Mustangs v Gillingham Anchs 1sts

Maidstone Mustangs can consider themselves unfortunate not to start their season with a win, losing to a controversial converted try in thelast play of the game.

The Mustangs started the game attacking the clubhouse, found their plans disrupted after an injury to prop Steve Coates in the 5th minute, Dan Cummings replaced Coates with the scrummage now uncontested.

In an error ridden first half both teamsstruggled to play to their potential with unforced errors causing the game to be very disjointed, Maidstonemade their firstplanned changes on20 minutes with Scanlanand Day replacing Pankhurst and Moon.

On 33 minutes the Mustangsattacked won good ruck ball and IanLee drove over from 5 yards. Lawrenson converted.

At Half time the Mustangs led 7-0

Soon after the restart Anchorians scored, Maidstone failed to clear their lines andthe Anchorianseventually drove over, Faulknersufferred aninjury trying to prevent the scoreandwas unable to continue. This led Richard Glover, who was making his first appearance for almost a year to move from his centre partnership with another returning player Aiden Bailey, to go to Full Back and his position in the Centre was taken by Tom Moon.

Maidstone attacked and following a good backs move Bailey made a break and put wingerChris Leggett away in space, Leggett kicked forward but the Anchorians defence carried over andtoucheddown. On 52minutes from the resulting 5 metre scrummage no 8 Josh Pankhurst picked from the base of the scrum, rode2 tackles and forced his way over for a try. The conversion was unsuccessful.

Anchorians rallied from the kick off and had their best spell of the game, they scored from close range following a good moveinvolving both forwards and backs. This was unconverted.

With the score at 12-10 and 20 minutes leftto play the Mustangs looked asif they were going to be able to hold on to awell deserved victory. Both teams were guilty of not making the most of their possessionand both defences were solid, as full time approached Maidstone had a lineout on their 22, from agood takefrom the impressive Ian Lee a ruck was formed, despite an Anchorians player justin front of thereferee being at least 2 yards infront of the back foot, the penalty was not forthcoming, the clearance kick did not make touch allowing the Anchoriansto launch a counter attack, their lock ran 30metres breaking through3tackles before Glover brought him down, as the tackle was being completed the lock was able to pass the ball to a supporting runner who scored underneath the posts.

In conclusion the Mustangs should have mixed feelings about the game disappointment for it was a gamewhich they should and could have won, but bepleasedwith their efforts against a Kent1 first team.

Mustangs from Faulkner,Leggett, Bailey,Glover,McKeller,Dyke, Lawrenson,Lang,East(c), Coates,Yates, Coles, Lee, Moon. Pankhurst, Flynn, Day, Bailey, Scanlon, Cummings