The draw for the coming season’s national competitions at level 7 has been announced with Maidstone receiving a Bye in the first round of the Intermediate Cup on 16th Oct. Very much like the Kent Cup, the first round is very much a preliminary round, with only 5 fixtures in order to balance the draw for the competition at the Round 2 stage. Only two Kent sides have been drawn in Round 1, with Deal & Betteshanger away at Canvey Island (L2NE) and Old Dunstonians hosting KCS Old Boys (L2SW); whilst fellow L2SE club this season, Brighton take on Gosport & Fareham in what is very much a south coast battle.

In the Senior Vase, Wealden club Cranbrook were unlucky in being drawn to play Hampshire side Petersfield in the only fixture at the Round 1 stage, with the winners drawn to face Horsham in Round 2. In the rest of the Round 2 draw Kent sides are drawn as follows: Darfordians away to the Bank of England, Charlton Park hosting Old Alleynians, Folkestone v Heathfield & Waldron, Medway to host London S Africa and finally Bromley away at Teddington.

In the Junior Vase life is much more complicated with a Preliminary Round and still having Byes in Rounds 1 & 2. Only Erith, Old Wills & Orpington ended up being drawn in the Prelims, with Erith visiting Old Emanuel, Old Wills hosting Streatham & Croydon and Orpington away at Mitcham. Lordswood & HSBC have a Bye in Round 1 and Ashford, Anchorians, Beccehamians, Vigo, Sheppey, Whitstable and Sittingbourne have Byes in Round 2.

Whilst the draws for the Intermediate Cup & Senior Vase are simple enough, if you can understand the draw for the Junior Vase then you are a better man than the author of this missive. For full details and your own attempt at deciphering the draws go to http://rfulondon.com/

Readers should note that the competition formats have changed since the club last participated (5 seasons ago) and is now conducted as divisional competitions with the winner of each divisional final progressing to the national semi-finals for the chance to compete for the trophy at Twickenham.

With second row, a full back and kicking all being introduced this coming session the Under 11's have had 3 early summer sessions to make a start on developing new skills and remembering a few from last year.

Ex 1st XV player and regular 3rd team 'evergreen' John Hogarth kindly joined two of the sessions and quickly helped harness the boy’s excitement at being allowed to kick with some great core skills that we will be able to build on.

The last session ended with a lunch time trip to our sponsors The Tandoor Mahal Indian restaurant for a buffet lunch. With the parents 'disappearing' to local pubs, shops and coffee houses 17 boys and the coaches enjoyed an excellent lunch and swapped stories over lemonade or two!!

The manager of the restaurant has been so impressed with the behaviour of the boys and their enjoyment of the food on our visits that they are looking to continue with their sponsorship support of the team and club for this coming season.

Be sure to mention the club if you visit the Tandoor Mahal

Following a senior squad players meeting on Tuesday 22nd June, Thursday 24th June saw the squad’s preparation for the new season commence under the direction of DoR Andy Golding, new head coach Andy Foley and his coaching team, along with new club captain John O’Brien. With preseason training starting earlier this year the numbers were encouraging with more expected in the next few sessions, especially from the U18 age group who have been incorporated into senior training for the past 3-4 seasons. Tuesday’s sessions are primarily based around core & aerobic fitness with Thursdays likely to become more skills based the season approaches. Alongside Shaun Neaves' Saturday set piece stamina sessions, and with the Veterans XV also training at the club plus the 4th & 5th XV squads Thursday training on Bearsted Green now in its 3rd week, preparations for the coming season are beginning to get into gear.

Maidstone Rugby’s AGM held on Thursday 17th June saw a number of changes to the club’s hierarchy ratified by the membership. Amongst the changes was Trevor Langley standing down after a 3-year term as President and handing over the reins to long standing club member and familiar face of Bob Beney. Although handing over after his tenure as President of the club Trevor will remain on the committee in his capacity as Development Chairman to maintain the liaison with The Mote C.C in respect of the continued moves towards the formation of the Mote Sports Foundation. Also standing down was Chairman Wendy Pound, who has served on the committee in a number of appointments for the past 11 years, the last four as Chairman. Taking up the responsibility to head the committee as the new Chairman will be Andy Golding who provides continuity through his involvement in a number of ongoing strategic projects at the club.

On the teams captaincy front there are changes across the senior XVs; John O’Brien takes on the role as Club Captain from Mark Ryan who is standing down due pressure of work and imminent family duties. Duncan McClintock assumes the responsibility of Mustangs XV skipper with Mike Laurenson stepping into the 3rd XV captaincy role. Tom Clarke takes over from Steve Quinn as 5th XV captain and Richard Weston is the new Veterans XV skipper following Steve Vincent’s injury enforced retirement from playing.

