Maidstone take heart from loss

COBHAM MAIDSTONE

Maidstone played well in defeat at Cobham on Saturday – losing only in added time.

They travelled with a muchchanged side and with little expectation of a win but produced a performance that promises better days ahead.

Maidstone dominated large parts of the London 1 South game, led at half-time and were unlucky to lose.

Stuart Doust missed a long-range penalty after two minutes but Maidstone soon took the lead with captain Ben Williams getting the touchdown after a tap penalty. However, a simple conversion was missed.

Cobham hit back and when a chip from the fly-half bounced off the Maidstone defence, it landed in the arms of centre Tunnacliffe, who scored a converted try.

Maidstone had Adam Knight yellow-carded but with Cobham prop Brown also sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle, the visitors went 8-7 up with a Doust penalty.

Two more Maidstone scores stretched the half-time lead to 16-7.

The first was another Doust penalty and the second a try for Lewis Stimpson after the three-quarters swept upfield.

With barely time for the restart, Maidstone conceded when a clearing kick was charged down by winger Oldershaw who reduced the half-time deficit to four points.

The visitors missed another penalty after the break but pounced on a stray pass in the backline, with George Perry running from his own 22 to score.

With a simple conversion, Maidstone led 23-12 with half an hour left.

As they looked to the game, Maidstone kill lost possession in the Cobham 22 and a clearing kick led to a converted try in the corner.

Momentum was back with the home side but Maidstone defended well before stretching their lead again, Doust picking out Alex Clarke to score in the corner after the first attempt was held up.

Cobham cut the gap to six points with a penalty and grew in authority as Maidstone tired in the closing minutes.

As the game entered added time, No.8 Davis scored in the corner, with Farrely’s conversion handing the hosts a one-point lead.

There was time for one more try, the conversion from Farrely denying Mike Hebden’s side a losing bonus point. Maidstone are without a game this weekend. Maidstone: Williams, Pankhurst, Beck, A Knight, Field, Stimpson, B Knight, Morosan, Doust, Clarke, Beech, Perry, Green, Moore. Replacements: Gilligan, Chandler, Smith.