Caborn’s boot wins the day
MAIDSTONE BRIGHTON
The kicking skills of Euan Caborn proved crucial for Maidstone as they narrowly beat Brighton.
Against the team sitting second from bottom in London 1 South, Maidstone struggled to gain authority, winning the match in injury-time with a Caborn penalty.
Maidstone needed an improved second half to ensure that they got the win.
Early dominance from Maidstone was rewarded with a penalty from the 40m mark by Caborn with five minutes gone.
But rather than build on the early success, it was the visitors that dominated the half.
An equalising penalty on 10 minutes and a second on the quarter hour, both converted by winger Peter Sowerby, gave Brighton the lead. A try at the end of the first quarter by winger Zac Downey put them in the driving seat.
Maidstone put pressure on the visitors’ defence and scored from another Caborn penalty, just before the half hour. The home cheers were quickly silenced as Brighton extended their lead with a second try, for a 16- 6 lead.
At the start of the second half, winger Matt Moore collected a loose ball after a Brighton fumble to run in for a try from just inside the visitors’ half.
A catch and drive from 10 metres out, following a penalty, after five minutes, could have consolidated the early try but Maidstone failed to press home the advantage.
Caborn reduced the Brighton lead to two points, at the end of the third quarter, with another penalty.
A high tackle by the visitors gave Caborn the opportunity to then put Maidstone ahead on the half hour.
Brighton got their chance to regain the lead when Maidstone went offside at a ruck and Sowerby took full advantage, for a 19-17 lead.
But Maidstone refused to buckle and, following a line out, were given their own opportunity to recover the lead, deep into injury time. Caborn’s kick was again successful, to win it 20-19. Maidstone: Ben Williams, Josh Pankhurst, Danny Baker, Adam Knight, Ben Massey, Matt Vickers, Ben Knight, Simon Hawkin, Brendan Trudgen, Euan Caborn, Lucian Morosan, Craig Webb, Ross Cooke, Matt Moore, Rory Beech. Replacements: Tom Chandler, Will Fox, Copter Brunt.