Another loss prompts a number of questions
THURROCK MAIDSTONE
There are some questions that need answering at Maidstone after another defeat.
Why do they allow the opposition to get on the front foot with poor starts to games?
Why do they only find their attacking game when they are behind?
And why do they surrender the initiative by giving away penalties?
With four more personnel and three positional changes, there were concerns Maidstone would struggle to impose themselves.
Saturday’s final score of 26-17 barely does justice to the revival from 21-3 down at half-time but it’s still another loss – Maidstone’s seventh from eight games – and one that leaves them second-bottom in London 1 South.
Injuries have certainly played havoc with selection and while those left standing have not lacked in courage or effort, a win in the next few games is essential to restore confidence.
No.8 Russo edged Thurrock in front with a try following a series Tonbridge scored three tries to Worthing’s two – but their penalty count cost them victory. The sides’ first meeting since 2001 ended 23-19 to the hosts, with Judds dropping to 13th place in National 2 South. TJs made the perfect start with a series of pick-and-drives leading to a try for Greg Langridge, converted by Nathan Holmes. The lead proved short-lived, though, and by half-time Judds trailed 17-7. Tonbridge fought back in the second half with slick hands setting up a try for Hugo Watson, then Will Colderick charged through and scored, with Holmes adding the extras for a 19-17 lead. Worthing regained the lead with a penalty 10 minutes from time and kicked another three points to clinch victory. Tonbridge travel to Coventry to play Broadstreet this weekend. of catch-and-drive moves, Worsfold with the conversion.
Matt Moore slotted a 35-metre penalty for Maidstone but a lapse in concentration from the restart allowed the ball into touch and Stanley scored from the line-out with Worsfold converting.
To compound Maidstone’s misery, Ben Knight was yellow-carded and Thurrock made the extra man tell with a converted Worsfold try.
With the full complement restored, Maidstone began to build momentum with Josh Pankhurst releasing Lewis Stimpson to score in the corner following Lucian Morosan’s quick tap penalty.
Moore added a fine conversion from the near the touchline.
Within five minutes Maidstone had added to their total.
Morosan was once again the instigator, moving the ball right, with Jack Leech setting up Alex Clark, followed by another solid conversion from Moore as Maidstone closed the gap to 21-17.
Thurrock dug in, though, and clinched victory with a try from Barrand.
Maidstone host fellow strugglers Chobham, the side immediately above them, this Saturday. Maidstone: Gibbons, Pankhurst, Beck, Field, Massey, Lamb, Stimpson, B Knight, Morosan, Beech, Green, Iles, Perry, Moore, Leech. Replacements: Baker, Johnson, Clark.
