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Sunday 25th May 2008: Maidstone Pumas 13 Essex Spartans 12

After a morning full of rain, Sunday afternoon at Aylesford Rugby Club turned out warm and dry, to open the BAFL Division 2 season for the Maidstone Pumas. The Pumas had postponed the opening two games due to a shortage of players and injuries to key personnel.

The Pumas fielded 25 players, which are up on last season’s numbers, but Essex arrived with 50 players an incredible improvement on last season’s campaign.

The Pumas welcomed old foes Essex Spartans, who had recruited an old Hertfordshire Stag, Marc Saunders from Coventry Jets as player/coach. This fixture is becoming Stags reunion with Coach Smith and QB John Bowden joining Saunders and Kieran Goymer from Essex.

Rookie Halfback James Cherry on the run

The Pumas took early control, driving the field, albeit with Essex indiscipline making the majority of the yards, before rookie running back James Cherry ran in from 14 yards. Dave Kerr kicked the point after.

Play then went back and forward with both teams settling into a pattern of defence holding the upper hand. However, during this period Essex missed two shortish field goals, which kept The Pumas in front until the end of the 1st quarter.

Essex did bounce back on some good running and finally No 27 ran in for the score. However, the unfortunate field goal kicker missed the PAT. At the half, the Pumas held a slender one point lead. In the second quarter Cherry thought he had scored a second TD, but it was discovered that he had stepped out of bounds after a 27 yard run and Wide Receiver Richard Dowling, scored a TD, but the score was bought back by the officials for a technical infringement, we only started with 6 men on the line!

The 3rd quarter opened in similar style, with both teams exchanging possessions. However, it was the Pumas who struck, when Cherry, did make amends and ran in from 42 yards capping an excellent performance of 23 carries for 160 yards and two scores. Coach Smith, decided to add a bit of insurance to the scoreline by going for a 2 point try. However, Pumas jumped offside and Cherry was stopped from adding to the total.

Essex took over and drove the ball down the field, but good pressure on the Essex quarter back by Defensive ends Ian Lee and Dave Kerr and Linebacker Iain Chapman kept Essex at bay. However, yet another missed field goal, did not deter the Essex pressure. They were finally rewarded when on the 6 yard line, Marc Saunders playing Offence for the first time since he left Farnham Knights, bundled over the line. Unfortunately, the 2 point try was stopped by good Pumas defence.

The final few minutes were tense, with Pumas controlling the clock and not making any mistakes. A punt into the Essex corner, by Kerr, left Essex with 70 yards to travel in just about two and a half minutes. Try as they may, the Pumas held on for their first win in two seasons.

After the game, Coaches Smith and Lear praised the effort and the way in which the rookies and vets had performed. They also reminded the players that next week, travelling away to local rivals East Kent Mavericks, is another day and another game.

The Pumas are looking for players (youth and senior) and coaches to assist with the 2008 campaign and beyond.

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