Despite the long drive and pre-match refreshments, Maidstone began this tour match sharply, scoring two early tries. The first came from outside centre and eventual man of the match, Adam Goddard, who carved through the Welsh midfield to score under the posts. Then, just a few minutes later, winger Stuart Bates finished well after a good hands from the backs. Both tries were converted by local fly-half and honorary Maidstonian for the day, Andy Edwards.
Llanishen then replied with a rare break into the Maidstone 22. A try saving tackle resulted in a ruck five metres out which Maidstone entered from the side. While the referee was giving the offending players a ticking off, Llanishen took a sneaky quick tap to score. The try was unconverted leaving it 5-14 at the break.
At half time, Llanishen made full use of their bench, brining on a mixture of pacey and powerful young subs in the hope that Maidstone’s more experienced side would wilt in the heat. The changes had the desired effect and the home side soon scored a couple of long range tries as their backs started to find gaps. This gave them the lead for the first and only time at 17-14.
Maidstone didn’t let this double set-back rattle them and controlled the remainder of the game with a mixture of dominance at the set piece and resolute defence.
The scrum went well all afternoon, with Maidstone winning several against the head. Much to the captain’s consternation, the chance for a pushover try 22 was squandered when the ball was inexplicably shipped out to the backs with the line just yards away. The reason – the tight five were going ‘too fast’ for the back row to keep up. Well, there’s a first time for everything.
The decisive moment came ten minutes from time when a probing kick from full-back John Hogarth gave Llanishen a lineout on their own five metre line. The throw was too long and scrum-half Phil Davies was first to react, popping off to Edwards who finished from a yard out then slotted the conversion.
Maidstone showed good composure for the remaining minutes, not allowing home side so much as a sniff of their line to close out a tight match.
After a sapping afternoon in the Cardiff sun, Maidstone went about the business of re-hydrating with great gusto, first in the Llanishen clubhouse then in the city centre.
