Stones lack final flourish
TUN WELLS MAIDSTONE
Maidstone finished ninth in London 1 South after losing to Tunbridge Wells in their final league game of the season.
Victory on Saturday gave Wells second place and a promotion play-off but for the Stones, there’s much to ponder after a mixed campaign.
It was always a big ask for the visitors, missing important players including captain Ben Williams, to rain on Wells’ parade.
They did start well but Wells began to exert pressure and turnover ball in the 22 led to a run-in try for the hooker and a 7- 0 lead with the conversion.
It was in the scrum where Maidstone excelled and when they won the ball against the head, Ben Brill fed fly-half Rory Beech who cut a good angle to cross the line, with Euan Caborn adding the extras.
The score was quickly answered as Wells broke from their own half, setting up the winger for another converted try.
And Wells extended their lead to 21-7 after some poor tackling led to a third converted score for the hosts.
With half-time approaching, the signs were looking ominous as Wells got into their fast- flowing game, moving the ball left for their bonus-point try and a 26-7 lead at the break.
Maidstone started the second half strongly, with the pack exerting pressure but they missed a great chance after the ball was dropped five metres from the line.
Wells had a man yellow-carded but back they came with a smart crossfield kick leading to a fifth converted try, followed by a penalty for 36-7.
From this point, against a tiring defence, Wells began to play with freedom and went further ahead with a try for their second row.
Maidstone scored a consolation try when winger Matt Moore intercepted and headed for the line, also adding the conversion.
But Wells had the final say when more slick handling saw their winger complete a hat-trick. Maidstone: Baker, Pankhurst, N Stimpson, A Knight, Chandler, L Stimpson, Iles, Brill, Morosan, Beech, Moore, Clarke, Perica, Clark, Caborn. Replacements: Smith, C Williams, Johnson.
Local rivals meet in the Kent Plate final when Maidstone take on Aylesford at Canterbury on Sunday (3pm).
PW D L F A Ps Sidcup .......... 26 24 1 1 976 382121 Tun Wells...... 26 20 0 6 829 392100 Havant .......... 26 19 1 6 926 508 99 Tottonians..... 26 17 1 8 810 626 91 CS Rugby ...... 26 17 0 9 800 568 84 Cobham ........ 26 16 0 10 821 594 83 Sevenoaks .... 26 14 0 12 667 597 74 Gravesend .... 26 13 0 13 690 567 66 Maidstone..... 26 11 0 15 683 645 61 Chobham ...... 26 10 1 15 583 601 54 Brighton........ 26 7 1 18 482 656 43 Chiswick ....... 26 7 1 18 516 773 32 Dover............ 26 2 0 24 3491194 12 Gosport & F... 26 2 0 24 2411270 10 Results: Brighton 29 Tottonians 29, Chobham 6 Gravesend 32, Cobham 87 Chiswick 14, CS Rugby 82 Dover 26, Gosport & Fareham 19 Sevenoaks 41, Sidcup 43 Havant 30, Tunbridge Wells 46 Maidstone 14.