This was a far-cry from the league opener between these 2 sides, where Tunbridge Wells (TW) just shaved the game by a point.
Much has changed since then, with TW the in-form side, lying 3rd, only 3 points adrift of second-placed Havant and Maidstone having stuttered in terms of results to lie in the bottom half of the table. Add to this the potential prospect of a play-off spot for TW, a partisan home crowd and noticeable absences in the Maidstone line-up, not least of which was skipper Ben Williams, it was always going to be a big ask for Maidstone to rain on the Tunbridge Wells parade – and so it proved to be!
Maidstone started the brighter of the 2 sides and in the early exchanges Maidstone had the ‘lion’s share’ of possession to probe the TW defence. However, early forays into the TW 22 were repelled by an organised and resolute defensive unit and the kicking tactic used early in the game by Maidstone gifted possession and established no real advantage. What ball TW had was scrappy and the ‘staccato’ tempo did not allow them to settle into any sort of rhythm for the first 15 minutes of the game.
With an inability by Maidstone to clear their lines and keep possession, TW gradually began to exert pressure and turn-over ball won in the Maidstone 22, led to a ‘run in’ try for the TW hooker who caught Maidstone napping on the short side. The conversion was added for TW to take a 7-0 lead.
For the next 10 minutes there were a number of ‘to and fro’ passages of play, as each side tried to exert dominance, Maidstone by using forward runners and set piece to good effect and TW putting width on the ball to stretch the Maidstone defence.
However, it was the scrum, where Maidstone really excelled and they started to drive TW off the ball to create possession. It was from one such scrum mid field on the 15m line that Maidstone took the ball ‘against the head’ allowing Brill, to pick up and feed fly-half Beech cutting a good angle at pace to drive over the line. The extras were added by full-back Caborn to level the score at 7-7 on the 30 minute mark and all to play for.
Unfortunately for Maidstone, this score was quickly answered when a poor clearance kick allowed TW to counter from their own half and slick hands through the classy back unit, provided the space for the pacey TW winger (11) to sprint directly to the corner. The try was duly converted to give a TW and 7 point lead.
It was not long after that another wayward kick from the Maidstone lines and some ‘fall-off ‘tackling allowed TW to attack the Maidstone 22, resulting in a try by the TW No8.
With a successful conversion, the score was extended to 7-21. With the half-time approaching, the signs were looking ominous as TW starting to get into their fast-flowing game, moving quick ball to the left from open play to give the TW winger (11) his second score out-wide and providing TW the much needed, bonus point try. With the conversion slipping wide, the half, finished at 7-26.
Maidstone started the second half strongly with the pack exerting pressure through a hard running, off-loading game to gain territory. This resulted in a gilt-edged opportunity where the ball was dropped 5 metres from the line, leading to a certain try and a scrum penalty following a TW yellow card, which Maidstone decided to run and which in all probability would have led to a penalty try and a second yellow card for TW, if Maidstone had gone for the scrum re-set.
These proved to be that last real opportunities to get back into the game and on the 15 minute mark a smart cross-field kick by the TW, fly-half was taken unopposed by the TW No 8 on the right hand side of the pitch for a try under the posts. With the conversion, this stretched the lead to 7-33 and the game effectively now over. A few minutes later, a penalty kick by the TW, 10 extended the lead to 7-36 to put the game further beyond reach.
From this point forward and against a tiring Maidstone defence, TW began to play with real freedom, linking forwards, who were starting to play with more authority and backs to good effect, culminating in a try by the TW, 2nd row. The only consolation soon after, was an intercept by Maidstone winger, Matt Moore, which he duly converted to provide Maidstone 14 points. The last score of the game came through another example of slick handling by the TW back-line to give the winger (11) his hat-trick of tries.
The 5 point win and the subsequent loss by Havant to already promoted Sidcup resulted in TW achieving a 1 point advantage in the final league standings and the play-off spot. We wish them well in their attempt at Chingford to achieve National league status. For Maidstone, it has been a very mixed season, which leaves much to reflect and ponder on. Maidstone must now look forward to finishing the season with a flourish, when they take on local rivals Aylesford in the Kent Plate final.
Maidstone: Danny Baker; Josh Pankhurst; Nathan Stimpson; Adam Knight; Tom Chandler, Lewis Stimpson; Matt Iles; Ben Brill; Lucian Morosan; Rory Beech; Matt Moore; Ross Clarke; Felipe Perica; Alex Clark; Euan Caborn
Replacements: Josh Smith; Charlie Williams; Jack Johnson (all used)
Report by Andy Golding