The 2nd's Show The Lion Spirit Against Maidstone

Fortunately the 3rd team’s game had been cancelled against Snowdon by the league administrators, so many of the young Lions were called up to make their 2nd team debut against the top of the league side – a big ask, but one they took on with gusto. Maidstone took the Lions on from the start hoping to use their big forwards to crash holes in the Deal defence, but the defence remained firm & for the first 20 minutes there was no score. Pressure from Maidstone was taking its toll & a couple of dubious penalty decisions gave Maidstone their first scoring chances, only one being converted 3-0. The Lions looked dangerous on the counter attack & started to probe the Maidstone defence with some fine runs from the backs.
The forwards were solid in the scrums & the team was growing in confidence. Just before half time after some strong forward play, Maidstone scored a converted try 10-0. This was a game that was there for the taking & in the second half Deal started to move the ball around, twice coming close to scoring, first with Rory Elliott chasing up on a high kick, just missing the touchdown & after some fine handling in the backs, Ian Marriott going close after one of his signature kick and chases just going dead. Maidstone continued to play their forwards style of play & after a nasty incident of unnecessary stamping by two of their forwards that went unpunished, were surprisingly awarded a penalty near the posts & pushed over a scrum to score, 17-0.
Deal came right back & again were close to scoring in now, a rather fractious game. Camped in the Maidstone 5 metre zone they made several attempts to get over the line but again were denied by the Maidstone defence. In the last 10 minutes Maidstone added an unconverted try after again being awarded a dodgy penalty which they chose to take as a scrum & drive over the line, final score 22-0. This could have been a really good close game but once again, Deal seemed to be blighted with another referee who made several contentious decisions, creating frustration & allowing the game to spiral out of control.
Maidstone were the stronger side on the day & deserved the win but the young Deal side should feel proud of their performance & look forward to the return match in March where they could potentially turn the tables.
Man of the match; Eion McGrath.

Team: Lee Hayes (Jamie Hubbard) Gary Dixon, Harry Deverill, (George Holmes), James Pledger, John Stabler ,Nathan Parker, Eion McGrath, Sam Ludwig, Jo Michaels, Ian Marriott, Jake Ward, Stuart Adcock, Sam Hursey, Joseph Chatterton, Rory Elliott.