It was a great day to be a Maidstone Rugby Club fan as they won the RFU Intermediate Cup Final at Twickenham on Sunday.

The game started with Maidstone on the attack straight away and what a start it was as in the 3rd minute they scored the first try when pressure on the Bridgenorth line saw them move the ball from right to left and this allowed Olly Newton to crash over for 5-0. Ben Pitken converted to make it 7-0. 

In the 10th minute Pitken converted a penalty for not releasing the tackler to make it 10-0.

Alex Eastwood increased the lead in the 20^th minute when he was on the end of a flowing move and scored in the corner to make the score 15-0, Pitken converted the try to extend the lead to 17-0.

In the 28^th minute it became worse for Bridgnorth as Josh Pankhurst ran straight down the middle from 35 yards out and touched down under the posts for 22-0, again Pitken converted to move further clear at 24-0.

Four minutes later and Bridgnorth got on the score sheet when Will Biddell converted a penalty from 35 yards out.

Maidstone had a chance to increase their lead in the 37^th minute but Pitken’s effort from 40 yards missed and then in the 40^th minute Bridgnorth reduced the deficit when Biddell fired over the penalty from 25 yards out to make it 24-6 at the break.

The second half started with Bridgnorth in control of possession but they could not break through the Maidstone defence and then in the 51^st minute, Maidstone’s first time in the opposition half saw them take a quick free kick, Eddie Cranston received the ball 5 yards out and he went over for 29-6, Pitken again converted to make it 31-6.

For the rest of the game Bridgnorth threw caution to the wind and went at Maidstone and in the 67^th minute a lineout 8 yards out saw the Bridgnorth pack move towards the line and the Captain Dan Griffiths crashed over for 31-11, Biddell missing the conversion.

In the 72^nd minute Biddell crashed over in the corner for 31-16, he also converted his try to make it 31-18 setting up a nervy final few minutes. 

When the final whistle went, the Maidstone players and coaching staff were ecstatic, but again both sides can take credit in a great match with great rugby.

 

MAIDSTONE: J.SMITH, L.MOROSAN, O.NEWTON, J.PERIGO, A.EASTWOOD, J.SKELTON, B.PITKEN, B.WILLIAMS (C), J.McKENZIE, J.BYFORD, M.ILES, B.BRILL, J.PANKHURST, E.CRANSTON, M.WERAHIKO.

REPLACEMENTS: I.LEE, J.ILES, A.CLARK, L.DEBNAM, N.BUNYUN, M.DAVIES, E.CABORN.

 

Pictures supplied by Jake Whitehead.