The club is one of the featured club’s in this month’s edition of the online Rugby Club magazine, to read this edition click here.  Page 33.

The 125 Cup is up for grabs again

The club quiz night originally scheduled for the 25th Feb has now been rescheduled and will take place on Sat 10th March.

Test your General Knowledge with 12 rounds of questions in a wide range of subjects.  Find out who really are 'the brains of the club'!!!

Teams of 6 - £5 per person (incl food).

Open to all and It is expected that each of the senior XVs will enter at least one team.  Organise your teams and let Carol know your team at the bar asap, so that we can cater accordingly.

It’s a long time since 1977 and Tuggy took to the field looking quite a youthful as the photo (right) but tow celebrate 35 years of rugby service to the club it’s his testimonial match on Sunday 26^th Feb, KO 1:30pm.  Tuggy has assembled a cast of many from those he has played alongside and they will no doubt take to the field in various states and levels of fitness, but all in a good cause; ‘the game of rugby.

Players are requested to arrive at 12:00 noon and to report to Nic Cracknell (that’s the tall ginger one who will probably be wearing a Fez!!).  Everybody is welcome to attend and it’s the traditional beers afterwards to accompany the reminiscing (and probably the aroma of copious amounts of Ralgex & Deep Heat!!)

It’s bound to be a great time so come along.

National 1: Probably a closer contest than it looked on paper with bottom club Barking making Blackheath work hard for the 23-29 winning score.

National 2(S): After a win against Lydney last time out Combe were hoping for another positive result, although table toppers Richmond were a totally different proposition.  In the end Combe ran them very close, only losing out 13-6 but still anchored to the foot of the table and six points adrift of fellow strugglers Barnes who also lost.  Lydney now complete the bottom three, with Dings having put together a couple of winning results in recent weeks, the latest their 18-8 win against mid-table Southend.  Hertford aren’t totally out of the relegation battle but their 9-5 win over Clifton keeps them safe for the moment.

National 3(SE):  With most of the promotion chasers playing lower table opposition, the big game was at Merton Lane as runaway leaders Canterbury put a severe dent in Dorking’s promotion hopes with a convincing 44-19 win.   Ampthill as expected were resounding 66-0 winners against lowly Havant, with TJs also running in a convincing 29-0 score against Bracknell.  Bishop Stortford’s charge continued as they beat visiting mid-table London Irish 23-13   Kent’s Gravesend travelled to face bottom club Luton and the 16-9 win for the hosts’ moves them off the foot of the table, although they still remain relegation favourites alongside Havant

London 1(S): Although Hove’s promotion aspirations will have now faded there recent good form meant they still had the opportunity to put a dent into the league leaders hopes, as they entertained Chichester ; and in a close contest the 14-13 home win knocks Chichester off the top of the table  Of the chasing pack, second placed Guernsey despatched visiting Portsmouth with some ease (53-0) to take over top spot, whilst third club Elthamian’s 57-16 win against Thanet also maintains their challenge and keeps the East Kent side deep in relegation trouble.  In mid-table the battle between Haywards Heath and Beckenham was important to avoid being dragged into what is a congested lower half of the table in terms of the relegation battle; with the 15-7 win for Heath going some away to easing any fears they may have had as the season goes into its last quarter.  Then same applied at Eastleigh as Trojans entertained a Dover side that has lost some of its consistency this season, and the 13-13 draw probably did neither side any real favours.   Sidcup’s promotion challenge has realistically now faded but for their hosts Cobham, again the incentive was not to get dragged into the relegation battle; the 25-20 win for Cobham now moves them comfortably into mid table.

London 1(N):  Visiting Norfolk side Diss really needed a good win to keep alive any promotion play-off hopes so a 13-5 defeat  at the hand of Colfes has realistically ended any faint hopes they may have harboured and keeps Colfes in a solid mid table position.

London 2(SE):  Not a full card of fixtures due to the involvement of Aylesford, Charlton Pk and East Grinstead in the Intermediate Cup, meaning that Dunstonians, OMW and Tunbridge Wells had to sit out an additional week to that caused directly by the cold spell.  Sussex side Brighton took full advantage of the opportunity to reshuffle the placings at the head of the table and were solid 5-18 winners at Heathfield to move into second spot.   Lewes failed to cash in as they unexpectedly went down 33-26 at Deal & Betteshanger, a result that moves the Kent side out of the relegation zone for the time being.  In the last of the fixtures, mid-table sides Sevenoaks fell to a heavy 0-32 defeat at the hands of Warlingham at Knole Paddock, a result that sees clear water developing between the bottom five clubs and the rest of the table.

London 3(SE):  The wet conditions appear to have narrowed all of the scorelines in the division, although league leaders Crowborough had too much for Sussex rivals Horsham, as they ran out 10-30 winners to stay clear at the top of the table.  A positive result against in form Medway was always a big ask for Eastbourne as they went down 17-42  to the visitors whilst third club Folkestone had to work much harder for their points at mid table Uckfield, eventually running out narrow 3-10 winners.  Ashford, Park House and Sheppey all needed positive results to move clear of the relegation battle, on paper Ashford had the easier task as they travelled to Crawley who mathematically are already relegated, and ran out 20-0 winners, Sheppey  entertained a Bromley side three places above and ran out 11-0 winners to temporarily ease some relegation fears.  Meanwhile, Park Hse suffered a second defeat to Maidstone, going down 15-17 at home to the visitors in what was a scrappy match.

