Keen to keep up momentum
Rugby
Captain Ben Williams has warned that Maidstone Rugby Club’s unbeaten season will make them a target for opponents in their new league.
The club start life in London 1 South with an away game against Charlton Park tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm).
They’re out to build on last season’s memorable campaign that saw them win London 2 South East without losing a game and also lift the Intermediate Cup at Twickenham.
Maidstone believe they are capable of another promotion push but know they won’t have it all their own way.
Williams said: “We’ve played most of the teams in this league before, even if it was four or five years ago.
“They know the success we had last year and because we went undefeated, they will all want to be the first to beat us.
“We should be underdogs going into a new league but we’ve got a big target on our backs because people want to beat Maidstone, also for the fact we’re a county town club.”
Promoted teams often talk about consolidation but Williams feels Maidstone must push on.
He said: “We want to build on last season’s momentum, rather than stalling and building again.
“We want National League rugby this year or next year but we know it’s not going to be easy. There’ll be no big wins like last year.
“It’s going to be a hard-fought league but I’m confident we’ll make the step up.
“We don’t want to be over-confident and say ‘yes, it’s definitely going to happen’ but our long-term aim is to get into National 3.
“We’ve got to push for it and if it happens this year then great but it might take a couple of years.”
Maidstone have made
several National League 3 London & SE: Bracknell v Westcombe Park, Chichester v Tonbridge Juddian, Colchester v Gravesend, Eton Manor v Hertford, London IWG v Guernsey, Westcliff v East Grinstead, Wimbledon v Shelford. London 1 South: Brighton v Medway, Charlton Park v Maidstone, Chiswick v Sidcup, Chobham v Gosport & Fareham, Guildford v Tottonians, Havant v Dover, Twickenham v Sutton & Epsom. signings, including prop Harry Millar from Scottish Premiership side Dundee and centre Craig Webb, who arrives from Southend Saxons.
They also welcome back Gareth Ellis after a year out and have boosted their squad with players from other Kent clubs.
Maidstone were too good for London 2 South East but need to raise their game at the next level. Williams said: “The main differences are the intensity and toughness of the game but more so it’s the speed at which everything happens.
“You’ve got to be that little bit quicker, three or four metres in front of where we were running in the league below.
“We showed the level we’re capable of against Westcombe Park, who were National 3, in the Kent Cup last year.
“We know we can play at that intensity but it’s whether we can do it every week.
“We’ve got some new lads and some local lads who have made an impression.
“They’ve bought into the style of rugby we want to play, our aims, ethos and what we want to build.”
Maidstone completed pre-season by winning the three-team Barking tournament last weekend.
Tries from Josh Pankhurst and Craig Webb secured a 12-7 victory over Gravesend in their opening game.
Maidstone clinched the trophy with a 22-0 success against the hosts.
Tom Waring, Lewis Stimpson, Millar and Rory Beech went over for the tries.