A rugby club has been docked 50 points and fined by the Rugby Football Union over an eye-gouging incident.

Matt Iles, from Chatham, was cleared of attacking Gravesend player Clarence Harding while playing for Maidstone in a Kent Cup match last January.

But the disciplinary panel ruled the incident - in which Harding lost the sight in his right eye - was not an accident and that a Maidstone player was to blame.

Now the club has appeared before an RFU disciplinary panel, charged with being responsible for the action of unidentified players.

Gareth Rees QC, panel chairman, said: "Players who commit serious acts of misconduct on the field of play must realise that such acts can have serious repercussions for a club as a whole.

"In these changing times clubs must accept a greater responsibility for the conduct of its members, including on the field of play."

He added: "The panel acknowledge that Maidstone gave great assistance to both the police and the RFU during their investigations into this matter."

Maidstone Rugby Club, which has also been fined £2,000 by the RFU, has the right of appeal.

The club did lie sixth in the table with six wins from their 10 games, but now lie on minus 22 points - 37 points behind third-bottom Old Dunstonians.

With just 12 games remaining, relegation is almost certain.