

The same can be said for their sesason so far.Played 12 won 6 lost 5 drawn 1.
Of the 5 losses 4 of these could have been won as they were close and we are  in winnable positions’ so says Tony Dray,Maidstone’s Chairman of selectors this league is however very close with the majority of sides playing to a similar standard,because of this it is imperative to remain totally focused for the rest of the season’says Dray.
Maidstone resume league action this Saturday 6th January away at Wimbledon KO 2.15.

Scorers Tries Rogers,Ryan J Smith,Jeffries,Sargent

Conversations: 2 Mitchell

Team:Aukett,Dessner,J Smith,Arnold(capt),Ryan, Mitchell,Ferris,Farbrace,Jeffrey  Rogers, Lee, Matthews,Taylor,Sargent,Ridgean
Replacements;Williams,Johnson,Howson