Sunday 21 December 2008
Ashford 21 - Medway Cougars 34
Tries: Fitzpatrick, Irons, Brown (2), Cornell and Williams
Con: Stone, Gowdy
Twenty-two Cougars travelled the near thirty miles to Ashford on Sunday where both sides served up a Christmas feast of rugby entertainment in a match of nine tries, sending everybody that watched the game home in good cheer ahead of the Christmas break.
In glorious sunshine and unusually mild conditions for this time of year, Medway kicked off and settled into a competitive rythem early on. However, despite holding the territorial advantage, they were to concede the first points as a brilliant chip over the top and chase led to the opening try to Ashford which was duly converted.
Despite the early set back Medway continued to play an expansive game, bringing their backs into the action more often than has been seen of late. Aided by their forwards, the Cougars drove to within the Ashford 5 metre line where a well controlled ruck allowed Nick Hardinges to pick up and go and, when held up just short of the line, Liam Fitzpatrick was on hand to take the ball on and drive over. A Dan Stone conversion levelled the scores.
The Ashford fly-half was standing out as one to watch for the future and he was backed by a very competitive pack. For the Cougars, captain Jack Johnson was leading from the front with ample support from Harrison Irons and Tom Brown, to name but two, in what was to prove a great display of team work and spirit. It was clear to all the watching spectators that with both sides very evenly matched we were in for a rugby treat - and we were not to be disappointed. A Sam Cornell break away got him to within touching distance of the line before he was forced to ground. The forwards arrived in numbers and a short feed off the back enabled Irons to drive over for his first try of the season, this time converted by Luke Gowdy.
The Medway forwards were beginning to gain the ascendancy and a Brown pick up at the back of a controlled scrum saw him dive over for Medway's third try. However and to their credit, Ashford dug deep and some excellant work by their forwards and backs saw them gain their second try and conversion, taking the scores at half-time to 14-19 in favour of the Cougars.
Ashford carried on in the second half where they had left the first and were all over the Cougars like a rash.Their fly-half capped a fine display as, when he was fed by his forwards, he broke from the 22 to run in and dive under the posts for a try which he duly converted.
With Ashford now back in the lead a big response was called for from Medway and it was to come, as it so often has this season, from Brown who received the ball on the half-way line before charging through the Ashford defence to score an excellant solo try. Shortly after Ashford lost their fly-half to injury and with this Medway sensed victory was theirs for the taking. A maruading run by forward Alex Morgan, handing off two Ashford defenders, got him to within three metres of the line before a desperate tap tackle brought him down. However, he set the ball up for the supporting forwards who fed the backs for Cornell to get a well deserved try. The action wasn't to end there though and a now dominant Medway drove to the Ashford line again where a well rehearsed forwards move saw George Simpson and Alex Williams drive over together, the try being awarded to Williams.
A final score of 34-21 was just rewards for the Cougars against an equally matched Ashford side. Both sides were a credit to their head coaches, Mark Marriott and Joe Connelly respectively, who will take many positives from this game going in to 2009.
(Match Report by Gary Simpson and Pat Nolan)
