Weekly Roundup 28th November

RESULTS

Team	Opposition	H/A		Competition
1st	Thanet	H	Lost 14-17	London One
2nd (Mustangs)	Sevenoaks II	H	Lost 3-19	Invicta III
3rd	Canterbury III	A	Won 14-19	Invicta II
4th	Old Gravesendians II	H	Walk-Over	Mid Kent A
5th	Old Gravesendian III Uncontested scrums	A	Lost 0-5 Draw gained	Mid Kent C
Vets  (O45)	Sevenoaks  O45	H	Lost 14-22	Friendly

Apart from the 3rd team, who gained a very fine win away at Legue Title contenders Canterbury III,

all the other teams demonstrated thedubious art of losing winnable games, although you wouldnt have guessed it from the atmosphere in the bar afterwards, which was extremely lively.

The Firsts conceded 2 soft tries, scored 2 good ones and it was only a successful penalty kick against them that sealed their fate against Thanet but close as it was, it goes down on the record as another missed chance. Good to see tries from each of this week's centre partnership of Neil Graves and Ben Cleary.

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The Mustangs were 3-0 up at half-time against Sevenoaks but managed to let that half-time lead slip, to record another loss on their season's record to date. It was good to see a number of players stepping up to the mark at this level, including number 8, Ben Lobos who has made his way up from the 4ths over a number of weeks since joining.

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The 3rds took a very experienced team to Canterbury but also including one or two from the 4th team, including Chris Finch, who played very well at open-side flanker.  Despite one or two big losses this season, the 3rds have proved to be a force to be reckoned with at this level, following their promotion to Invicta II this year and there can be few teams that will approach them with much confidence in the League.

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The 4ths gained some League points this week in unwelcome circumstances following a cry-off from OG II on thursday night, which not only deprived the side of their week-end's rugby but threatened to wreck the team photo and shirt hand-over from the 4th team's new sponsor, Players Gentlemen's Club. Having suggested to OG that they should really have cried-off their 3rd team home fixture and sent a combined 2nd/3rd team to play our 4ths, the defence was that most of the OG 3rd team players arent even good enough to play in their 3rd team, let alone step up two divisions to play in their 2nds !!  This is probably true but there is a principle involved here and one can't help feeling that events should have played out to our advantage rather than to our disadvantage.  Notwithstanding, there was a great turn-out from the 4ths to get the team photo done and to fulfil the Sponsorship Event.  Huge thanks to Bob Hayton for his untiring work in negotiating these arrangements. At least there were some small perks involved this week though. (must have been the cold weather)

The 5ths turned up at Old Gravesendians III to find that the opposition had no front-row, so despite losing 5-0, it goes down in the league records as a 5-5 draw, with 3 points awarded to each side. Something worth noting is that, where a game goes to un-contested scrums, it should be agreed between the skippers and the ref whether the Number 8 is allowed to pick up from the base of the scrum. If both teams agree, then there is no problem but if one side objects, then No 8 pick-ups should not be allowed.

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The Vets enjoyed a fabulous game against Sevenoaks in an Over 45's fixture but suffered the inevitable consequence of failing to compete adequately in scrum or line-out. For Maidstone, putting out an Over 45s team was nothing unusual, in practice if not in name, but it gave Sevenoaks the opportunity to wheel out a few old relics who dont normally make it into their regular Vets team but who proved to be more than equal to the task. It was nip and tuck for the first 20 minutes before Sevenoaks slick handling led to the first of 3 unanswered scores.  Maidstone managed some good handling of their own, allowing Dave Hughes to nip through a gap to score under the posts but highlight of the game (and possibly career highlight) was the incredible solo score from winger Will Arnold. Will is not especially noted for his pace so at 35 metres out and with 3 or 4 defenders to beat, there was not much cause for hope - until Will handed off the first defender (Marcus Carling), bounced off the 2nd, chipped the 3rd, gathered the ball in a tussle with the 4th and bundled over for a heroic score that was as spectacular as it was unlikely.  If he's scored any better ones in his career, he's never mentioned it.  

Anyway, thanks to Sevenoaks for making it such an enjoyable event and we look forward to the return in March (if we're spared).

RE

Team	Opposition	H/A		Competition
1st	Old Colfieians	A	Sat 2:15	London 1 South
2nd (Mustangs)	Old Colfeians II	A	Sat 2:15	Invicta 1
3rd	Old Alleynians II	H	Sat 2:15	Invicta II
4th	Medway III	A	Sat 2:15	Mid Kent A
5th	Tunbridge Wells IV	A	Sat 2:15	Mid Kent C
Vets	TBA (Vigo have withdrawn)	H	Sat 2:15	friendly

Click on a link below for previous weekly round ups

21st November

14th November

November 7th

October 31st

October 24th

October 17th

October 10th

October 3rd

September 26th

September 19th

September 12th

September 5th