Sunday 30 November 2008
Medway Cougars 17 - Bromley 12
Tries: Hardinges 2, Fenton
Con: Stone
Medway welcomed Bromley to Priestfields on this cold Sunday morning. This hard fought game was played in three sessions with Medway beginning the game with their strongest available line up. The Cougars piled on early pressure early with Tom Whitnell breaking through the Bromley defence. The move got Medway to the line but Bromley held the ball up. A short clearance kick gave Medway a line out which they secured and the ball was fed down the backs. Nick Hardinges, playing at fullback, joined the play to good effect as he sprinted to the line but failed to control the ball as he went for the try. Shortly afterwards a similar move saw Hardinges again come into the backs and this time he made it to the line, diving over in the far corner. Bromley fought hard and possession swapped back and forth but they could not break through a resilient Medway defence. Then as Medway pushed forward, Charlie Wardzynski tried a chip over the Bromley backs and the second attempt was chased enthusiastically by Adam Shears who prevented Bromley clearing. A good period of pressure culminated in Hardinges breaking across field with good support from Shears, which set up a drive 5 metres out. Bromley were unable to stop the resultant push over and Max Fenton touched down. In atrocious kicking conditions neither try was converted with the session ending 10-0.
Despite the narrow score line the Cougars made numerous changes for the second session as Head Coach, Mark Marriott, continued his development policy. Despite the changes the play was no less hard fought. A great move involving Luke Gowdy, Lewis Marriott and Aaron Thompson looping round to create an overlap was stopped only just short of a score. However, Medway had lost impetus in the ruck and maul and subsequent turnovers gave the tough Bromley forwards all the encouragement they needed. They pressurised relentlessly and scored twice spinning the ball wide. Medway didn't give up and had a good chance when Gowdy intercepted but he was unable to make it count. One conversion for Bromley meant the game now stood at 10-12.
A mixed squad took the field for the final session and play again changed hands regularly with Medway still losing too much momentum in the ruck, maul and scrum. Neither side really looked like scoring but Medway pressure in the last few minutes forced a penalty about twenty metres out. It was taken quickly and fed out through the backs to Jack Johnston who broke a couple of tackles to go over brilliantly in the corner. Unfortunately, it was all to no avail as play was pulled back to have the penalty retaken. This time, only two points behind and time ticking away the Cougars decided to go for goal. The kick fell well short but Ben Wellard had followed it in and his positive action gave possession back to Medway. The ball eventually found Hardinges who scored his second of the match, again in the corner. Dan Stone converted and the whistle went for full time with Medway triumphant at 17-12.
(Match Report by P. Cornell)
