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Maidstone 22 Old Colfenians 15 |
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Powergen National Trophy – Round 1
Maidstone won this first game of their 125-year anniversary season against London League 1 opponents, Old Colfeians, in some style, scoring four tries in a 22-15 final scoreline. With the step up to London League SE2, after being runaway champions of League SE3 last year, very much at the back of everyone’s mind, this fixture provided the sort of test that measured the progress made over the summer period and the readiness of the players to meet the challenge. Head Coach, Tim McBennett stressed ‘tempo’ and ‘mental approach’ in his pre-match build-up, and from the result it looks like all his word were taken on board.
From the first minute, the redoubtable defence for which Maidstone were known last year was in evidence, particularly from Gary Whitehead in a new inside-centre role for which his talents look ideally suited. Big strong-running opponents were regularly dumped unceremoniously on their backsides, disrupting any attacking rhythm that Colfe’s tried to build through their three-quarters. This made them look to attack through and round the scrum and, while this ultimately led to them scoring two tries by their No 8, Tunnicliffe, late in the game, it demonstrated the potent force that Maidstone’s backs can be both in attack and defence.
On a warm afternoon with a haze over the North Downs, a slight breeze made the conditions almost ideal for an open, fast attacking game of rugby. Before the kick-off, a one minutes silence for Roger Kelsey and Jack Williams, two local stalwarts who died over the summer was marked, a fitting tribute to the two men for whom rugby was a way of life.
The early game exchanges showed a little of the ‘ring rustiness’ that is common at this time of year with the packs trying to establish physical superiority and the backs looking to make the early break. After 15 minutes, Maidstone’s Gary Whitehead made a significant incision through the Colfe’s line on the half way and after a long run down the left which all but saw Porter over the ball was worked right to Graves on the right to touch down in the corner.
Within 5 minutes, Colfe’s had their own try to level the scores. This came from a Maidstone mistake when, from a mid-field position of no danger, the ball was stolen by Colfe’s and after a thrust down the centre by their back row, the ball was moved right through a number of pairs of hands for winger Millar to score wide on the right.
Maidstone’s response was positive and immediate with Graves getting his second try on the half-hour after concerted pressure by the pack on the Colfe’s line. A further try followed within minutes, this time by Porter on the left after two loop moves in the centre had bamboozled the Colfe’s defence. Maidstone managed to hold onto their lead at half-time but not before having to withstand sustained pressure on their line and some over-anxious play resulting in the ball being knocked-on by Colfe’s players at crucial points.
A number of changes in the Colfe’s pack in the interval presaged the forward onslaught that Maidstone anticipated. It took 15 minutes to arrive, but the try scored by the Colfe’s No 8 was the result of the pressure piled on the Stone’s front five over that period. The fact that Maidstone’s pack stood up to the challenge and refused to back down even after Jimmy Walker left the field after a particularly fierce exchange, augurs well for the future.
But despite having to play the game deeper in their own half than they would like, the next and decisive score was Maidstone’s. Aukett at fly half, latched on to the chance to exploit the space behind the opposing left-winger and positive following-up allowed Arnold to go over 15 metres out. Craig Whitehead added the points to take the score to 22-10. In the following 30 minutes of play, Colfe’s pressure yielded only one more try, again through the No 8 after a series of push over attempts, which could not be added to in the final 10 minutes.
There were a few tired players at the final whistle but this victory has given Maidstone a firm base on which to build for the league challenges to come. |