Jersey  38                              Maidstone  12

Maidstone’s first fixture on the Island of Jersey ended more like a cow rather than the cream. The islanders were giving no hospitality especially on the pitch. This was most disappointing as the match started so favourably. For the first 30 minutes Maidstone camped on the Jersey line and within 3 minutes following a line out and rolling maul Tom Rogers got the touch down for the first try. In spite of perfect ball control chances went begging time and again with the line in sight.

Jersey’s defence held firm and it was late in the half when their slick backs began to show their paces with a well worked try. Maidstone struck back almost immediately after Tim Porter broke free passed inside to Neil Graves who galloped to within inches of the posts to pass to Eugine Moore who got the touch down as well as late tackled out of the match! Craig Whitehead added the points but Jersey then fired another one with full back Jeffreys joining the line to go ahead at the break.

The sucker punch for the visitors was immediately afterwards a further Jersey try to extend the lead even more.

Maidstone hard though their tried and in spite of the heat were unable to get into good scoring positions. Jersey broke away yet again to score  before a final spell near the home line nearly producing the goods.

The final salt in the wound was a Jersey try at the end to finish a poor day in the English channel!! This was no holiday romp for the Men from Kent

 

Scorers

Tom Rogers - Try

Eugine Moore - Try

Craig Whitehead - Conversion

Team

Maidstone: Tim Porter, Neil Graves, Eugine Moore (Mark Ryan), Gary Whitehead, Damien Houlihan, Glen Aukett, Craig Whitehead, Ed Pritchard, Tom Rogers, Chris Findlay, Steve Matthews, Sam Johnston, Adam Webb (Neil Smitherman), Jon Sargent (C), Ben Court

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