Senior Club Round Up 30th October 2005
A week of mixed fortunes this week, with commiserations to the 1st Team, The Mustangs and The Veterans and congratulations to the A, Extra A and B teams.
The 1sts went down at home to a much improved Sevenoaks side that now occupies 2nd place in the league and, on current form, could be heading for London 1.
A somewhat under-strength Mustangs side was beaten 19-5 at Beckenham but the game was sufficiently close to suggest that the return match at home could be a different story later in the season.
The A Team, once again without their skipper, (on duty with the Mustangs) still managed to open their Mid Kent A League programme with a 34-21 away win over Anchorians II, who traditionally have provided some of the toughest competition to the A in this League. In the seven years since this League was inaugurated, Maidstone A have won it 4 times whilst Anchorians II have won it twice, so this was a good omen for the season.
The Extra A, having gained a walk-over in the league against their scheduled opposition, picked up a friendly against Gravesend III, which is Gravesend’s development side. They arrived at Gravesend with 11. One of the team went to the wrong ground. They borrowed two and played 13 against 14 with uncontested scrums. At the same time as the missing player arrived one of the original 11 went off injured and so they played the whole game with 13. In view of this saga, they could feel pretty pleased with their 12-10 win. The players should be congratulated for proceeding to Gravesend even without a full side and well done to Gravesend for helping to make a game of it. Well done, most of all, to Ian Davis, for managing to get the show on the road. Regrettably, this was Ian’s last match in charge of the Extra A as he has been forced to stand down owing to work commitments away from Maidstone. Even after such a short stint, his absence will be a great loss to the team and to the club. He took the job on with great enthusiasm and has put huge effort in during the short time he has been Ex A captain. His cheerful manner and stoicism in the face of any adversity has been exemplary. I’m sure that we all wish him well in his new job and look forward to seeing him (and Susan) around the club when work permits.
The B continued their run of good form with another League win, 24-3 over new club Leigh, with the “inspired” selection of “Stumpy” at Blind-side Flanker proving decisive as he poached two late tries.
Chelsea are still unbeaten, but The Veterans unbeaten run crashed and burned without seeing out the end of October, going down 22-0 to Medway 3rds. Its possible that giving away an average of perhaps 15 years per man contributed to the result but in reality Medway just showed more will to win on the day. They are not top of Mid Kent League C for nothing.
Although 6 sides played again this week-end, selection was made very difficult by the amount of absentees, with 49 players being unavailable. Whilst some injuries are inevitable, your team-mates and skippers need you to be available as regularly as possible and especially to avoid late cry-offs at all costs.
There is no game for the 1sts next week, so they can enjoy the well earned luxury of their 1st week-end off since 20th August. Whilst for most of us the season seems quite new, the Ists have already played 40% of their scheduled fixtures for the year. (Although a good run in the Kent Cup would change that stat).
Meanwhile, for the rest of us its business as usual with Star Billing going to the Mustangs who are playing Cranbrook 1sts in a friendly at the Mote at 2:30 PM. Supporters welcome.
RE