Weekly Roundup 7th November

Team	Opposition	H/A		Competition
1st	Gravesnd	A	Lost 58-7	London One
2nd (Mustangs)	Beckenham	H	Lost 12-19	Invicta League
3rd	Sidcup III	A	Lost 20-14	Invicta II League
4th	Ton Judds IV	H	Lost 8-21	Mid Kent A
5th	Hastings and Bexhill III	H	Lost 5-16	Mid Kent C
Vets	Ashford Vets	A	Won 12-19	Friendly

Whilst the Results grid looks disappointing this week with only the Vets preventing an unwelcome whitewash, the grid also disguises the fact that there were some terrific matches played and lots of players had a great afternoon's rugby. Its sometimes worth remembering that whilst we all play to win, its not all about winning.

No First Team report this week following the very unpleasant incident at the end of the match that has been referred to the relevant authorities for investigation.

The Mustangs finished strongly, in contrast with recent weeks but the converted try in the last minute was too little  to acheive their first win of the season. Ben Rookledge was outstanding once again prior to leaving the field with an injury and the game also marked the last match for all-action flanker Luke Day, prior to his departure for a 1 year round the world adventure (details of his leaving-do to follow). Meanwhile, Mustangs regular Ian Lee (aka Horse) was busy getting wed to the lovely Lisa and will be missed from action in the next few weeks. Congratulations to them both.

With autumn Internationals wreaking their usual havoc on availability, The 3rd team went off to Sidcup with 4 of the 4th team and with James Sullivan snaffled from the Mustangs bench and played out a thriller against Sidcup III, Mike Hill named as Man of the Match a week after his 21st birthday (making him around half the average age in a typical 3rd team line-up)

Having lost both of their props, the 4th team were rescued by Bob Purfitt stepping into tight-head and 63 year old Steve Pooley stepping up from the 5th team to occupy the loose-head slot. Against a powerful TJ outfit, the players had to play well above themselves just to stay in the game, especially when reduced to 14 after the break.  This occurred when Chris Finch lost his gum-shield and left the field, only to be refused re-entry by the referee and the TJ skipper owing to the amount of time that had elapsed - although with the score poised at 8-3, the result was still very much in doubt at the time.  It was most disappointing that having held out at 15-8 for a long period, a score was conceded in the last minute to rob Maidstone of a well deserved bonus point.  However. it was a great team effort against some very good opposition. (Photos of the home matches are on the gallery, courtesy of Bob Hayton)

The 5ths found themselves in a ding-dong battle with the Mid-Kent C Leaders on the Somme, but also failed to gain a bonus point  after conceding a couple of scores late in the game to produce a score-line that was no reflection of most of the action. One of the highlights was to see Brian Costello making a return to action and providing plenty of his trademark pace, verve and commitment.

Talking of returns to action, I''m delighted to report that 67 year old Paul Ehrhart was able to play his first rugby of the season in the Vets win over Ashford Vets following an enforced lay-off owing to serious ill-health, whilst at the same time, another vital member of the Vets front-row, Steve Norton has had a major op this week in what we all hope will be the pre-cursor to his planned return in time for the Vets tour at the end of the season.  Best wishes to both of them, two of the club's longest serving players. 

Evergreen Cup  Just in case anyone has noticed, the scheduled 1st round match vs TJs has not taken place as TJs were never able to confirm a fixture and have therefore conceded the match. Maidstone go through to the next round, which must be played by 31st December.

Court and Social   Luke Day is having a leaving party next saturday 14th November - Ethos (on Gabriels Hill). 7.30pm to 3am.   He has booked out the whole place, upstairs and down. Upstairs will be a live band, downstairs a DJ. Everyone welcome.

And finally................ whilst winning isnt everything, if you want to watch some winning rugby, treat yourself to a dose of our U17s on a sunday morning.  You won't be sorry.  

RE

Fixtures for 14th November 

Team	Opposition	H/A		Competition
1st	Cobham	H		London One
2nd (Mustangs)	No Fixture
3rd	Tunbridge Wells II	H		Invicta II
4th	Gravesend III	A		Mid Kent A
5th	Gravesend V	H		Mid Kent C
Vets	Dover Vets	H		Friendly

Click on a link below for previous weekly round ups

October 31st

October 24th

October 17th

October 10th

October 3rd

September 26th

September 19th

September 12th

September 5th