Sunday 15 March 2009
Kent Festival of Youth Rugby
Medway arrived at Dartfordians on a bright sunny morning at 8am looking to maintain their fine form of late in the Kent Festival. The early registration gave them time to reflect on their opposition in the pool stages, Blackheath and Folkestone, with their first match not scheduled to kick-off until 10:15am
Blackheath 5 - Medway Cougars 0
The Cougars opening match got under way at 10:30am and from the start Blackheath made strong progress through their forwards. Gradually though, Medway's forwards responded and a period of pressure resulted. However, a Blackheath scrum on the halfway line produced a fluent backs move which created a break in the Medway line following a missed tackle and a try to Blackheath. The conversion was missed and the score was 5-0 at half-time. The second half became a battle between the forwards with no decisive breaks from either side and at the final whistle the score remained 5-0 to Blackheath.
Folkestone 7 - Medway Cougars 10
Try: Christodoulou
Con: Stone
Pen: Gowdy
This match kicked off some fifty minutes late and despite some two hours of waiting around Medway got off to a quick start with immediate pressure from the forwards leading to a try from Jake Christodoulou, converted by Dan Stone. However, Folkestone responded well and Medway had to defend with Liam Fitzpatrick and Fergus Stewart putting in some strong tackles. Having weathered the storm a strong break from Tom Brown took the Cougars into Folkestone's 22 where they were awarded a penalty which was converted by Luke Gowdy. Half-time score 10-0. Folkestone came out strongly at the start of the second half and were awarded a penalty of their own after a period of pressure which was advanced 10 metres after Medway kicked away the ball needlessly. Folkestone ran the ball and scored a try under the posts which was converted. Medway came back and drove deep into Folkestone territory and were awarded a penalty, although the kick at the posts drifted wide. The final score of 10-7 was enough to take Medway into the quarter finals of the Plate competition where they would meet Sevenoaks.
Medway Cougars 5 - Sevenoaks 6
Try: Fenton
After another hour of waiting around the Cougars finally got to play their quarter final game. A tense period of play ensued and the score was still 0-0 at the half time interval. Unfortunately, Medway were penalised twice for the same offence at the start of the second half, coming off their feet at the breakdown, and two penalties resulted giving Sevenoaks a 6-0 lead. It took these to finally wake Medway up and their forwards drove at Sevenoaks forcing them back and driving into their 22 where they swung the ball from left to right with Max Fenton diving over in the corner. The pressure was on to convert from the widest of angles and unfortunately the ball drifted wide leaving the final score at 6-5 to Sevenoaks. For the third season in succession Medway exited at the quarter final stage of a competition that just does not seem to suit them.
(Match Report by Jim Kennedy)