Photos: Left. New Club President - Bob Beney Centre. New Club Chairman - Andy Golding Right. New Club Captain - John O’Brien

With an earlier start to the competition this season, largely to try and avoid the inevitable fixtures logjam that is created by league postponements due to inclement weather in mid-season; the draw has thrown up some interesting early fixtures. The first round does not include all clubs but has thrown quite a few of the so called big guns in early. Defending champions Nat 3(SE) Gravesend travel to Deal to take on D&B Lions, with Nat 2(S) city club Canterbury host O Colfeians & Sidcup v Tunbridge Wells probably being the pick of the other ties. For both Sidcup & Colfes it will be their last fixture south of the Thames for sometime having been level transfered in the league to L1(N). Maidstone has a bye to round 2 where we have a home tie against Dartfordians.

The second round sees some interesting ties, with O Elthamians facing Blackheath in a repeat of last season’s semi final tie. Near neighbours Aylesford are pitted against big spending TJs, and Sevenoaks face the winners of the round 1 fixture of Bromley v Beckenham. The last of the national league clubs, Westcombe Park will host the winners of the battle between Sicup and Tunbridge Wells

The full draw for Rounds 1 & 2 is listed below:

Round 1:

1. Bromley v Beckenham
2. Deal & Betteshanger v Gravesend
3. Old Dunstonians v Medway
4. Sidcup v Tunbridge Wells
5. Canterbury v Old Colfeians

Round 2:

1. Aylesford v TonbridgeJuddians
2. Westcombe Park v Sidcup or Tunbridge Wells
3. Sevenoaks v Bromley or Beckenham
4. Maidstone v Dartfordians
5. Old Elthamians v Blackheath
6. Canterbury or Old Colfeians v Charlton park
7. Old Dunstonians or Medway v Folkestone
8. Thanet Wdrs v Deal or Gravesend

With the 1st XV fixtures for the coming season now announced, the following opportunities for Matchball Sponsorship are now available:

25th Sept v Sevenoaks RFC
9th Oct v Lewes RFC
20th Oct v Warlingham RFC
20th Nov v Brighton RFC
11th Dec v Aylesford RFC
18th Dec v Deal & Betteshanger RFC
15th jan v Old Elthamians RFC
29th Jan v East Grinstead RFC
19th Feb v Purley John Fisher RFC
12th Mar v Old Dunstonians RFC
9th Apr v Old Mid Whitgiftians RFC

Opportunities for matchball sponsorship in RFU Intermediate Cup & Shepherd Neame Kent Cup competitions will be announced as they become available. Anyone interested in taking any of the opportunities available please contact Bob Hayton.

Friday 11th June saw club members and their wives/girlfriends gathering at club sponsors The Village Hotel for the traditional Annual Ball. Thanks to the organisation of Amanda Maddaford a great time was had by all. The ball provides the opportunity to bring the season to a natural conclusion and allows players to repay the tolerance of their better halves for the time their sport consumes during the playing season, and it was good to see quite a range of ages attending from some of the senior club’s younger players, to those whose wish to “cut a dash” on the dance floor is about as energetic as they get!

The 2009/10 end of season edition of the newsletter is now available online on the newsletter page of the website. As has previously been reported, it had been intended that both a printed version and the online version would run alongside each other for this season. However, a number of issues have contrived to create a circumstance where this edition was delayed; as a consequence the decision was taken to produce solely the online version to prevent further delay as we run into the build up to the 2010/11 season. The most visible and immediate benefit is that this and future editions are now available in full colour.

We hope you enjoy reading it and feedback and suggestions for future content would be gratefully received.

The club’s AGM is just one week away; this is an important part of the club calendar as it is where the club's status and future is discussed and in some cases voted upon, and we need everybody involved to help Maidstone Rugby continue to grow. Whilst the Football World Cup is an obvious distraction (even though the ball’s the wrong shape!!), all club members are encouraged to attend this important meeting which sees a number of issues for the membership to discuss and be briefed upon as well as an opportunity to have your say. Your vote will only count if you are present!

With the new season still three months away the London 2 (SE) fixture list for the 1st XV has been announced by the English Clubs Championship. Following a number of level transfers at London & SE League level, this season will see a mix of old adversaries and also some new faces to The Mote, back on the fixture card are local rivals Sevenoaks, along with some familiar opposition from seasons past in the form of Aylesford, Lewes, Old Elthamians, Old Mid-Whitgiftians, Purley John Fisher and newly promoted East Grinstead & Brighton, who won the RFU’s Senior Vase at Twickenham last season.

