Maidstone got themselves back to winning ways with a solid 19-12 victory at Crowborough on Saturday afternoon.

With no hint of compromise in the team selection and a sparingly used bench, Maidstone produced a gritty, rather than sparkling, display. But the forwards can congratulate themselves on a good performance, against a well organised pack, with Matt Iles, growing into the No 8 role, week by week, and man-of-the-match, Josh Pankhurst, to the fore.

With the exception of dented pride, the only casualty of the previous week’s cup loss was Mark Dorman, to injury, but with Neil Graves ready to move back into the outside centre role, the back line showed a pleasing normality, even with Jason Smith stepping up from the Mustangs to occupy the right wing: likewise, the return of Ben Williams to the front row. An administrative technicality, cleared with Kent RFU beforehand, allowed James Iles to start in the second row after his dismissal the previous week, partnering Ben Brill in a dynamic second row.

Maidstone started the game as if they had something to prove and their pace and handling soon established them in the Crowborough 22. A penalty, 30 metres out and to the left of the posts was pulled wide by Van de Westerlo, after five minutes, but from the restart, Maidstone applied further pressure on the Crowborogh defence. A slick move found Caleb Van de Westerlo on the left wing to touch down in the corner, to post a five point margin just before the ten minute mark.

Despite the encouraging start, Maidstone soon realised that their hosts were not going to lie down as Crowborough upped their game in response to this early set back and with fly half, Yates, applying his boot to the ball, they began to establish field position in the Maidstone half. On the half hour, a long Yates kick to the Maidstone 22 and a win at a subsequent line out, saw Crowborough move the ball quickly left for winger Burgess to pop up in the centre to go over by the posts to level the scores. The Yates conversion nudged the home side in front for the first time.

In reply,a slashing break by Neil Graves saw play move from the Maidstone 22 to deep into Crowborough territory.  Only scrambled defence by the home side prevented a score but from the resulting line out, Maidstone moved the ball left across the field to find Willie Brown on the wing, to score in the corner. This time Van de Westerlo found the length and direction to add the bonus points and give Maidstone a 12-7 half time lead.

At this point in the game, Maidstone looked the better all-round side, although Crowborough had the occasional nudge in the scrum. Outside, the picture was significantly different, with Maidstone showing superior ability but missing the cohesion required to turn this superiority into points.

This was emphatically demonstrated on the restart when a superb break by Josh Pankhurst was not translated into the right pass and an early chance to draw away from the hosts was lost. And Crowborough made Maidstone pay for this error by taking advantage of a quick tap penalty, by scrum half, Atkin, ten metres from the Maidstone line, to score, just past the ten minute mark, leaving Yates an easy conversion to level the scores.

This stung Maidstone into retaliatory action and a clean break down the right wing, featuring full back, Jensen, should have resulted in a try by Smith but he was held up over the line. As Maidstone raised their game, Crowborough resorted to increasing levels of defence, which were duly punished with penalties and a yellow card to No 8, Derrick. Ultimately, the pressure told and from a quick tap of their own, Ben Williams drove over to score half way out, with the resulting conversion establishing a solid, seven point lead, just before the end of the quarter.

Williams received a yellow card of his own, shortly thereafter, for entering a loose scrum from the side, giving hope to the Crowborough faithfull, but Maidstone’s defence held firm. With a full complement re-established, the visitors spent the last few minutes camped on the Crowborough line. But the fourth try, and its bonus point, eluded Maidstone on this occasion.

In summary, Maidstone played below their best, failing to convert possession into points by below par application. In the second half, their three quarter line saw little of the ball and the first half impact, particularly by Neil Graves, could not be repeated. On the positive side, the pack performed well against a strong opposition eight and the defence of the whole side was effective.

What this game did prove was that when the chips are down, this side can apply themselves fully to the task and grind out a win, a quality that could prove invaluable as the heavier grounds and deteriorating conditions prevail.

Maidstone

Ben Williams; Sam Bailey; Ollie Smith: James Iles; Ben Brilli: Jack Davidson; Josh Pankhurst; Matt Iles:  Adrian Hogben; Caleb Van de Westerlo: Jason Smith; Willie Brown; Neil Graves; Sam Brill: Josh Jensen

Replacements: Joel Byford; Jamie Simms; Alex Sturzu.

Pictures supplied by Bob Hayton.