This was the proverbial case of after the Lord Mayor’s Show

Having last week claimed the undefeated record of Tonbridge Wells this was the proverbial case of after the Lord Mayor’s Show. On paper, despite some key players being missing, CS ought to have been able to achieve a victory at Maidstone but the game was not played on paper. For the first time this season CS conceded four tries and nearly double their normal average points were conceded. Injuries during the game did not help but too many players had an off day.
In the end the penalty count was a relatively low 6:3 against CS, the first of which was conceded after two minutes but the 27 metre kick at goal was missed by the Maidstone kicker. In the fifth minute CS were awarded a scrum which indicated how the afternoon might pan out as the all-powerful Maidstone scrum drove CS backwards enabling Maidstone to take the ball and set up an attacking position which was defended by CS. However on 16 minutes following a number of well executed pick and drives by the home forwards Maidstone scored their first try for a 5 – 0 lead. From the kick off some sharp play by CS resulted in Joe Heslop breaking down the right wing, and just before he was tackled, passed inside to James Houstoun to score, which Hodgson converted 5 – 7 to CS. Shortly afterwards, following a penalty which Maidstone kicked to touch, their dominant pack had five consecutive five metre scrums. CS’s defence held strong but on 38 minutes, just before the break Maidstone moved the ball to their backs and their centre broke through and scored under the posts, leaving the half time score 12 – 7.
In the second half CS had a number of promising breaks but too many unforced knock-ons and turn overs at rucks and mauls bought them to premature ends. On 13 minutes Maidstone again gained territory and again scored under the posts 19 – 7. On 20 minutes CS should have scored after Heslop broke, passed to Houstoun who passed to Dazeley but a penalty was conceded at the ensuing breakdown. Two minutes later CS were again attacking but a telegraphed pass was spotted by Maidstone, who intercepted and after a 60 metre sprint Maidstone had the try bonus point and a score of 26 – 7.
CS then pushed for the two scores that would give them a point from the match, and although Mikey Smith scored, they could not get both the tries they needed. The gloom at Maidstone from knowing that many players had underperformed was lifted somewhat with the news from Dukes Meadows that the seconds had beaten Rosslyn Park. Next week CS are home to Sevenoaks.