Match Report:  02 Dec,

Maidstone Veterans XV v Maidstone 5th XV

With both sides losing their carded fixtures the weekend provided an opportunity for both sides to get an early look at the opposition prior to the annual memorial match scheduled for the weekend prior to Xmas.

Both sides were missing some regular players but this was very much a match of youth and enthusiasm against experienced old heads although this was tempered by the presence of 3 veterans who provided an experienced spine to the 5th team pack.

The Veterans exerted the early pressure but their play was strewn with basic errors that prevented any sustainable threat to the 5th’s tryline.   With a competitive pack and some penetration off the back row, combined with pace in their backline the 5th’s were always a threat and it was not until well into the second quarter of the match that the Veterans breached their defence to open the scoring when Keith Newman was able to drive on from the back of a maul to touch down.  With the benefit of the slope the Veterans continued to exert the majority of pressure up to the interval in what was a first half full of mistakes.

From the start of the second period the Veterans found themselves under pressure with basic errors and silly infringements handing possession to the 5th’s.  They were quick to capitalise and from a quick penalty they moved the ball quickly to Maff Newman at inside centre, who broke some loose midfield tackling to touch down under the posts, Matt Ellesmere added the extras to give the 5th’s a 7-5 lead.

This was the shot in the arm that the Veterans needed, and whilst they began to play with a degree of urgency, time and again they made poor decisions and basic errors.  With their set piece looking comfortable and a mobile back row and some pace in the backs, the 5th’s continued to look comfortable against a side that was somewhat disjointed.  It wasn’t until last ten minutes of the match that the Veterans seemed to get their act together with the breakthrough they needed coming from a lineout in their own 22m.  Having secured quick ball, they were finally able to release their backline, who with simple movement of ball through hand fed winger Richard Weston who was able to outpace the defence to cross under the posts, Keith Coomber added the extra points.  Now back in front, the Veterans played with a bit more composure, applying pressure and quickly recycling of the ball on the 5th’s 22m line again allowed the backs to move the ball to winger Adrian Clark who was able to feed the ball inside to Bob Hayton to touch down.  With the final kick Coomber added the conversion for the Veterans to run out relieved winners 19-7 against a 5th’s team that this season is much more capable than its recent results imply.