Sunday 23 November 2008
Dartfordians 19 - Medway Cougars 14
Tries: French, Brown
Con: Stone 2
This Sunday the Cougars selected what is currently considered to be their strongest squad to make the short trip up the A2 to Dartford. However, the omens for the day were not great as they lost Jake Christodoulou and Aaron Thompson before the match even kicked off and a flurry of snow followed by driving wind and rain meant the game would be played in atrocious conditions throughout.
With Head Coach Mark Marriott's final instructions to use the wings and run around the much larger Dartfordian players still ringing in their ears Medway kicked off playing up the hill with the weather in their faces. Despite being armed with a very simple game plan the Cougars almost immediately became embroiled in an old fashioned forwards brawl as, helped by the conditions, Dartfordians continued to pin them back with some clever kicking. Having been suckered into forgetting their own tactics and allowing Dartford to play the game their way, Medway soon succumbed to a dominant Dartfordian pack that set the ball up for a twenty metre break off the back of the maul and the first try of the day which was converted. This was to prove to be the pattern for much of the first half as Dartford kicked and drove almost at will adding a further two tries and one conversion. The nearest the Cougars came to scoring was when the forwards managed to feed the backs. A simple pass out to James Clarke on the wing and Medway would have been in for their first score of the day. However, they chose to come back in field and the opportunity was lost as Dartford turned the ball over in the resulting ruck. The Medway cause was hampered further shortly before half-time as Sam Cornell had to be withdrawn from the action, being replaced by Connor Reynolds. With play-maker Charlie Wardzynski also struggling it looked at this stage that the game was going to drift away from Medway. However, a spirited Dominic French tackle when he clung to the back of a Dartfordian player, being dragged up the pitch for about 15 metres before eventually bringing his man to ground and saving a probable try, seemed to change the whole game.
19-0 down at half time Medway rang what changes they could. The loss of Wardzynski meant a reshuffle amongst the backs and the introduction of Daniel Stone. Jack Johnston was also introduced replacing Luke Gowdy. The Cougars took a deep Dartfordian kick off and returned it with interest. From their Medway began to probe the flanks through the boot of Stone and Johnston and it was now Dartford's turn to feel the pressure as they were forced to continually turn and chase. Territorial advantage was now Medway's but still the points wouldn't come their way, that is until French took the ball off the back of a well worked Medway maul and dived over for a try which was converted well by Stone. Soon after the re-start Medway were camped in the Dartfordian 22. Dartford looked tired now and the Medway forwards began to grind out the inches as they neared the try-line. Dartford conceding a penalty was inevitable and they duly did before choosing to load their defence expecting Medway to drive at them again. However, a brilliant switch of play and move of the match led to Tom Brown driving through at pace and going over the try-line under the posts with Stone converting again. The match was now incredibly close and the Dartfordians became desperate in their attempts to keep Medway out. Unfortunately, time was not on Medway's side and despite going close twice more a very relieved Dartfordian team clung on for the win 19-14. This was a match that Medway could and should have won, if only they had stuck to the game plan from the start. They lost the match in that first half - a lesson learnt for the future hopefully.
(Match Report by P. Nolan)
