Match Report
Maidstone 5 by Trevor Langley
Cobham 27
London League 1 South
Home at The Mote, Saturday 14th November, 2009, Kick Off –2.30pm
With a host of injuries after last weeks clash with league-leaders, Gravesend, and with key players unavailable, Maidstone approached this game with Cobham with some trepidation. Having, themselves, defeated Gravesend just two weeks previously, Cobham were full of confidence but, as so often happens, a mixture of adverse weather conditions and ‘bloody mindedness’ by Maidstone made this a closer encounter than expected.
Ryan Mills was the major casualty of last week’s game, so Mike Molloy was asked to move into the fly half berth, with Gavin Milne stepping up from the Mustangs, to fill the scrum half berth. A mid-week concussion to the Scot put this plan to bed, resulting in veteran, Dave Tugwell, stepping in to this pivotal role. And what a performance he gave, getting the line moving sweetly at every opportunity, harrying his opposition and tackling like a demon. Oh, to be forty again!
To match this dynamic recall, second row, Charlie Simpson, delivered his best game so far, dominating the line out and making a noticeable contribution in the loose. Steve Matthews’ absence was hardly noticed.
Another first for this season was the combined work of the back row. With Nick Sargent restored to open side flanker and Lee Thomson on the blind side, this unit put the Cobham back line under considerable pressure from the off, stopping them playing the dynamic running game that is their style.
The elements also played their part. With the wind gusting to gale proportions and the wet ground, topped up by a number of showers throughout the game, the conditions, perhaps for the first time this season, favoured the type of scrapping rugby that can be delivered more easily by underdogs, out to upset teams with better pedigrees.
After a start in which both sides got to grips with the wind, Maidstone began to establish themselves in the Cobham half, gaining two kickable penalties in the first ten minutes. But Mike Molloy’s radar was slightly off beam, the first brushing the right hand post and the second fading past the left.
With skipper, Mark Ryan looking dangerous every time he got the ball and Neil Graves proving a handful for the Cobham defence in mid-field, Maidstone were unlucky not to move ahead in this period. One occasion proved particularly harsh, when Ryan was pulled back for a Maidstone scrum, with only the full back to beat.
The fear that such levels of pressure had not been turned into points, proved justified just past the half hour. On almost their first foray into Maidstone territory, Cobham were awarded a penalty and from the resultant kick to touch, deep in the home side’s 22, their catch and drive tactic eventually proved the right one. Despite some desperate tackling, scrum half Franks ultimately found a gap to gain the line, half way out, and seriously distort the score line, to the benefit of the visitors.
The second half saw the elements favouring Cobham and, from the off, they moved quickly to establish themselves in Maidstone territory. Despite good defence, Cobham scored after seven minutes with a dazzling display of inter-passing that eventually found a route to the line through right wing Smedley, to post a ten point margin.
The next score, which ultimately proved decisive, had good fortune written all over it. After a kick though by the Cobham No. 8, Davison, went over the Maidstone goal line, the touch down by Gareth Hill was judged incomplete by the referee and a try was awarded to Cobham, much to their surprise. With Green adding the conversion, Cobham found themselves further in front.
Maidstone immediately hit back, with Ryan winning the restart and breaking through a ruck of players before finding Ben Cleary on hand to move the ball deep into the Cobham 22. Lee Thomson got the score when the ball was quickly recycled from the resultant loose scrum, cutting the deficit to 17-5.
Another try from a Cobham rolling maul scotched any thoughts of a close finish and a further score, on the final whistle, by centre MacCullum, added a gloss to the result that did scant justice to the home side’s efforts. While a defeat is still a defeat, there was much that is positive to take from this game for the encounter with Thanet in two weeks time.
Team
Rob Jeffrey (Jim Walker 63 mins; Nick East; Luke Debnam: Andy Bacon; Charlie Simpson: Lee Thomson; Nick Sargent; Ben Court (Matt Iles 63 mins): Dave Tugwell; Mike Molloy: Mark Ryan; Neil Graves; Ben Cleary; Lewis Fawcett: Gareth Hill