PW D L F A Ps Taunton .......... 9 9 0 0 386 159 43 Chinnor ........... 9 8 1 0 315 184 42 Cinderford....... 9 8 0 1 368 179 40 Redingensian .. 9 6 0 3 318 226 33 Redruth .......... 9 6 0 3 249 159 30 Bury St Ed....... 9 6 0 3 247 222 30 Canterbury ...... 9 6 0 3 244 196 29 Henley ............ 9 4 1 4 251 305 22 Barnstaple ...... 9 4 0 5 204 261 21 Worthing ......... 9 3 0 6 215 308 19 London IWG .... 9 3 0 6 279 265 18 Clifton ............. 9 3 1 5 208 294 18 Tonbridge J .... 9 3 0 6 222 245 17 Broadstreet ..... 9 1 0 8 196 330 8 O Redcliffians . 9 0 1 8 185 366 6 Wimbledon ..... 9 0 0 9 152 340 3 Results: Canterbury 21 Bury St Edmunds 29, Chinnor 42 Old Redcliffians 27, Cinderford 34 Broadstreet 10, Henley 22 Redruth 42, London Irish Wild Geese 60 Wimbledon 6, Worthing 23 Tonbridge Juddian 19, Clifton 33 Taunton Titans 43, Redingensians 33 Barnstaple 10. Fixtures: Barnstaple v Chinnor, Broadstreet v Tonbridge Juddian, Old Redcliffians v Cinderford, Redruth v London Irish Wild Geese, Wimbledon v Redingensians, Bury St Edmunds v Clifton, Canterbury v Worthing, Taunton Titans v Henley. Medway.......... 8 8 0 0 337 142 39 CS Rugby ........ 8 7 0 1 272 123 35 Chichester ...... 8 7 0 1 301 179 35 Havant ............ 8 6 0 2 261 194 31 Lon Cornish .... 8 5 0 3 258 234 24 Brighton.......... 8 3 1 4 209 180 21 Cobham .......... 8 3 1 4 190 244 19 Tottonians....... 8 3 1 4 206 275 18 Sevenoaks ...... 8 3 1 4 177 215 16 Gravesend ...... 8 3 0 5 160 212 14 Thurrock ......... 8 2 0 6 165 232 14 Chobham ........ 8 2 0 6 160 250 13 Maidstone....... 8 1 0 7 173 274 8 Old Colfeians .. 8 1 0 7 137 252 7 Results: Chobham 29 Chichester 39, Cobham 10 Sevenoaks 32, CS Rugby 29 Tottonians 20, Gravesend 30 Old Colfeians 7, London Cornish 23 Brighton 7, Medway 34 Havant 28, Thurrock 26 Maidstone 17. Fixtures: Brighton v Medway, Chichester v London Cornish, Havant v CS Rugby, Maidstone v Chobham, Old Colfeians v Thurrock, Sevenoaks v Gravesend, Tottonians v Cobham. Aylesford Bull.. 7 6 1 0 213 85 30 Thanet Wdrs ... 7 6 0 1 220 90 29 Bromley .......... 8 6 0 2 238 145 27 Hastings ......... 8 4 1 3 244 145 22 O Dunstonian .. 7 4 0 3 211 163 22 Lewes............. 7 4 0 3 194 182 21 Crowborough .. 7 3 0 4 181 119 18 Old Wills ......... 7 3 1 3 122 151 15 Park House ..... 7 2 0 5 157 222 12 Folkestone ...... 7 1 1 5 128 170 9 Crawley .......... 7 1 0 6 76 197 5 Sheppey ......... 7 1 0 6 77 392 4 Results: Bromley 7 Aylesford Bulls 17, Hastings & Bexhill 83 Sheppey 14, Lewes 29 Old Williamsonians 36, Old Dunstonians 35 Crowborough 26, Park House 24 Folkestone 11, Thanet Wanderers w/o v Crawley. Fixtures: Friday: Crawley v Lewes. Saturday: Aylesford Bulls v Old Dunstonians, Crowborough v Thanet Wanderers, Old Williamsonians v Park House, Sheppey v Folkestone. Beccehamian .. 7 7 0 0 248 87 34 G’ham Anch .... 7 5 0 2 258 142 25 Vigo ................ 7 5 0 2 202 158 24 Cranbrook ....... 7 4 0 3 189 99 22 Kings Hosp ..... 7 4 0 3 165 175 22 Old G’send ...... 7 3 0 4 147 144 16 New Ash Grn... 7 3 0 4 110 198 16 Ashford ........... 7 3 0 4 162 170 14 RB Scotland .... 7 3 0 4 130 191 14 Sittingbourne .. 7 2 0 5 155 231 13 Southwark ...... 7 2 0 5 108 198 10 HSBC .............. 7 1 0 6 127 208 7 Results: Beccehamian 26 King’s College Hospital 22, Gillingham Anchorians 29 Old Gravesendians 27, New Ash Green w/o v Royal Bank of Scotland, Sittingbourne 14 Cranbrook 46, Southwark Lancers 29 HSBC 24, Vigo 53 Ashford 12. Fixtures: Ashford v Gillingham Anchorians, Beccehamian v Sittingbourne, Cranbrook v New Ash Green, HSBC v Vigo, King’s College Hospital v Old Gravesendians, Royal Bank of Scotland v Southwark Lancers.