Positive signs from opener
BURY ST EDMUNDS TONBRIDGE JUDDS MAIDSTONE COLFEIANS
Results: National League 2 South: Bury St Edmunds 17 Tonbridge Juddian 50, Canterbury 17 Cinderford 39, Clifton 24 Chinnor 24, Henley 28 Redingensians 24, Redruth 58 Old Redcliffians 10, Taunton Titans 41 Broadstreet 21, Wimbledon 13 Barnstaple 33, Worthing 27 London Irish Wild Geese 22. London & SE Premier: Barnes 32 Sutton & Epsom 35, Dorking 15 Westcliff 22, Hertford 47 Guildford 20, Southend Saxons 25 Sidcup 35, Towcestrians 5 Guernsey 75, Tring 32 Westcombe Park 26, Tunbridge Wells 39 Shelford 19. London 1 South: Brighton 29 Tottonians 31, Chichester 28 Sevenoaks 10, Chobham 12 CS Rugby 1863 45, Gravesend 17 Medway 40, London Cornish 25 Havant 44, Maidstone 34 Old Colfeians 21, Thurrock 27 Cobham 33. Fixtures: National League 2 South: Barnstaple v Redruth, Broadstreet v Bury St Edmunds, Chinnor v Henley, Cinderford v Clifton, Old Redcliffians v Taunton Titans, Redingensians v London Irish Wild Geese, Tonbridge Juddian v Canterbury, Wimbledon v Worthing. London & SE Premier: Barnes v Tunbridge Wells, Guernsey v Sutton & Epsom, Guildford v Dorking, Shelford v Hertford, Tring v Towcestrians, Westcliff v Southend Saxons, Westcombe Park v Sidcup. London 1 South: Cobham v Chobham, CS Rugby 1863 v London Cornish, Gravesend v Thurrock, Havant v Brighton, Medway v Old Colfeians, Sevenoaks v Maidstone, Tottonians v Chichester. London 3 South East: Aylesford Bulls v Folkestone, Bromley v Lewes, Crawley v Sheppey, Crowborough v Old Williamsonians, Hastings & Bexhill v Park House, Old Dunstonians v Thanet Wanderers. Kent 1: Beccehamian v Gillingham Anchorians, Cranbrook v Old Gravesendians, HSBC v King’s College Hospital, New Ash Green v Southwark Lancers, Royal Bank of Scotland v Ashford, Sittingbourne v Vigo. Promoted Tonbridge Juddians made a flying start to life in National 2 South with a win at Bury St Edmonds. Full-back Murray Galbraith-Lowe scored twice in the first half, with winger Hugo Watson and lock-forward Cole Campbell also crossing. Liam Prescott added three conversions. Bury improved, scoring two converted tries and a penalty, but it was Judds’ day. Prescott scored their first points of the second half with a penalty, then Galbraith-Lowe added his hat-trick try, converted by Nathan Holmes. Duncan Tout crossed after Will Ward’s decoy run and Mike O’Sullivan also went over with Holmes twice converting. Tonbridge host Canterbury on Saturday. Maidstone started the London 1 South season with victory against league new boys Old Colfeians last Saturday.
Add in a bonus point for the five tries scored and this goes down as a good day for coach Mike Hebden and his new-look side.
Euan Caborn and Alex Clark were the only survivors from last year’s back line and the potential in three-quarters was pleasing to see.
The forwards, though, had a more familiar look with only two new props in Max Guero and Tom Mount in the front row.
Adam Knight led the side in skipper Ben Williams’ absence but it was crowd favourite Ben Brill who won the man-of-the-match award for a storming performance from openside flanker.
Colfes fielded a large pack but failed to impress outside the scrum and their line-out was poor.
The visitors took an early lead when prop O’Malley scored after two minutes, Potter converting.
But Maidstone hit back with a Brill try just past the five-minute mark, gathering the ball in the 22 and scoring in the left corner.
A second try, this time from Josh Pankhurst, saw Maidstone grab the lead.
It came after a mistake at a Colfes throw-in, with the home hooker taking full advantage and Caborn adding the extras for a 12-7 lead.
Maidstone survived a 10-minute spell a man down after Guero was yellow carded. And with their full complement restored, they had the last word of the first half when another line-out mistake by Colfes allowed Brill to set up Guero.
Caborn missed the conversion but Maidstone led 17-7 at the break.
The visitors closed to within three points early in the second with Potter converting a try from fly-half Gale.
But back came Maidstone as a well-timed pass in the centre released Pankhurst to score in the corner, Caborn with the conversion.
The next try sealed the game and came out of nothing when, with Maidstone deep in their own 22, Colfes dropped the ball, allowing replacement Matt Moore to round his opposite number and sprint the length of the pitch. Caborn’s conversion was a formality.
Colfes continued to use their pack, leading to a try for second-row Howard after a catch-and-drive move, converted by Potter.
Maidstone managed the last quarter to good effect, with Caborn’s penalty completing the scoring.
Maidstone visit Sevenoaks on Saturday. Maidstone: Guero, Pankhurst, Mount, A Knight, Massey, B Knight, Brill, Iles, Leech, Caborn, Antoniou, Perry, Copp, Green, Clark. Replacements: Baker, Lamb, Moore.
Aylesford will be looking to improve on last season’s seventh-place finish when they begin their London 3 South East campaign on Saturday at home to Folkestone.