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Lewes 26 Maidstone 24 |
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Maidstone went to Lewes on Saturday on the back of a fine win against Guildford. Unfortunately they could not carry it on against a spirited home side who took full advantage of the wind and sun at their backs to test the Maidstone defence to the full! Lewes pumped the ball downfield at every opportunity causing so many errors that they were able to score 2 tries and a penalty. Maidstone finally got going when following a line out Neil Graves broke through to score at the posts. But A further penalty from Lewes extended the lead and to compound the earlier errors an interception let the home side get their backs going to score another try. To seal a disastrous first half for Maidstone, Lewes actually scored a fine try of ‘their own making’. 26 points to 7 at half time was some mountain to climb, even for this side, and to make matters worse they lost Graves who was having sight problems following a clash of heads. A complete reorganisation of the back line was required
Maidstone started rebuilding the score first with a Craig Whitehead penalty and now having the wind behind them were able to use it to their advantage. Maidstone’s pack were now taking control of the game and a scrum near the Lewes line led to the first of three attempts to get a push over. In fact the first time the ball was ‘scored’, but the referee was unsighted, they had a second chance which was also thwarted but finally at the third time of asking Maidstone’s might crossed the line .Ben Court got the touch down. They were now creeping nearer the Lewes score. Good defence on the Maidstone 22 saw replacement John O'brien force his way out and break several tackles to put Mark Ryan into space who in turn handed off several Lewes tackles to use his pace and height to score by the posts. With now only 2 points in it the match was well into injury time. A scrum on the Lewes 22 gave Fly Half Glen Aukett the chance to do the ‘Houdini’ trick again, and win the game at the death. Sadly his drop goal attempt caught the cross bar and the Lewes wind blew it sideways. Whether the best team won or not is open to debate, the reality is on the scoreboard!!
Maidstone’s final league game is away against promotion hopefuls Portsmouth on sat April 22nd KO 3pm
Team Wilford, Ryan, Graves (Hines), Dyke, Ferris (Faulkner) Aukett, Craig Whitehead, Mcilroy, Rogers, Hollister, Johnson, Cummings (O'brien), Nick Sargent, Matthews (Capt), CourtB |