Match Report

Maidstone vs. North Walsham Vikings RFC

Away at North Walsham, Saturday 13 October, 2007, Kick Off – 3pm

EDF National Trophy, Round 1

by Trevor Langley

Maidstone travelled to North Walsham, the north Norfolk based League 3 South club, for this first round National Trophy match. That they lost this entertaining and close encounter belies the terrific effort they put in, but the class difference between the sides was non-existent. Only in failing to convert their possession and field position into points were Maidstone second best.

One of the positive outcomes of the defeat of New Zealand by France was the early return of Kiwi pair, Scott Mitchell and Hugh Ridgen, to the Maidstone line up, the former at outside centre and the latter on the bench. The front row also had a different look, with Farbrace and Plowman being given starting roles, along with Justin Murphy at hooker. Jamie Smith, one of the finds of last season, also made the bench after being unavailable early season.

The game was played in perfect conditions with the sun shining and only the merest zephyr ruffling the top branches of the trees surrounding Walsham’s picturesque ground. For the first time this season, Maidstone began the game with a burst of energy and after only three minutes was rewarded with a penalty on the North Walsham ten-metre line, for holding on after a tackle. Unfortunately, the chance was missed, but Craig Whitehead made amends and converted two further opportunities to give Maidstone a 6-0 advantage on the quarter hour.

Brother Gary was also having a big impact, controlling the game from fly half and setting his line moving smoothly at every opportunity. With the forwards enjoying parity in all the loose and tight exchanges, only the inability to find their line out jumpers was hindering Maidstone’s progress at this point.

While North Walsham have not enjoyed the best start to their own league season, they have a number of experienced players in their ranks and a loose kick out of defence by Maidstone allowed full back and captain, Andy Thorne, to run the ball back and unleash winger Rumsby to take play deep into the Maidstone 22. While this effort was repulsed, continuous pressure on the Maidstone line thereafter resulted in fly half Nicholl touching down under the posts and adding the points to put Walsham into a one point lead after 20 mins, which they held up to the break.

An injury to Arnold meant a rejig to the Stones three quarters on the restart with Jamie Smith coming in on the left wing and Nick Deissner going to full back. A charge down of the attempted clearance from the kick off immediately gave Maidstone second half impetus and, from the subsequent scrum, moving the ball first left and then back right, Houlihan ran in a try under the posts, beating three despairing tackles in the in goal area before touching down. Craig Whitehead added the points to put Maidstone back into a 13–7 lead.

Walsham then replaced Nicholl, their fly half, with Ian Young. This proved a pivotal decision, as they began to kick for field position and turn the Maidstone defence. But it took a mistake from a Maidstone move on the half way line, allowing centre, de Jager, to pick up the loose ball and sprint clear. Despite Maidstone’s valiant defence, Walsham kept the ball alive and de Jager was on hand again to score. Young added the conversion to see the lead switch back to the hosts, 14-13.

This slender lead was challenged almost immediately when Maidstone were awarded a penalty on the North Walsham10-metre line but Craig Whitehead’s effort drifted just wide of the right hand post. The hosts were less generous when they were awarded a penalty in the Maidstone 22 and this proved to be the final and decisive score. Despite a late flurry from the Stones, they couldn’t outwit the host’s defence and Mitchell’s last ditch run ended in touch a few metres short of the line.

In this game, Maidstone proved they have the talent and desire to compete at a higher level and the obvious disappointment of the players, at coming off second best, should encourage higher levels of belief when they return to league duty next week.

Team

Martin Farbrace (Simon Hollister 77 mins); Justin Murphy; Matt Plowman: Sam Johnston; Andy Bacon: Nick Taylor; Fin Davies (Hugh Ridgeon 65 mins); Ben Court: Craig Whitehead; Gary Whitehead: Nick Deissner; Dane Smith (James ferris 77 mins); Scott Mitchell; Damian Houlihan: Martin Arnold (capt)(Jamie Smith 40 mins):

Scorers:

Maidstone

Tries: Houlihan

Conversions: Craig Whitehead (1)

Penalty: Craig Whitehead (2)

North Walsham

Tries: Nicholl, de Jager

Conversions: Nicholl, Young

Penalties: Young