Match Report
Sidcup 36 v Maidstone 0 by Trevor Langley
London League 1 South
Sidcup 35 v Maidstone 0 by Trevor Langley
London League 1 South
Away at Sidcup, Saturday 26th September, 2009, Kick Off –3.00pm
Maidstone played their best rugby of the season, so far, showing a measure of cohesion and aggression that challenged Sidcup throughout this match. Yet the margin of defeat was larger than the previous week and this can be put down to lack of concentration at key moments, allied to the inability to control the ball for long periods.
A rejig of the three quarter line, to generate more firepower in attack, could be said to have failed, but with Tommy King at fly half and Peter Horne back at his more comfortable position at inside centre, Maidstone made a hatful of chances, particularly in the first half. Their failure to score is still a mystery but stout Sidcup defence allied to insufficient back up of the initial break, go some way to explain the blank scoreboard for the second week in a row.
Compared to the depressing outcome against last week’s opponents, this was a game from which hope can be drawn, albeit with much work still to do. The pack was more than a match for the Sidcup eight in the tight and was mobile in the loose; the line out was better; the back line posed a lot of questions, especially in the first half. In short, Maidstone looked like a team, at last.
And with young Scot, Gavin Milne, starting at scrum half, the service to the backs was sharper than in recent weeks, giving Tommy King time to probe the opposition defence with his bullocking runs or subtle feeds. Another change involved moving Neil Graves to the right wing and both wings were brought more into the game, showcasing their relative skills.
The first half was a titanic struggle with both sets of backs showing their relative strengths. Sidcup gained ground with raking kicks from fly half Hardy and, with pace on both wings, threatened the Maidstone line. But the last line of defence held and the home side were denied at the last on a number of occasions.
Sidcup opened the scoring on 25 minutes, when Maidstone were penalised at a ruck, with fly half, Hardy, converting from in front, 35 metres out. A second Hardy penalty, on the half hour, stretched the Sidcup lead, from a more difficult position on the left.
Both King and Peter Horne worked a number of good breaks through the Sidcup centre and a move up the left involving winger Houlihan, was eventually stifled inches from the line by last ditch covering. But despite all the good early work, Maidstone couldn’t get enough back up to stretch the Sidcup defence further and make the vital breakthrough.
Turning round 6-0 down left all to play for but within three minutes, Sidcup showed how to take advantage of poor play by Maidstone. A penalty kick to touch was missed and swift passing across field allowed them to run the ball back, deep into Maidstone’s 22. Although this thrust was stopped by a sharp Houlihan tackle, the ball was recycled for centre, Evans, to score under the posts.
A repeat of this tactic five minutes later, this time with scrum half, Eydmann providing the finishing touch, saw the Sidcup lead stretch to 18 points. A 40 metre penalty just past the quarter hour, sealed the fate of the game for Maidstone and despite their many best efforts, they couldn’t find the rapier thrust they needed to pierce the home defence.
Sidcup, conversely, continued to look dangerous, and with Maidstone tiring, a move started by No 8 West off the back of a scrum on Maidstone’s ten metre line, was moved right in three successive waves for full back Pilgrim to score out wide. Hardy again added the points.
The final nail in Maidstone’s coffin came after 30 minutes with another sweeping move from deep in the Sidcup half, with quick passing outflanking the defence, to sweep downfield, allowing wing, Amura, to eventually score under the posts.
There was no capitulation from Maidstone and despite all the psychological damage wreaked on them, they mounted a series of further attacks, with King and prop Jeffrey coming close. A last minute fracas, aptly covered by the term ‘handbags’, saw two from each side get yellow cards, which meant the last few scrums went uncontested, but this had no impact on the final score.
So, a disappointing scoreline but a performance, at last, on which to build for the future.
Team
Rob Jeffrey; Josh Pankhurst; Luke Debnam (Sam Bailey 58 mins): Steve Matthews; Andy Bacon: Ian Lee (Matt Iles 40 mins); Jack Lamb (Lee Thomson 70 mins); Ben Court: Gavin Milne; Tommy King: Damien Houlihan; Peter Horne; Lewis Fawcett; Neil Graves: Gareth Hill