Kent 1:  Anchorians now look odds on favourites for the title’ and a 7-72 win at Beccehaminas can only reinforce that view.  Second placed Vigo now look favourites for the play-off spot following a 5-42 win at fourth club Shooters Hill, whilst third placed Dartfordians were also convincing 39-11 winners against NAG. Hastings and Bexhill take over fourth spot following a good 37-5 win against visiting Sittingbourne, whilst HSBC relieved some relegation zone fears with a 32-5 win over visiting Whitstable, a result that does nothing for the Oystermen’s survival hopes.  Guys Hospital remain in deep relegation trouble following their 5-12 defeat to visiting Cranbrook.

Kent 2:  At the head of the table the top two are well clear of the rest and convincimng wins for Kings Coll (32-5) at Bexley, and a 27-7 win for Southwark against Footscray means they both look a cast iron bet for promotion.  Orpington were solid 22-5 winners at O Wills, whilst Askeans just lost out to the only score of the match in a 0-3 defeat at Lordswood.

RFU Knockout Competitions:  A number of the county’s clubs are still involved in the RFU competitions, which are currently all at different stages.  With the regional semi-finals in all the competitions scheduled for the 25^th Feb, both the Intermediate Cup and Junior Vase postponed fixtures took precedence in order to bring all the competitions to the semi-final stages, although the county has no clubs still competing in the Junior Vase.

RFU Intermediate Cup

Of the four matches taking place the county had an interest in two; Charlton Park travelled to East Grinstead and with the clubs currently heading London 2(SE) the Kent side were keen to avoid a second defeat at the hands of the Sussex club, in the end the Sussex side had too much for the SE London side and ran out 35-15 winners.  Aylesford were scheduled to travel to London 2 (NE) leaders Romford & Gidea Park, for a repeat of what was last year’s regional final and with the Essex club looking for revenge for last year’s defeat; in a hard fought contest the Kent side ran out 0-14 winners and will host East Grinstead in the semi-final next week.

In the other matches Enfield who sit just below Romford in their table hosted a Chiswick side that are in the chase for the playoff position in London 2(NW); Enfield had too much for their opposition and ran out 31-18 winners.  In the last of the fixtures Teddington, who are unbeaten in RFU competitions in the last three seasons, but struggling in London 2(SW) managed to maintain their three seasons of unbeaten cup form as they narrowly defeated  Tabard from London 2(NW) 22-16 and travel to Enfield to complete the regional semi-final line up.

RFU Junior Vase:  In the Junior Vase there are still some familiar faces from last season’s competition, most notably Cantabrigians who defeated Sheppey last year.  Another side of some local interest is Croydon, who organise the Evergreen Cup each season, they were 20-25 winners at Uxbridge and will face a Harrow side who defeated Bec OB in next week’s regional semi-final.  The remaining semi-final line up sees London Exiles host Cantabrigians.

A final reminder of the next 'Old Boys' Reunion  to be held at the clubhouse on 3rd March, format very much as before; arrive around 1.00pm, hugs'n'handshakes, drinks, buffet lunch, 1st XV league match vs Crawley, more drinks, great chat and reminiscing.  Additionally, a number of the club's sponsors are attending the day, so a great opportunity to let them know what a great job they do in supporting the range of activities at the club.

Maidstone Rugby Club and Mote Cricket Club have opened discussions on the formation of a new, joint organisation, to be called, Mote Sports Federation, which will run the facilities shared by the two clubs at The Mote. By pooling efforts in this way, the aim of both clubs is to provide a better environment in which sport can be played on the ground.

While the intention is to reach an agreement as soon as possible, no timetable for completion has been set, to allow ample opportunity for discussion of any issues which may arise.

Members of both clubs will be updated of progress on a regular basis.

                                              ____________________

Joint Committee of Maidstone Rugby Club and Mote Cricket Club

Bob Beney, President                                        Dennis Fowle, Chairman Development

Trevor Langley, Chairman Development              Bill Hickling, Treasurer

The club currently has vacancy for a Youth Chairman, a r YYouth Chaole which is currently being undertaken by Shaun Neaves in a  ‘Care-taker’ capacity.

This position is open to anyone, player, coach, parent, guardian etc… who feels that they have the drive and commitment to take on this valuable role.

A knowledge of rugby, whilst useful, is not essential, more important is someone who possesses good organisational skills, can manage and communicate effectively with a diverse range of people and who has the time to commit to overseeing the operations of the Youth Section.

For a full role description click here or go to the policy page of the website.

Any one who is interested in the position should email the Chairman Andy Golding.

RFU Senior Vase

Regional Semi-Final

Saturday 25th Feb 2012

Maidstone 1st XV v Folkestone RFC, (H) KO 2:30pm

Saturday 18th Feb 2012 - Other XVs

Mustangs XV v Old Dunstonians II  (H)  Invicta II

3rd XV v tba

4th XV v Dover IV. (H), KO 2:30pm (Invicta 5 East (Dragonfire))

5th XV v Gravesend Moles  (H), KO 2:30pm (Friendly)

Veterans XV v tba

Note:  As per RFU regulations, KO times for all matches in February are now 2:30pm.