Sunday 16 November 2008
Medway Cougars 36 - Gillingham Anchorians 0
Tries: Nicholls, Brown 3, Fenton, Hardinges
Con: Stone 3
This Sunday at Priestfields the Cougars fielded an entire development squad who entertained Gillingham Anchorians, a newly formed youth team, in a match where the final score did not do justice to the efforts of the Anchorians who put up a real good fight and played with passion and commitment throughout. The early play saw Medway pile the pressure on the Anchorians and a fumbled line out allowed Max Fenton to make the first notable break. Anchorians defended well and kicked clear but Nick Hardinges, playing at full back for the first time, collected well and returned with interest. The pressure told after a Medway line out was fed through the backs. Hardinges joined the line, made good ground again and fed the wing where Sam Nicholls collected and ran through to score in the corner. An excellent conversion kick from Dan Stone against the wind secured the extra points. The Anchorians defended stoically against Medway pressure but conceded a 5 metre scrum when they were forced to touch down behind their own try line. The scrum was won by Medway and Captain Tom Brown, playing at number 8, picked up and drove over. Stone's conversion was again successful. Alex Williams provided the impetus for Medway's next move with a fine probing run, as the ball was fed wide Anchorians interception attempt gave Medway a penalty for a deliberate knock forward. This was taken quickly whilst the Anchorians were still reforming and Fenton, against his old team, was easily able to drive through to score. Stone's kick from wide fell just short. The Anchorians' kick off was intelligently played long into space and ran through to give Medway a line out just 5 metres from their own line. The scrum that resulted from the line out not being straight was won against the head by Medway and Stone had to kick clear twice to relieve the pressure. As Medway pushed forward Jack Johnston, playing a brilliant game at scrum half, came up with the move of the match as he kicked high across field, a ball that James Clarke collected brilliantly at pace without breaking stride, before being stopped by some resolute Anchorian defence. Continued pressure with good recycling, good use of the backs, and fine support from the pack saw Medway take the ball over the Anchorian line in the last move of the half but solid defence held the ball up for a half time score of 19-0.
Anchorians threatened early in the second half and were awarded a penalty 30 metres out which they decided to kick for goal. The attempt fell just short but Medway knocked on when trying to gather. The resulting Anchorians attack came to nothing when Brown ripped the ball away from the advancing forwards and Medway started to push Anchorians back. Then a scrum inside the Medway half was picked up by Brown from the back who broke round the pack and ran through to score from a full 60 metres. Stone's conversion from under the posts took the score to 26-0. The Anchorians next drive ended in a brave drop goal attempt which like their earlier penalty dropped just short. The kick was gathered well by Hardinges and his long kick and chase put Anchorians under pressure again. Medway were letting themselves down a little at the breakdowns and this attack was halted in similar fashion to a number of others when they were penalised. There followed a period of sustained pressure from Anchorians who pushed Medway back gaining valuable metres but again the ball was turned over at the break down. The Medway push saw Brown break through and go over but he lost control of the ball at the last moment and failed to score. The resulting scrum was won by Medway and Brown picked up and this time carrying over successfully. Medway continued to press and had to keep recycling against a hard working Anchorians defence but the final break through eventually came to Hardinges, working well at full back, when he made his presence felt in the back line gaining a well deserved try. Johnston stepped in for Stone who had been substituted but couldn't make the conversion. Some good play followed from both sides including a clever switch from Nicholls now playing at number 10 which nearly caught Anchorians out but they watched the game well and were rarely fooled by the Medway attack. In the last ten minutes Anchorians threatened to break their duck but were held up a couple of times at the Medway line, the score ending 36-0. Well done to all for an entertaining, hard fought game of rugby and a special well done to Lewis Bailey for substituting for an injured Anchorians prop in the last phase of the game.
(Match Report by P. Cornell)
