Match Report

Basingstoke 15 v Maidstone 3        

by Trevor Langley

London 2 South

Away at Basingstoke, Saturday 6 December, 2008, Kick Off –3.00pm

Two years ago, Basingstoke featured in the national leagues but then suffered two successive relegations. This year they have stabilised in Lonon 2 South and are in contention to win the league, lying second at this, the half-way stage of the season. Maidstone, at the opposite end of the table, are still trying to find their way after a disastrous start, seeking to discover their best player combinations as well as cohesion and invention in their play.

This game was played under lights on a cold, clear afternoon on an excellent surface and it was clear from the crowd that the home spectators had come to see their side put plenty of points on the visitors. While Basingstoke did claim the league points, running out 15-3 winners, it was Maidstone that claimed the plaudits with a gutsy, spoiling display that never allowed the hosts to settle. No tries were conceded by the Stones, for the first time this year, and this was down to a number of last ditch tackles and a never-say-die attitude.

Two players stood out for the visitors, Piers Francis at stand-off half, who gave as mature a display as anyone on the field, and new full-back, Jaco Du Toit, who added his organisational skills to the defence and penetration to the attack, running from deep on a number of occasions. The back row, with Sam Rogers starting at open side flanker, played more as a unit than in previous weeks and this put pressure on the Basingstoke half-backs throughout, not allowing them to settle into the free flowing game they wanted to establish.

The opening exchanges revealed little and it was fifteen minutes into the game before the first score, when Maidstone were penalised on their 22 for failing to release after the tackle and Basingstoke’s Goodall duly converted. Three minutes later, he added a second penalty, this time for entering the ruck from the side.

But Maidstone were not to be cowed by Basingstoke’s reputation and after a clever chip over the approaching defence, Francis regathered to establish play in the Basingstoke half before releasing Neil Graves. His run to the line was stopped short but a subsequent penalty saw Francis cut the deficit to three points on the half hour.

A yellow card for Steve Matthews for killing the ball, stacked the odds against the visitors at a crucial point and just before half-time, Basingstoke showed what  they could achieve in open play, twice sweeping down to Maidstone’s line, only to be stopped by a forward pass on the first occasion and a try-saving tackle by Du Toit on the second.

The second half started with Basingstoke upping the pace and seeking an early try. But while they had territorial domination, they couldn’t find a way through the Maidstone defence and it took another penalty for a scrum infringement for them to increase their lead after ten minutes.

The game followed this early pattern thereafter, with an overly fussy referee penalising Maidstone consistently, giving Basingstoke’s kicker, Goodall, two more opportunities to increase the lead. But Maidstone’s defence resisted all attempts by Basingstoke to run the ball and the increasing frustration of the home side showed on a number of occasions.

A yellow card for No 8, Nick Sargent, on the half-hour, meant Maidstone played the last ten minutes a man short to conjure a replay of the first half. But resolute defence again overcame even this handicap and Basingstoke had to be content with their 15-3 lead.

Could this gritty performance signal the change in fortune that Maidstone have been seeking since the start of the season? It is clear that the side is now defensively capable of matching others and, with more cohesion in attack, could begin to pose problems for the opposition, if the pack can consistently deliver sufficient ball.

Team

John O’Brien; Nick East; Martin Maytum (Fin Davis 50 mins): Andy Bacon; Steve Matthews: Matt Iles; Sam Rogers (Tom Castle 70 mins); Nick Sargent: Mark Graves (Sam McPherson 60 mins); Piers Francis: Gareth Hill; Neil Graves; Martin Arnold (Mark Graves 60 mins); Mark Ryan: Tom Searles