Aylesford V 32
Maidstone Barbarians 0
The Maidstone 5th team were welcomed to Aylesford this week for the local derby.
Originally scheduled for last week as a club fixture it was re-scheduled to provide the homeside with a home game that week.
This did cause a stir, as up until a few weeks ago, we were under the assumption that the contest was to be played on 24th.
We lost the coin toss and started with the kick off, the kick falling a good depth between the open side flanker and the half backs meant the initial ball chase was out of reach for our own back row. Before long the ball had spread wide across Aylesfords extremely talented backs.
For the first ten minutes or so the Maidstone defence was solid, holding off the attack on our lines we outmuscled their forwards and pushed them off the pitch to win a number of lineouts but not before a quick put in gone wrong saw the Aylesford captain flatten coach Frost for a turnover ball.
The pressure from their backs, in particular their outside centre (number 13) proved too much. With a very talented young scrum half making an astonishing half pitch wide pass to the 13 he switched his way across our lines to open the scoring.
Consecutive scrums were pinged for starting the shove too soon, this saw us marched back into the kicking range of their scrum half.
An accurate but short kick bounced off the lower beam and into the hands of Quinn. A quick step and a hand off defeated the Aylesford flankers in a risky but worthwhile move before being kicked to safety.
In the lineouts Aylesford were struggling against the Maidstone jumpers. Their hooker was easy to read, leaping off the floor the 2nd jumper swiped the ball from the fingertips of a startled Aylesford captain on many occasions, often these steals led to our centres starting their offensive plays regardless of how quickly they were finished.
Consecutive scrums won by Aylesford drove us back, punching holes in our backs and forcing the advantage. Even those we won saw the Aylesford flankers hacking away at flyhalf Scott Andrews.
Some clever play on their part saw a No.8 pick and run, he offloaded the ball out of contact and nearly took my head off for the continued tackle attempt.
With a penalty awarded against us the ball shifted from their pack to their backs for the 13 to score again.
By now our heads were starting to sink, we took our time walking back for the restart. This restart was nothing short of spectacular thanks to the consistently placed kicks.
Their fly half choosing to jab at the ball with his foot rather than catch it. He panicked as he saw what was coming. He swiftly scooped up the ball but was too late, he was lifted and driven backwards. The ball was lose and collected by none other than Colin Frost with Mark Wilding and Richard Teflon in tow. Driving into the 22 they ensured we kept possession.
An argument at the breakdown however saw a plucky young Aylesford winger collect the ball but was driven off the pitch to end the first half. The score approximately 29-0 to them. Well at least we finished in their 22.
Our half time talk focused on their only weakness, their pack's fitness and at this point, they looked tired. We decided to make the 2nd half hell for the Aylesford pack and that we did.
The captains came together for many stoppages this half. Offences from both sides include hands in rucks, driving players off their feet in rucks and overall aggression.
The pressure against the home side was working however, their pack was tiring. Unfortunately their backs weren’t. The Aylesford scrum half dodged his way past just about everyone before being struck by Steve Jones with a try saving tackle.
Consecutive lineout’s dominated by Maidstone's first pod this half forced the homeside retreat. It was now a gruelling contest of fitness between the pack of which Maidstone had the upper hand.
A well set lineout out saw Maidstone driving the Aylesford pack back across the lines, the drive was immense, just as the Maul was brought down Mark Wilding hammered his way into the Aylesford defence, obliterating the first attempt of a tackle he clattered his way into three more. The ball spread to Quinn who continued the press forward, hitting the small winger hard and stumbling over the fallen opponent.
Maidstone set another maul and drove forward but with Aylesford's pack entering a sideways drive forced us off the pitch just infront of the try line, and so ended our strongest assault.
Nearing the end of the game the Aylesford No.5 burst into a burning rage. Before much damage could be done he was restrained by the touch judge.
The game now considered excessively violent I requested a final phase of play, Aylesford with the put in kicked into touch for the end of the game.
Overall it was not our best performance. We can learn a lot from their backs and scrum half who exhibited the sort of talent not normally seen at our level.
Final score
Aylesford 34, Maidstone 0
Man of the match.
Fullback Steve Jones for his consistently good performance throughout the game.
