Mustangs vs Sidcup 2’s – 14th February 2009

After a week’s enforced break due to the weather, the team was thankfully that they were able to get some rugby in, especially on what is probably the best surface in the county at Sidcup.

Playing down the slope, the opening exchanges set the tone for the game, as a very physical Sidcup pack looked to hit hard in the loose, and the first scrum of the game Maidstone were put under severe pressure. Maidstone held firm until the half hour mark, when they were undone by a very slick backs move from a scrum, 10 metres from the Maidstone line. This gave the home side a 7-0 lead at half time, however there were signs from Maidstone that they would create opportunities to score, with the backs showing some good handling, which almost saw Damian Houlihan go over in the right corner. Despite the shakey start, the forwards began to hold there own in the scrum and the lineout in the main functioned well.

The 2nd half started brightly for Maidstone as they exerted pressure on the home side. Jim Walker was unfortunate to be denied a try, but from the resulting scrum, Ian Lee picked up from the base and fed the ball right to winger Houlihan who showed great strength to finish off in the corner. Searles hit the post with his conversion attempt, but despite being behind, Maidstone took great confidence from the score. Sidcup became rattled and their discipline evaporated as they constantly fell foul of the referee. The decisive moment of the game came from an inspired finish by the Bush Leaguer himself, Dane Smith. Fed a terrible pass by skipper East, Dane stepped two tacklers and faced a race to the line from which he managed to score an excellent try in the right corner. Searles kicked a superb conversion to give Maidstone a 12-7 lead. Sidcup tried to bully their way back into contention but seemingly forgot the principles that had served them well in the first half, which was to run the ball, as they constantly kicked. Maidstone were awarded a penalty 30 metres from the Sidcup line, following a block on a Maidstone defender and Searles kicked it with ease to take the lead to 15-7.

Try as the might, Sidcup couldn’t find a way through the Maidstone defence, and became increasingly “niggly”, which had been a constant theme of the game. This all came quite literally to a head in the dying moments. Nick East had found himself lying on the wrong side of a ruck, however 2 Sidcup players were judged to have rucked on Mr East’s balding head and both players were shown red cards. This was the final act of what was a bruising yet entertaining game of rugby from two very competent teams. Thankfully on this occasion, Maidstone walked away victorious.

It was a great performance from everyone involved who showed a great deal of spirit and will to win. However it falls upon me to give the saddening news that the man of the match this week goes to the vertically challenged, balding, truncheon abusing, flip-flop and vest wearing hobbit lookalike, Jim “Onslow” Walker, who was excellent in the loose both in attack and defence.

Div of the Day is a very tough honour to award, but it has to go to someone. That someone is The Bourne Ulti-Maytum, whose response to some skulduggery from the home side was a sight to behold.

Team:-

Walker, East, Maytum, Coles, Simpson, Moon, Day, Lee, Ferris, Laurenson, Cairns, Smith, McClintock, Houlihan, Searles, Vickers, Glover, Harvey.

Coach – Gary Whitehead

Physio – Anna Rooke

Manager – Laurence Waters

Scorers:-

Tries – Houlihan, Smith

Conversions – Searles

Penalties - Searles