Late Trudgen try burst gives Wells a scare
MAIDSTONE TUN WELLS
Both coaching teams walked away from the opening game with a list of things to work on.
There’s certainly more to come from Maidstone, who lost their first match under new coach Mike Hebden by a single point.
Tunbridge Wells, who played open running rugby in the first half, just about deserved to win last Saturday.
But they were hanging on at the end and Maidstone could have taken the points had their kicking game and discipline been sharper.
Maidstone handed debuts to Brendan Trudgen, Leon Olsson and Matt Moore in the backs, with Ben Knight joining his brother Adam in the pack after moving from Ashford.
Wells, promoted to London 1 South after an unbeaten season, dominated the opening quarter Results: London 1 South: Chiswick 11 Cobham 51, Dover 10 CS Rugby 47, Gravesend 31 Chobham 17, Havant 24 Sidcup 24, Maidstone 14 Tunbridge Wells 15, Sevenoaks 47 Gosport & Fareham 0, Tottonians 26 Brighton 16. Fixtures: London 1 South: Brighton v Havant, Chobham v Chiswick, Cobham v CS Rugby, Gosport & Fareham v Tottonians, Maidstone v Dover, Sidcup v Gravesend, Tunbridge Wells v Sevenoaks. London 3 South East: Folkestone v Old Dunstonians, Haywards Heath v Gillingham Anchorians, Lewes v Pulborough, Park House v Eastbourne, Sheppey v Aylesford Bulls, Thanet Wanderers v Ashford. Kent 1: Brockleians v Southwark Lancers, Hastings & Bexhill v HSBC, King’s College Hospital v Cranbrook, Old Williamsonians v Beccehamian, Snowdown CW v Sittingbourne, Vigo v New Ash Green. Women’s Premiership: Saturday: Wasps v Bristol. Sunday: Saracens v DMP Sharks, Richmond v Lichfield, Worcester Valkyries v Aylesford Bulls. although the first chance fell Maidstone’s way with Trudgen missing a penalty.
Wells went ahead shortly after with right wing and skipper Campion getting the touchdown after a catch-and-drive. Fly-half Reynolds added the conversion.
Maidstone had Ben Massey yellow-carded but defended well before missing a second penalty as the first half ended 7- 0.
Hebden’s men started the second half by mounting a series of attacks that took them into the 22. But they couldn’t score and when Josh Pankhurst received Maidstone’s second yellow card, Wells took full advantage.
They extended their lead to 10 points with a Reynolds penalty, followed by another try for Campion from a chip-and-chase.
Maidstone, back at full strength, gave Wells a fright in the last 10 minutes. A superb break by Pankhurst saw Trudgen take the inside pass and beat the covering defence to score a converted try.
Wells were now stretched and a yellow card for killing the ball in their own 22 gave Maidstone further momentum, with Trudgen scoring his second converted try from the next attack. The hosts thought they’d won in injury time when winger Moore crossed the line but the try was ruled out for a forward pass.
Maidstone host Dover tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm). Maidstone: Williams, W Massey, O’Connell, A Knight, B Massey, B Knight, Lamb, Pankhurst, Morosan, Beech, Clark, Webb, Olsson, Moore, Trudgen. Replacements: Baker, Stimpson, Smith.