Senior Club Round Up 14th November 2005
Big news of the week. Trevor has obtained a very attractive deal so that we now have Sky TV in the club-house. No more having to watch Italy v Scotland on a wet week-end in Rome when we could be watching England thrash all comers at Twickenham. Of course there is still the small inconvenience that most internationals kick off when rugby players all over the country are busy playing – but it’s the thought that counts.
Anyone who sat in the Club-House and watched England beat Australia on Saturday, missed seeing the 1sts go down by one agonizing point to Sidcup in an 8-7 home defeat. (But at least Maidstone still retain their position above Sidcup in the League Table – if only on points difference). Last season, The 1s gained promotion with the aid of some very narrow wins: lets hope that this year they don’t accomplish the reverse. However, there is still a long way to go yet, with surprising results in the League every week, so anything could happen when Thanet Wanderers turn up next Saturday – even after their big home win against Gosport and Fareham last week.
The Mustangs came off second best in an away friendly at Blackheath 3, losing 10-14, whilst the A XV were left without a match after Lordswood II cried off their League Fixture on Friday morning, thereby conceding the points. Since it was by then impossible to obtain a fixture on the exchange, this became the first time this season that a Maidstone fixture has been lost altogether, which is not bad going after 12 weeks of play and 57 matches.
Fortunately, a few of the A’s were able to find gainful employment elsewhere. 2 or 3 of them helped out in the Extra A, together with a couple of call-ups from the Veterans XV. New Ash Green II were unbeaten in the League when they arrived, with a points tally of 130 for and 10 against. They went home with a 20-6 defeat to savour, in which some of Maidstone’s new recruits from the youth section had been outstanding, (not to mention some of the older heads as well). Major thanks are due to Simon Cripps for getting the side together this week, even though he couldn’t actually play himself owing to his impending charity car-rally to Dakar - all in aid of Demelza House Hospice.
A communication break-down saw the B XV changing in the Leisure Centre, fully prepared for a match on the pitch in the park whilst Lordswood III were busily entrenching themselves in The Somme. Lordswood also arrived as unbeaten league leaders but sadly they left Maidstone that way too after winning 10-0, despite the presence of Dominic Baxter, guesting at fly-half. Maybe it was the long march back from the park to The Somme that did for the B; it certainly can’t have helped their pre-match preparations.
The Veterans XV also lost their scheduled fixture but the Fixture Exchange was kinder to them as they picked up a short trip to Medway IV. Having beaten Maidstone B 25-12 last week, Medway IV might have fancied their chances against the old men of the Vets, but despite stiff resistance throughout, they were beaten 53-7. It now remains to be seen if the Vets can continue their winning ways when they take on Sevenoaks Acorns next week and TJs Vets the week after – both of which sides have proved to be too strong for Maidstone in recent seasons.
Regarding subscriptions, a few more were collected this week, but there are still a significant number of players who have not yet paid for the season. Don’t be a free-loader. Support the club and sign a standing order form. There are forms available behind the bar: it’s the best value you will ever get for £10 per month –unless you buy your groceries at Lidl.
RE