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Maidstone 14 Portsmouth 30 |
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Maidstone welcomed second placed Portsmouth to the Mote on Saturday and put on a performance they will be proud of. They were well in the match until the final 20 minutes and but for no less than 2 questionable tries could well have taken the points.
Maidstone were on the scoreboard within 10 minutes after a clean take in the line on the Portsmouth 22, Fly half Glen Aukett made a half break and dummied outside but passed inside to ‘exorcet’ winger Neil Graves who crashed through the defence to score at the posts. Craig Whitehead added the points. Portsmouths' heavy pack made several incursions into the Maidstone half and were held up on several occasions by all round defence by Maidstone .The wet conditions after a downpour just before kick off caused troubles to both sides, as neither team could exert any authority. Maidstone more than held their own against a supposed stronger side. Their Talisman Steve Matthews tackled everything in sight. This has emphasised the very strength of this league with very little separating 2nd and 10th places. Every win will be hard earned.
Maidstone had 2 very good opportunities to get further tries but errors were made a crucial times with the line in sight. Portsmouth came back with a penalty to let the home side in at half time 7 points to 3.
A further penalty for offside narrowed the gap but Maidstone continued to pressure the large Portsmouth forwards using their better guile and technique. Portsmouth conceded a penalty for Craig Whitehead to find touch in a perfect position for a catch and drive movement to the line ,where hooker Tom Rogers got the touch down. Portsmouth replied shortly afterwards with a fine try from their centre Gronow to bring the match to only one point difference.
The crucial period of the match now came with Steve Mathews being yellow carded for pulling down in the line out. With one man down in such a tight game it was not long before Portsmouths' superior numbers told with a try being awarded in spite of the ball landing on a Maidstone player! Maidstone stuck gamely to their task and in spite of a further try being awarded with the ball appearing short of the line they still had the will and confidence to come back. The match was put out of sight on the final whistle with a well worked 2nd Gronow try.
Maidstone can hold their heads up after their performance going into the coming matches with ever increasing confidence.
Their next League match is this Saturday 10th December home against Lewes in the league KO 2.15pm |