Mustangs Vs Tonbridge Juddians

Sat 4th October 2008

Yet again, the Mustangs suffered more last minute changes due to call ups and injuries late in the week, however a good team set off to take on TJ’s at The Slade.

Unfortunately, the warm up preparations didn’t quite go to plan this week, due to late arrivals and getting lost. However the team got off to a flying start and it was good to see the ball being moved around well. Through this enterprise, the Mustangs were first to get on the scoresheet. The away side capitalised on spilt possession from Juddians around about half way. The ball was fed down the backline and with an overlap created, Andy Cairns ran in from 35 metres along the left wing and run in under the posts. Howson converted to make the score 0-7 to Maidstone.

TJ’s then got into the game and used their big pack and their massive inside centre to good effect. The Mustangs didn’t help themselves either it must be pointed out, giving away needless penalties and also “gobbing off” to the ref. TJ’s were able to get themselves on the scoreboard via a penalty kick. The Mustangs struggled to keep possession and build phases of play, and therefore weren’t able to put any meaningful pressure on the home side.

TJ’s power game soon took its toll on Maidstone, as the large centre stormed his way to the line from just inside the Maidstone 22, though Maidstone will be disappointed that sloppy tackling let him through. The kick went wide, however the lead had transferred to TJ’s, who went on to score a further try before half time, and with the conversion successful, went into the break leading 15-8.

Maidstone now had the wind at their backs and were again the side more intent on playing running rugby. However due to new faces in the back line, there was a lack of cohesion (as you would expect) and often,  good work was undone by a mis-placed pass or dropped ball. And it was from Maidstone possession that TJ’s scored their next points. A backs move went badly wrong just inside the TJ half, and the home side were first to react to the ball on the floor and picked up and eventually scored under the Mustangs posts to give themselves a 22-7 lead. Maidstone were now up against things, however the team’s reaction was a positive one. Having worked their way into the TJ’s final 1/3 of the pitch, the team finally began to show the aggressive rucking and clearing out which the coaches have been asking for and were able to win some good possession and keep pressure on the defence. As the pack drove toward the line, scrum half Sam “Turkish” McPherson darted through a gap to score on the left. Ian Howson kicked a superb conversion to make the score 22-14.

Handling errors and being unable to maintain possession was still a running theme in the Mustangs play, which made things difficult in being able to get into scoring range. Eventually as the clock ran down, Maidstone had to try their luck and once again TJ’s capitalised on Maidstone’s errors, as they picked up a loose ball and ran in under the posts, converted the try and this was the final play of the game – TJ’s winning 27-14.

Once again this was a fixture that the Mustangs were more than capable of winning. What isn’t helping the team at the moment is the constant changes in personnel, the result of which being that it’s difficult for the guys to instinctively play as a unit and be aware of their role in the side. However, they are still being competitive. There is some inexperience on the field as well, and over time these guys will become more game aware, especially when dealing with the ref. I’m sure TJ’s would agree, the refereeing on Saturday was random (possibly having something to do with the ref rivalling Neavsey’s fitness levels, as quoted by Shaun himself), with some very strange decisions going in favour and against both sides. The Mustangs coped with the inconsistencies least well out of the two teams on the day.

Moving on to Man of the Match. “Captain Kurgen”, aka John O’Brien made a welcome return to action following a couple of weeks rest following illness. He played with good discipline and made his trademark runs and tackles from the number 8 position. Chris Wallis had a good game in his Maidstone debut, and is definitely in the traditional mode of a 2nd rower. Tom Moon, who unfortunately arrived pitch side 1 minute too late to start as he should have done, made a terrific impact and did add a spark to the Mustangs, making quite a few good runs in his preferred position of flanker.

However, the award goes to Mark Thurgood, who had a Herculean effort in managing 80 minutes for the first time this season. Although said slightly in jest, Mark hasn’t been fit (ever), but has been suffering with a knee injury and only out of necessity has been playing the past 3 weeks. His scrummaging is 2nd to none, and with the law now allowing mauls to be brought down, Mark is often the one who puts his body on the line to do this.

In a shock move, Mark has a double award this week, having also picked up the dubious honour of “Div of the Day”. Aside from the fact I couldn’t think of anyone doing anything stupid on the day, Mark revealed something post game which may have contributed to some of the strange referee decisions given against Maidstone. Mark advised that the ref had recognised him before the game and said to Mark “I remember you, the last time I saw you, you punched me in the balls.”

Next week the Mustangs take on Sidup at The Mote.

Team:-

Laing, B Walker, Thurgood, Glover, Wallis, Rookledge, Day, O’Brien, McPherson, Strydom, Cairns, Hipkins, Sam (I think), Bull, Howson, R Coles, Moon

Coaches – S Neaves & G Whitehead

Physio – A Rooke

Manager – L Waters

Scorers:-

Tries – A Cairns & S McPherson

Conversions – Howson x 2