Basingstoke 15 Maidstone 3

Maidstone suffered their eleventh straight London 2 South defeat but emerged with plenty of credit in their game against promotion-chasing Basingstoke.

For the first time this season they didn’t concede a try and they made their second placed hosts work for every point.

Impressive personal performances from Piers Francis, at stand-off half, and debutant full-back Jaco Du Toit gave Maidstone further hope that their first points of the season are just around the corner.

It took Basingstoke 15 minutes to open the scoring, after Maidstone were penalised on their 22 for failing to release after the tackle. The kick was duly converted and moments later another three points were kicked over by the home side.

Francis cut the deficit with a penalty conversion of his own on the half hour and Maidstone went into the break 3-6 behind.

Maidstone were consistently penalised in the second-half and a trio of penalties settled it in Basingstoke’s favour.

*Tunbridge Wells were also beaten in London 2 South as they lost on home soil 25-22 to Beckenham.