Holders are ousted in cup triumph
GIRLS TEAM UP FOR WINNING PARTNERSHIP
half pressure before a break by Filip Peirca triggered a flowing move and a try for Rory Beech.
Minutes later, with Maidstone’s pack dominant and Chobham a man down, Ben Massey finished a catchand-drive to level.
A repeat move produced another try for Massey, with Caborn’s conversion securing a seven-point lead at 24-17.
Chobham, restored to their full complement, scored another try but with Maidstone back on the front foot, Beech set up Ben Brill in the corner, Caborn converting. Aylesford girls were winners at their home festival on Sunday. They teamed up with Thanet Wanderers to beat Folkestone and Dover 17-2 in an under-13 game. The match was divided into quarters, with training drills inbetween. Manager Ann-Marie Faik said: “We meet up with Thanet quite a bit. “We played with them a few months ago and have a bit of an alliance going. If either of us are short, we boost each other’s numbers.” Aylesford have launched a fresh appeal for girls to take up rugby. They have teams in the under-13 (Years 7 and 8), under-15 (Years 9 and 10) and under-18 (Years 10, 11 and 12) age groups and also plan to run summer training. Faik said: “You hear a lot about girls’ rugby and how many players there are. “That’s true in certain pockets of the country, where they have loads of players, but other areas are struggling. We could certainly do with more numbers. Get in touch by searching Aylesford Girls Rugby on Facebook. Maidstone beat holders Old Elthamians 22-18 to win the under-16 Kent Cup final at Ashford on Sunday.
Full-back Gabe Roberts collected an OEs kick and ran more than three quarters of the pitch for an unconverted try after six minutes.
Elthamians responded with a drop goal and a penalty for a 6-5 lead at half-time.
Maidstone looked sharper at the start of the second half, electing to keep ball in hand to draw the defence and create space for the backs.
The tactics paid off as quick hands saw wing James Hoyte storm through from deep and take a perfectly timed pass for an unconverted try and a 10- 6 advantage.
Centre Louis Skinner powered through flailing tackles for Maidstone’s third try, converted by Oli Leyland, to leave them 17- 6 up with 10 minutes left.
Elthamians hit back with a converted try but with Jack Royden and Tom Haywood’s runs occupying the defence, Maidstone’s ball-carriers made big gains and a fourth try followed when Charlie Booker crossed the line for 22-13.
There was time for one more Elthamians score. Maidstone: Brendan Martindale, Matt Fairway (capt), Jack Royden, Harvey Beaton, Sean Trumper, Callum Game, Henry Warby, James Long, Owen Hughes, Danny Gillingham, Myles Frederick, Tom Hayward, Oli Leyland, Luke Reeves, Jasper Mulrooney-Skinner, Louis Skinner, Danny Jones, Dan Thomas, Archie Humphrey, Gabe Roberts, James Hoyte, Charlie Booker.
Aylesford Bulls lost 20-15 to Bromley in the under-15 Kent Bowl final.
PW D L F A Ps Sidcup .......... 22 21 1 0 859 299105 Havant .......... 22 17 1 4 795 390 87 Tun Wells...... 22 17 0 5 634 356 84 Tottonians..... 22 14 0 8 692 531 75 CS Rugby ...... 22 14 0 8 620 477 67 Cobham ........ 22 13 0 9 643 494 67 Sevenoaks .... 22 11 0 11 543 510 59 Gravesend .... 22 11 0 11 598 486 56 Maidstone..... 22 10 0 12 546 538 55 Chobham ...... 22 10 1 11 524 471 53 Brighton........ 22 5 0 17 397 562 32 Chiswick ....... 22 6 1 15 421 599 27 Dover............ 22 2 0 20 282 944 11 Gosport & F... 22 1 0 21 174 1071 5 Results: Brighton 38 Gosport & Fareham 0, Chiswick 15 Havant 7, Chobham 32 Maidstone 31, Cobham 28 Sevenoaks 21, CS Rugby 48 Tottonians 29, Dover 15 Gravesend 69, Sidcup 39 Tunbridge Wells 23. Pulborough ... 19 16 0 3 607 330 79 Haywrds Hth . 19 16 1 2 483 201 75 Thanet Wdr ... 19 14 0 5 587 304 71 Folkestone .... 19 13 0 6 529 388 66 Lewes........... 19 12 0 7 502 393 63 Sheppey ....... 19 6 1 12 416 573 38 Old Dunston .. 19 8 1 10 465 523 33 Gill Anchs ..... 19 6 0 13 415 518 31 Park House ... 19 6 0 13 314 506 31 Aylesfrd Bull . 19 5 1 13 324 529 29 Eastbourne ... 19 6 0 13 329 443 27 Ashford ......... 19 4 0 15 294 557 13 Results: Ashford 27 Eastbourne 12, Folkestone 26 Gillingham Anchorians 8, Lewes 22 Haywards Heath 43, Old Dunstonians 36 Sheppey 24, Park House 25 Aylesford Bulls 20, Thanet Wanderers 22 Pulborough 32. Hastings & B . 19 18 0 1 639 138 88 Old Williams.. 19 17 0 2 499 225 81 Cranbrook ..... 19 13 1 5 635 275 70 HSBC ............ 19 11 1 7 443 447 59 Kings Hosp ... 19 10 1 8 393 340 50 B’hamian ...... 19 10 0 9 394 369 48 Vigo .............. 19 8 1 10 411 419 44 Southwark L . 18 8 0 10 346 468 40 Brockleians ... 19 6 0 13 214 527 28 New Ash Grn. 18 4 0 14 312 430 24 Sittingbrne .... 19 4 0 15 276 517 23 Snowdown.... 19 2 0 17 179 586 -4 Results: Brockleians 18 HSBC 38, King’s College Hospital 21 Old Williamsonians 31, New Ash Green 19 Hastings & Bexhill 36, Sittingbourne 15 Southwark Lancers 23, Snowdown CW 0 Cranbrook 53, Vigo 48 Beccehamian 32. Fixture: Southwark Lancers v New Ash Green.