No rust as tries flow in easy win
MAIDSTONE SEVENOAKS
The scoreline reflected their dominance as Maidstone returned to action after a three-week break.
Opponents Sevenoaks looked a shadow of the side who pushed them all the way earlier in the season but the performance of Maidstone’s front row had a lot to do with it.
Ben Massey and Lewis Stimpson were restored to the pack, while Rory Beech was fit to start at fly-half after a muscle injury as the hosts went into Saturday’s London 1 South game with almost everyone available.
Maidstone led after three minutes, the pack marching the ball down to the Sevenoaks line with Ben Williams getting the touchdown and Euan Caborn the conversion.
Oaks fly-half Phoenix missed a penalty and Maidstone extended their lead on the half-hour when Craig Webb finished a move in the corner.
With Caborn nursing a hamstring tweak, Ross Cooke took over kicking duties but missed the conversion.
A grubber kick from the restart caught Maidstone napping as Sevenoaks began to ask questions, Caborn’s replacement Sam Pearson with two good clearances from the 22 to keep the half-time score at 12- 0.
Phoenix missed another penalty at the start of the second half and, after a messy period of play, Maidstone went back to basics.
A scrum on the right provided the platform for a series of attempts on the line, with Ben Knight getting the touchdown and Cooke the extras.
Owen spilled a chance for Sevenoaks after a break left them two-on-one and they were punished again as Maidstone scored their bonuspoint try.
A long kick from the base of the scrum by Lucian Morosan took them into the 22 and with Maidstone winning the lineout, Stimpson ran through unopposed, Cooke c onverting.
A harsh yellow card for replacement Jack O’Connell gave Sevenoaks a man advantage and a crossfield kick stretched the home defence, giving left-wing Short the chance to go over.
However, Maidstone added two late tries from man-of-thematch Josh Pankhurst.
The first came from a short lineout which saw him take advantage of slack defending after combining with Adam Knight.
Then, with Matt Moore in the sin-bin for a high tackle, Pankhurst chased his clearance and outpaced the cover.
Maidstone, in sixth, travel to fourth-placed Tottonians tomorrow (Saturday). Maidstone: B Williams, Pankhurst, Simpson, A Knight, Massey, B Knight, Stimpson, Iles, Morosan, Beech, Clarke, Webb, Cooke, Moore, Caborn. Replacements: O’Connell, C Williams, Pearson.
PW D L F A Ps Sidcup .......... 15 14 1 0 580 183 70 Havant .......... 15 12 1 2 619 250 62 Tun Wells...... 15 12 0 3 433 231 58 Tottonians..... 15 9 0 6 490 353 49 CS Rugby ...... 15 10 0 5 408 285 47 Maidstone..... 15 9 0 6 386 307 45 Cobham ........ 15 8 0 7 389 347 43 Gravesend .... 15 8 0 7 370 339 39 Chobham ...... 15 7 1 7 328 284 37 Sevenoaks .... 15 7 0 8 347 336 36 Chiswick ....... 15 4 1 10 285 429 16 Dover............ 15 2 0 13 203 662 11 Brighton........ 15 1 0 14 217 428 11 Gosport & F... 15 0 0 15 113 734 1 Results: Brighton 5 Gravesend 9, Chobham 20 CS Rugby 12, Cobham 24 Dover 13, Gosport & Fareham 0 Havant 36, Maidstone 36 Sevenoaks 5, Sidcup 40 Chiswick 0, Tunbridge Wells 31 Tottonians 29. Fixtures: Chiswick v Brighton, Cobham v Chobham, CS Rugby v Sidcup, Dover v Sevenoaks, Gravesend v Gosport & Fareham, Havant v Tunbridge Wells, Tottonians v Maidstone. Thanet Wdrs . 13 11 0 2 421 199 55 Pulborough ... 13 10 0 3 384 235 50 Lewes........... 13 10 0 3 383 284 50 Haywrds Hth . 13 10 1 2 298 135 45 Folkestone .... 13 8 0 5 399 327 41 Park House ... 13 5 0 8 238 314 26 Sheppey ....... 13 4 1 8 312 412 26 G’ham Anch .. 13 5 0 8 329 351 25 Eastbourne ... 13 4 0 9 222 313 23 O D’stonians . 13 4 1 8 303 383 13 Aylesford ...... 13 2 1 10 209 397 13 Ashford ......... 13 3 0 10 224 372 8 Results: Ashford 10 Park House 22, Eastbourne v w/o Haywards Heath, Gillingham Anchorians 50 Sheppey 32, Old Dunstonians 25 Lewes 29, Pulborough 41 Aylesford Bulls 13, Thanet Wanderers 39 Folkestone 21. Fixtures: Aylesford Bulls v Eastbourne, Gillingham Anchorians v Pulborough, Haywards Heath v Old Dunstonians, Lewes v Ashford, Park House v Thanet Wanderers, Sheppey v Folkestone. Hastings ....... 13 12 0 1 444 91 59 O W’sonians . 13 11 0 2 339 178 52 Cranbrook ..... 13 9 1 3 395 219 48 Kings Hosp ... 13 7 0 6 232 212 34 HSBC ............ 13 6 1 6 256 326 33 B’hamian ...... 13 6 0 7 236 261 30 Southwark .... 13 6 0 7 248 320 30 Vigo .............. 13 5 0 8 289 262 28 Brockleians ... 13 5 0 8 178 349 23 Sittingbrne .... 13 4 0 9 222 322 22 New Ash Grn. 13 4 0 9 234 280 21 Snowdown.... 13 2 0 11 153 406 6 Results: Beccehamian 10 Hastings & Bexhill 29, Brockleians 31 Sittingbourne 12, Cranbrook 17 HSBC 10, New Ash Green 5 King’s College Hospital 20, Snowdown 0 Vigo 69, Southwark Lancers 17 Old Williamsonians 18. Fixtures: Beccehamian v Cranbrook, Brockleians v Snowdown, Hastings & Bexhill v Vigo, HSBC v Southwark Lancers, King’s College Hospital v Sittingbourne, Old Williamsonians v New Ash Green.