Sunday 8 March 2009
Barking 5 - Medway Cougars 8
Try: Clarke
Pen: Gowdy
This week the Cougars once more travelled to Essex for an eagerly anticipated return fixture with our good rugby friends at Barking. Following a very one sided game at Priestfields earlier in the season when Barking's power told, this would be a good indication of how far Medway were progressing ahead of the County Festival next week. With one eye on the festival, our hosts afforded us every courtesy as we agreed a match day format more in keeping with Kent Cup day. As our boys took to the superb Barking show pitch we settled down to watch the game in bright sunlight, albeit it was a tad cold.
As Barking started the game both sides were missing regular starters through injuries and illness. However, it was Medway who settled well early on. The opening period saw the Cougars ruck well as they looked to secure quick posession and hit the backs fast. When they didn't have the ball, Medway made their tackles and rucked and mauled like their lives depended on it. Consequently, Barking struggled to find their usual control and as they tried to gain the upper hand they found themselves regularly penalised for coming off their feet at the ruck. The penalties allowed Medway to control the pace of the game and after some good forward and three quarter play they managed to release James Clarke, who had come in from the wing, who ran a superb angle to dive over in the corner for the first score, despite the close attention of three Barking boys who just failed to stop him. A difficult kick faced Dan Stone who missed narrowly. The early try seemed to shock Barking who now came at the Cougars harder still. However, Medway remained steadfast and continued to defend the gain line with all they had. In their frustration Barking conceded too many penalties as the excellent young referee kept control of this well fought game. Medway were putting on a superb display and although Barking always looked dangerous it was the Cougars who had the upper hand. However, as the half wore on the pressure became more intense and Barking were all over the Cougar line out as the Essex team began to gain the upper hand towards the end of the half. Therefore the half-time whistle was something of a relief allowing the Medway boys a well earned breather with the score at 5-0 to the Cougars.
As the boys took a well earned rest both teams fielded their development sides. As this game of two ten minute halves kicked off, it was clear that there would be no less effort from either team. An early line out was stolen by Liam Fitzpatrick and the other Medway forwards joined him to drive play up to the Barking 5 metre. Barking secured their ball from the resulting scrum and fed the wing from their 22m to their first team winger/centre who was returning from injury. This boy had pace and sped away to secure a try under the posts which was converted. Barking were still coming off their feet in the ruck and the referee was forced to issue a yellow card to an unlucky player who sinned for the first time but suffered under the cumulative ruling. Despite being down to 14 it was clear that the Barking squad had great strength in depth and with Medway deep in the oppositions territory Barking stole the ball, again running most of the length of the pitch for a second converted try. The second period of this development match saw a valiant effort from our Cougars with Tomisin Mosuro, Alex Morgan and David McManus all digging deep to stem the tide. Amongst the backs young Lewis Marriott was having a great game and was close to breaking through at centre before being hauled down by the much bigger Barking lads. Despite their best efforts the Barking development team was ultimately too strong for the Cougar development team and two more converted tries saw the development match end 28-0 to Barking.
So back to the main event which stood at 5-0 to Medway. Barking were close to breaking through on several occasions but superb cover tackles from Adam Shears (twice) and Nick Hardinges kept them out. The pressure was relentless from Barking now but Tom Whitnell, Max Fenton, Harrison Irons and the other forwards were having a phenomenal game putting their bodies on the line. A George Simpson line out found Fitzpatrick who drove deep into Barking territory and desperate Barking defending resulted in a Cougars penalty. Despite the distance and angle Medway took a shot at the posts. Stone gave it a great effort but the ball faded in the wind just to the left of the posts. Barking kicked the 22 drop out deep and Hardinges decided to take them on. His jinking run looked like it would result in a try but a high tackle from behind took him down but the cost to Barking was another kickable penalty. This time Luke Gowdy, who along with all the other boys had had a great game thus far, stepped up with the pressure on. The breeze seemed to die down as Luke stepped up and his kick was true and through the posts taking the score to 8-0 to Medway. With time running down Barking needed two scores to take the game and fought with all their might to achieve this. Possibly Medway's first missed tackle allowed Barking over to take the score to 8-5, with the conversion attempt coming back off the post. That was to be the last real excitement of the game as Medway ensured that the rest of the game was played out in and around the half-way line. In the end it was left to Charlie Wardzynski, who was brilliant with the ball out of hand today, to clear deep to touch allowing the referee to call time. The final score Barking 5 Medway 8.
This was a great display from both sides who would have taken a lot from this match. Barking were great hosts and we must thank them for agreeing to a format that allowed Medway to prepare for the Festival next week. Barking's strength in depth shone through with their performance during the development game, something for us to think on at Medway. For the Cougars, whether in the main event or the development game, we are very proud. All 23 boys played their part in achieving a victory against a Barking side who have won the Essex Championship three times in a row and who are unbeaten in Essex this season. This, with the prized scalp of the Kent Champions earlier this season, is a major result for the Cougars ahead of the Kent Festival of Youth next week. Well done boys - onwards and upwards.
(Match Report by Chris Nicholls and Pat Nolan)
