Gap in class too big to bridge
Maidstone showed their improvement against high-flying Havant but the cutting edge was missing.
A poor start ultimately proved costly with the hosts trailing 13- 0 on Saturday.
They fought back but the scoreline was a reflection of where these two sides are at in London 1 South, with Havant third and Maidstone bottom.
Joel Knight scored a penalty in the first minute, followed by a try from wing Luke Warrington, then Maidstone had Ben Knight yellow carded before the first quarter was up.
The 14 men began to mount pressure on the Havant defence but an error at a lineout saw the visitors pick up the loose ball and break with the three-quarters releasing Scott Morris for another try.
Maidstone built further pressure, boosted by Havant losing Mitch Goldring to the sin-bin for a high tackle.
The visitors were finally breached after 40 minutes with a break by Matt Iles finished by Craig Webb in the corner. Rory Beech added a fine conversion.
That cut the score to 13-7 but a penalty from the restart gave Havant the chance to score their third try for an 11-point lead at half-time.
Havant’s fast start to the second half was countered by Maidstone but they threw away the advantage too often, highlighted by a missed lineout in the visitors’ 22.
From the subsequent scrum, Havant broke and set up hooker Jerome Trail to score their fourth try. Knight converted for a 25-7 lead.
Maidstone kept going and scored again before the end of the third quarter with a quick-tap penalty by Webb to Beech catching the defence flatfooted and giving Lewis Stimpson room to cross the line from halfway out.
Beech’s conversion cut the deficit to 25-14.
Maidstone forwards put pressure on Havant’s eight but basic errors continued to undo their good work and the final score came when a clearing Maidstone kick failed to find touch.
A counter started by the Havant right wing was taken on by their full-back to release Trail for his second try. Next up for Maidstone is a trip to second-placed CS Rugby 1863 on Saturday.
Maidstone: Gibbons, Beck, Guero, A Knight, Masssey, Bramwell, Stimpson, B Knight, Leech, Beech, Antoniou, Iles, Webb, Morosan, Pearson. Replacements: Baker, Stevenson, Woolford.