MATCH REPORT 13/1/07

Maidstone V Barbarians 10 Gillingham Anchorians/Weavering XV 17 (Tries: Casmir-Cohn, Gillies)

With the league points already in the bag due to Anchorians being unable to field a full side (and consequently requiring the help of Weavering to instead play a friendly), the Stones just failed to pull off a ‘double’ win. On another day with decisions going their way and scoring opportunities being taken this may have been the case, but credit should be given to the visitors for taking their chances.

Maidstone opened the scoring after No. 8 Mark Burrill’s intuitive chip into the corner gave winger Louis Casmir-Cohn the chance to outpace the Anchorians’ full-back to touch down just inside the dead-ball line. The lead was short-lived, however, as the visitors struck back almost immediately when they took advantage of some poor defence to score a converted try. The Barbarians had a chance to take the lead just before half-time when fly-half Matt Ellesmere failed to put centre Andy Bell away after making a break in midfield.

Anchorians were quicker out of the blocks in the second half when again some slack defending allowed the visitors to go over for another converted try. The lead was further increased with a penalty in front the sticks. Finally the Stones began to rally and began to play in the Anchorians’ half. Mark Burrill thought he had scored although the unsighted referee gave the benefit of doubt to the visitors.

The Stones’ kept up the pressure and were rewarded after a series of penalties eventually saw scrum-half Mike Gillies go over for his second try in as many games. However this proved to be the last play of the game and the Stones were left to rue leaving the fight-back a little too late.