The Lions See Victory Snatched Away From Them in the Dying Minutes

The game opened in bright sunshine on a pitch that has now matured into one of the best playing surfaces in the county.

It quickly became evident that the sides were evenly matched with both teams committed to playing fast open rugby. The Lions were the first to open up the scoring after ten minutes when skipper Adam Michael, made a sparkling break on the visitors 10 metre line, moved the ball left for Luke Armstrong to score wide out, The conversion sailing wide.

The visitors showed plenty of appetite to play attacking rugby and it was only resolute and organised defence by the home side that kept them at bay during an early period of pressure
The visitors did manage to edge in front midway through the half with two penalties by their left wing. The first awarded for an infringement at a ruck and the other for a hand in the scrum.

These scores brought a response from the Lions showing good attacking flair and determination as they set about regaining the lead which they achieved minutes before the break. The Lions were awarded a penalty and kicked deep into the left hand corner, winning the resulting lineout; they set up a rolling maul and drove over the line for hooker Matthew Curd to get the touchdown. Skipper Adam Michael adding the extra points with a well struck conversion and putting his side into a 12-6 lead at the interval.

The substitution Laws in Kent Cup games are different to league games allowing four subs rather than the three and can be rolled on and off up to nine times in a game . Both sides took advantage of this law to make several changes at the break.

The Lions pack who had been under pressure at scrum time improved in the second period and were a little unlucky not to score when they drove the visitors pack over their line early in the second half. There was still little to choose between the sides with Maidstone’s backs posing real threat with ball in hand, coming close on occasions to breaching a well marshalled Lion’s defence.

Midway through the half the Lions put a little breathing space between them and the visitors opening up a 19-6 lead. Wining Lineout ball deep down Maidstone’s right flank the ball was quickly moved to centre Anthony Hart, who using his considerable strength and determination, charged through three defenders to score under the posts. Blair Charge converting.

With 25 minutes remaining one could be forgiven for thinking this was a comfortable lead but it only needed another score by the visitors to put the game right back in the melting pot and with just 15 minutes remaining they did just that ,reducing the lead to six points . The visitors left wing finding himself in space following a good three Quarter move scored 10 yards in from the flag, converted his own try to take the score to 19-13 to the Lions.

With just four minutes remaining Lion’s players and fans saw victory snatched away from their grasp when a loose tactical kick in attack was gratefully accepted by Maidstone, and being free to make ground fed his wing who scored twelve metres in from the flag. The left wing converting to secure a win by the narrowest of margins 20-19 and deprive the Lions of a victory they just about deserved.

This was a good squad effort by the Lions despite the fact it ended in defeat .There were a number of outstanding performances none more so than wing forward Andy Agar for his work around the field , No 8 Wes Bull, for his lineout work and scrumhalf and captain Adam Michael for another Man of the Match performance .

The Lions play their first league game this Saturday away to Old Dunstonians. Kick Off 3.00pm.

Reporter Gerald Griffiths