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Thanet Wanderers 3 Maidstone 21 |
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Maidstone played arguably their best game so far this season in an emphatic victory over Thanet Wanderers. In the worst conditions for open rugby on the edge of the English Channel Maidstone played with a biting gale forced wind across the pitch. Having weathered the opening salvos from Thanet with solid defence only conceding a penalty, Maidstone’s well oiled machine was now taking control. From A Glen Aukett kick up field and Thanet fumble the resulting scrum allowed slick passing outside for Full Back John Wilford to join the line and get his pass to run behind the posts. A further penalty in front of the posts increased the lead. Maidstone continued to retain possession until the most decisive point of the match when the were defending for dear life with Thanet pounding their line for a full 10 minutes. These guys were not going to budge as time and again the ‘brick wall’ suppressed all invaders! Their reward was to follow.
A break and grubber kick from Glen Aukett up the touch line was spilled by the home side winger. Speedster Wing Damian Houliham had the foresight to kick ahead to the line and then won the race for the touch down. Turning round at 15-3 with the wind to some extend at their backs Maidstone know that control of the ball would win the match. Although this was a supreme team effort Mike McIvor marauding on the ground in his favourite position and Glen Aukett with the boot need to be singled out for special mention. This was not a day for fancy stuff. Keep the play in the Thanet half was the instruction. Two further penalties put the game out of sight to finish off for Christmas on a high.
This was a total team effort and rewarding the dedication of the Bennett/Whitehead coaching alliance.
Try: Wilford, Houlihan Conversion: Glen Aukett Penalties: Glen Aukett 3
Team: John Wilford, Damian Houlihan, Martin Arnold, Steve Barnard, Mark Ryan, Glen Aukett, James Ferris Scott McIlroy, Tom Rogers, Rob Jeffrey, Sam Johnson, John ,Steve Matthews, Ben Court, Jon Sargent(C) Mike McIvor |