Maidstone Vets 5
Gravesend Swans 19
The veterans left The Mote with thirteen players and an agreement with Gravesend that Maidstone numbers would be made up with home team players; a magnanimous gesture that would, sadly, backfire for one individual. Between venues another vet and guest made themselves available, so it was that Maidstone took to the field with a full complement, although no reserves. It was always known that the vets would be facing a Gravesend 5ths side considerably younger than the side the visitors could field and so it proved with the wings and centres averaging an age of 19. Consequently, the vets game plan was to use their experience in the pack to prevent Gravesend obtaining too much possession and try and disrupt any home side rhythm, tactics that to a greater extent worked. Of course, it was always likely that Gravesend would take advantage of any possession they gained and all of their three tries (two converted) were scored from distance, having beaten the vets defence with pace and skilled handling.
On a positive note Maidstone did score a try of their own when Keynes, in typical back row poacher fashion, pounced on a Gravesend line out mistake and bobbling ball to score his first points of the season. Further, the vets should be pleased with their continued good work in defence, with very few tackles being missed, as Gravesend would undoubtedly have secured a more emphatic victory.
As the match was, generally, played in very good spirit it is sad to report a serious injury. With Will Arnold, making his first appearance for the Vets at full back, sustaining hamstring damage, Gravesend kindly agreed to lend one of their many reserves. Following a couple of encouraging line breaks it was unfortunate that the replacement was “double” tackled by players with whom he would normally be playing and suffered a break of a different kind. After making the player comfortable, the home team coach, in conjunction with the player, decided that it would be best to remove him to pitch side and continue the match rather than await an ambulance. The vets were now reduced to fourteen and, again, Gravesend provided a further player. Later, with George Coomber suffering a recurrence of ankle ligament damage a further Gravesend player was provided. With Gravesend seemingly changing the majority of their pack at half time it would be surprising if, one way or another, all their Gravesend “masses” did not get some form of game!
It was not reported until the following day of the “damage” done to the first Gravesend replacement borrowed by the Vets. Unfortunately, the player had received two breaks and a fracture to his leg. On behalf of the Vets, Steve Vincent has passed on to the Gravesend captain our best wishes for a speedy recovery of his player.
