Maidstone IV 29
Ashford III 10
As 1.15pm approached Maidstone club house had a aura about it, there was something going on, something strange!!!! All of the 4th team were on time, even Andy West and Chris Finch….maybe the extra hour in bed last Sunday morning had some effect!?!?!!?
Who knows, what I did know was that we were in for a good day, despite losing the last 3 games straight spirits were high….we have been playing well in patches and threatening to win, the missing links game together on Saturday.
1- For the first time this season we had an actual hooker, all credit to Dave Jackson filling the void to date but a specialist makes a difference and Josh made a big contribution.
2 – For the first time this season we played a second game in a row with the same 8/9/10, and it showed.
3 – For the first time this season we had a catalyst. Frank the Tank broke 2 tackles to score the go-ahead try.
Ashford put out a tough team, with some strong forwards and during the first exchanges we all knew we had a tough game on our hands. John Broadley showed he is getting back to his best with quick distribution from the break down, setting the tone for the 1st half. The Maidstone pack once again stepped up another level and the work and effort at the breakdown is proving fruitful as we were able to secure safer ball for the backs and even turned over some Ashford ball by way of consistent burrowing in mauls by Ben Lobos, Andy West and Chris Hogg.
The going was good as the ball was spread through the hands, controlled well by Caborne and The Tank ran strong and straight, a few broken tackles later Maidstone had scored their first try since the beginning of October. Caborne duly slotted over the conversion. This was swiftly followed by a mirror image of a second try!
Just as Maidstone were threatening to break away, thinking it was all too easy they conceded a try to a rolling maul from Ashford! Their game plan was now evident for the rest of the game. Half time was 15-10 to Maidstone.
The second half was scoreless for a long time, hard running from Maidstone countered by rolling mauls from Ashford. Great lineout work from Phil Shaw-Brown and Chris Finch lead to the ball being spun out quickly, with Ian Davis finishing off a good move that any team would have been proud of.
The rest of the game saw Maidstone on the attack, a few dropped passed at the end of moves or not passing early enough meant the score was not higher. John Broadley made a good break with 10 minutes left, darting round the fringes and good heads up rugby meant that the defence parted as he ghosted in to score a try, again converted by the boot of Caborne.
There were standout performances from a number of players, the fringes of the breakdown were secured by great tackling and even Ashford’s best player in the shape of their No.8 could not break the Maidstone defence. Credit to you all!!!
Man of the match…..A kop out would be to give the accolade to a joint man of the match in the shape of our 8/9/10 on the day….however credit must go to the catalyst of the team getting back to winning ways therefore it goes to the top try scorer on the day!!!
Next challenge is to step up another level – Are you ready to step up!!!
Mark