New visitors to The Mote for league fixtures are Warlingham, Deal & Betteshanger and also Old Dunstonians.

Full details of the 1st XV other senior team’s fixture lists will be posted on the Men’s Rugby fixtures tab in due course as dates are finalised.

Note: As a consequence of relegations & promotions, the level transfer system has meant that for the 2010/11 season Old Colfeians & Sidcup will be competing in London 1 (N).

For the past few seasons we have invited supporters to sponsor 1st XV shirts and the matchball. This can be done by individuals, couples, friends or businesses. Your name doesn't actually appear on the shirt but you are listed as the sponsor of that particular shirt number on the team selection page of the matchday programme for the duration of the season. Additionally, your name is listed on the poster display of shirt sponsors in the clubhouse. There are 18 1st XV match and shirts available for the 2010/11 season.

In the case of matchball sponsorship your name appears in the matchday programme for the fixture of your choice plus also on the matchball sponsors display in the clubhouse. There are 11 opportunities for home league fixtures available plus also any home fixtures in the Kent cup and RFU Intermediate Cup.

If you or your company may be interested in taking one or more of these opportunities then please contact Bob Hayton in the first instance.

Are you intending to go to the Middlesex 7s? If you, here is an opportunity to book your tickets and also benefit the club.

Simply click on the link below to book your tickets through the club’s unique Middlesex 7s URL link. Adult tickets start at £20 with children under 15 going free (Children must be accompanied by an adult, maximum of 2 children per adult). For every adult ticket booked through the club’s URL booking facility, the club will receive £10

The 2010 competition sees another very strong line-up of teams competing in the most famous rugby charity event in the world. This season’s event sees a mix of national, GP, representative and invitational sides with the following teams already confirmed: England, Scotland, Wales, London Wasps, London Irish, Saracens, Harlequins, Newcastle Falcons, Leicester Tigers, Leeds Carnegie, British Army and Samurai, with other invitational sides expected to be announced soon.

This is a great opportunity to generate revenue for the club as well as having a great time at the Middlesex 7’s which is one of the most enjoyable days in the sporting calendar in addition to being a great precursor to the 2010/11 rugby season.

https://www.middlesexrugbysevens.com/affiliate/MaidstoneFootballClu/107

The traditional Vice Presidents lunch that normally marks the end of the season was held on Sunday the 16th May at what has become its traditional venue of Bearsted Golf Club. Over 65 were in attendance for what was Trevor Langley’s last formal function as the club’s President, and it was good to see a mix of both the new and long standing Vice Presidents in attendance.

The President provided a resume of the major points of the past season, not just from a playing perspective, but also in respect of both club structure and infrastructure development.

It is intended that the next Vice Presidents lunch will be early in the 2010/11 season when we formally say welcome to the incoming President, Bob Beney.

Further details on this will be disseminated through the Member Handbook and club website.

Photos: 1. General 2. President, Trevor Langley addresses the VPs.

If you want a club blazer and missed out first time around, then now is the time to act.

Several of you have asked about getting more blazers made. Get yourself down to M&S immediately and get sized up (42R etc) and let Bob Hayton know you want one with your deposit (£50). We need close to 20 to make it a viable project.

Many other clubs have commented favorably on how good they look and the Veterans XV were voted the smartest team to have toured the Isle of Wight for as long as they could remember.

The Clarence Harding Eye Injury – Club Statement

The Police have completed a thorough investigation of the gouging claim on the Gravesend player, Clarence Harding, the outcome of which is that they believe there is insufficient evidence of a criminal act to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Maidstone Rugby Club has cooperated fully with the police, and the Rugby Football Union in the investigation into this incident in the Kent Cup game on 17th January 2010 played at Maidstone.

We have been guided by these bodies at every step and have not commented on the incident, at their suggestion and from the suggestion of our own independent advisors.

We understand that the RFU intends to conduct their own enquiry and we will continue to co-operate fully with them.

We have been presented with no evidence by any of these bodies, nor from the limited enquiries we conducted before the police became involved, to lead us to believe this was anything but a tragic accident. We will continue to subscribe to this view until evidence is presented to us to contradict this.

We recognise the enormity of the injury for Clarence, both in the short and long-term and the impact this will have on his life. We offer him our deepest sympathy.

We have always supported disciplinary action by the Kent RFU when any of our players have been found guilty of misconduct on the field and would continue to do so should evidence be found to implicate one or more of our players in this specific incident. Equally, we stand by our players in the belief that none of them contributed to this incident.