This was certainly a day of contrasts for the Club. A beautiful sunny spring day, and yet the stiff wind brought the temperature to decidedly chilly. A bonus point win against Maidstone and yet Vigo get relegated. The loss of the outstanding prop Will James to Sevenoaks. A full second team out, and yet defeated by one try. In the end, your correspondent didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. As Liv Greene sang
‘’ I am a live wire of nerves and fear
counting all the dreams that fell through
the things we didn’t do
I guess there’s always next year’’.
So, the match. Played on a bone hard pitch, after what seems like weeks without rain, a good crowd swelled by a splendid VP luncheon after Steve Beale’s final host as President, and a really tricky wind blowing from left to right, both teams looked pretty determined to put on a decent match. Vigo fielded almost their strongest team whilst Maidstone’s had a pretty youthful air – average age about 22 apparently. With that youth came a certain brashness in their play, happy to run the ball from any angle or distance. But Vigo’s main weapon, their pack, gave them the edge territorially in the opening quarter. Indeed, it didn’t take long for Ben Moorhouse to make the first drive for the line, to be stopped within inches by some courageous defending by the visitors. Maidstone were having a few difficulties with clearing kicks, the wind a factor, and one such kick – travelling sideways rather than forwards - gave Vigo the platform of a line out about twenty metres out. Catch and powerful drive sucked in Maidstone’s defence, crucially leaving the blind side undefended. Liam Wiltshire quickly spotted the opening and drove through unimpeded for the opening try.
Maidstone responded well, realising the wind was too troublesome to try for an expansive kicking game and tried to pass their way out of trouble. All well and good if the execution matches the ambition as two very presentable chances went begging with passes into space. Plus, the ferocious tackling by Kieran Hall and Ben Carter which blunted many a raid. Vigo edged further ahead after a quite superb 50/22 by Nick Mcpherson, who really has had a stellar year. Vigo duly won the line out, and once again set up a fine drive. Maidstone did their best to halt the drive but Vigo kept control; - just – and once again Wiltshire spied an opening down the narrow side and plunged over. Dom Carslaw, taking over kicking duties from the absent Tony Whitehead (marital preparation) and Jake French (natal preparation) hit the post with the conversion attempt.
Carslaw and McPherson continued to use the wind to pin Maidstone back deep, but the visitors continued with their brave approach. Certainly, centre Pascall Chuchu needed to be controlled after some powerful runs in the centre, but it was hooker Jude Pearson, with unseemly pace for a front-rower who came close to undoing Vigo, breaking from near his own line to threaten Vigo. Eventually, he was corralled and , fortunately for the Villagers, his support runners failed to build on his great work with a wild pass as the try line beckoned. But this energised Maidstone and they started to build up some pressure. An attempted clearance was taken beautifully by Adam Phillips, not for the first time, who set up a great counter attack from deep. For once, Vigo’s defensive alignment was askew and Ethan Yeats scored a fine try deep into added time.
This, they say, is a psychologically important time to score, and this theory was certainly borne out as Maidstone score almost immediately at the start of the second half. It was a sweet move, simply moving the ball along the backs, drawing the tackle before releasing and Archie Hedges had rather a large gap to go through to score, converting his own try, to give Maidstone the lead. Vigo had made changes at half time, welcoming back Marcus Hunt for only his second game of the season after a long injury lay off, but losing two-try hero Wiltshire soon into the half, and perhaps it was taking a little while for the newcomers to get into the rhythm, but Maidstone were full of themselves now, running at Vigo from all angles. Hall and Carter were still at the heart of Vigo’s defence, but the rest of the team were putting in some solid work too. Once again, Maidstone threatened but Nick McPherson read an intended pass on the ten metres line and immediately set off up the line. He almost made it to until a fantastic cover tackle by Seb Arnold halted McPherson just five metres from the line. Unfortunately, none of McPherson’s team mates could keep up with him, so the chance went begging. But at least it gave Vigo some impetus, and burst the Maidstone bubble. Vigo drew a second wind, their pack starting to get on top – it had been a mighty battle up front, Maidstone fighting for every inch – but slowly Vigo were taking control and Maidstone started to lose their discipline, referee Matt Taylor in firm control. It allowed Vigo to resume operations inside Maidstone territory and the try duly arrived after the most fluid of Vigo moves. BEN Moorhouse had instigated it with a superb break through the centre, carter continued, the ball recycled quickly and sped down the line to Marcus Hunt. One of Vigo’s best finishers in recent times, Hunt needed no second invitation and off he went. A brilliant cover tackle by Phillips almost stopped him in the corner but Hunt stretched out an arm to dot down in the corner for an excellent try.
Maidstone, now behind by three points, threw everything at Vigo Kevin Likimi and the aforementioned Chuchu making progress but Vigo’s defence was ferocious. Hall seemed to be everywhere, Moorhouse and Mickelburgh working their socks off. Maidstone’s efforts were blunted but the margin was narrow. The game was in the balance and it was Nick McPherson – who else? – who all but decided the match with about 5 minutes left. Once again, Carter advanced and attracted a bevy of Maidstone defenders, giving McPherson a rather large hole after receiving an accurate pass. McPherson scored joyously, Carslaw adding the extras. Maidstone needed two scores now, and again came strongly at Vigo, who went into they-shall-not-pass mode, smashing into the tackle, but Maidstone refused to give up. Again, they set up a siege but Vigo resisted before moving back up the pitch. As they came into range, Maidstone conceded a penalty, which they hotly disputed, resulting in a 10-metre concession, which brought the posts within short range. Carslaw duly obliged with a successful kick. Maidstone, to their credit, attacked but were unable to find a way through in the final couple of minutes left, Vigo finishing a difficult season with a victory.

Vigo team: S.Tye (rep: M.Hunt 40’); A.Fitzgerald, S.Keelam, B.Carter, L.Pitchell; N.McPherson, D.carslaw; D.Cox rep: S.Smith 63’), G.Rawlings, W.James; B.Howe (rep: T.Cox 40’), L.Wiltshire (rep: B.Howe 46’); D.Mickelburgh, K.Hall; B.Moorhouse.
Referee: Matt Taylor (Kent)
Mon of the Match: Nick McPherson. For Maidstone, Jude Pearson was voted MVP.
Scorers: Vigo: tries: Wiltshire (12’,21’), Hunt (57’), McPherson (75’). Cons: Carslaw (1). Pens: Carslaw (80’). Maidstone: Tries: Yates (40+2’), Hedges (42’). Cons: Hedges (1)

MOG’s View: This victory was testimony to Vigo’s spirit, and most of the spectators were of the Same opinion – if only we had this team together all season – even though we were still, missing stalwarts in Tony Whitehead and Jake French. Today, Vigo turned up and wanted to play, and Maidstone certainly gave them a run for their money, a team full of talented youngsters, who I’m sure will do well next season. But today, let’s just bask in the warmth of a fine – and deserved win for Vigo