Sunday 22 March 2009
Gravesend 5 - Medway Cougars 88
Tries: Murray, Reynolds, Gowdy (2), Stone, Rawlins, Wardzynski, Lazell, Fenton, Simpson (2), Thompson, Hardinges, Mosuro
Cons: Gowdy, Stone (2), Hardinges (2), Shears, Lazell, Fenton, Mosuro
The Medway Cougars shook off the disappointment of last weeks Festival performance with a very strong, positive display against a spirited Gravesend side who could easily have given up but fought on bravely to the end. Played in brilliant sunshine, Medway kicked off and the pattern the game was to take was evident from the start. The kick wasn't taken cleanly and Tomisin Mosuru picked up the loose ball. There was a knock on in the consequent move and Medway's push at the scrum demolished the Gravesend pack. After only a few minutes a Medway scrum 30 metres out was sent down the blind side and found new recruit Luke Murray on the wing with plenty of space to score on his debut. Medway's use of the ball was good and against a disorganised Gravesend defence the gaps were punished. Jack Johnston set up a chance with a pick up from the back of a scrum that was fed to Dan Stone who made some good ground but on this occasion was stopped. Luke Gowdy was playing at full back and he made a fine catch and run which set up Connor Reynolds who was following up well to drive the last few yards and score. Neither try was converted, the score 0-10. The Gravesend kick off was returned deep by Charlie Wardzynski and unfortunately taken out passed the dead ball line by Gravesend for a Medway 5m scum. The ball was fed out through the backs and Gravesend, as was the case on several occasions, did not spread themselves and Gowdy came in from his full back position to gather and with an overlap available had plenty of space to take over himself. Stone's conversion attempt came back off the post. Gravesend kicked off long and deep and the attempted catch was knocked on. The chance was thwarted though as Medway turned over the scrum and Wardzynski broke away. Gowdy took up the running but was very well tackled. Johnston following up well secured the ball which was fed through the backs for Stone to score. The first conversion of the day came from Gowdy taking the score to 0-22.
There followed a good period of pressure from Gravesend forcing three penalties in a row from Medway but they couldn't make them count as Medway repeatedly won Gravesend's line outs and scrums. The attack was finally stopped when Gravesend knocked on in a tackle and from the resulting scrum Wardzynski chipped cleverly over the Gravesend backs. Gowdy stormed through taking the ball brilliantly at pace, Gravesend were awake though and it needed a clever exchange between Gowdy and Stone to get Gowdy over the line for a well deserved try. Coach Mark Marriot made a few changes as half time approached but as Gravesend tried to get the ball moving, the Medway backs were quickly up on them giving them no time to make their plays. An awkward pass out from a Medway scrum was taken well in the air by George Simpson now playing on the wing who made a fine penetrating run, feeding the ball to Tom Rawlins as he was tackled 5 metres out. Rawlins scored and Stone converted to make the half time score 0-34.
There was no let up for Gravesend as Medway pushed forward at the start of the second half. A ball fed through the backs looked like it was going to result in another winger's try but a pass went behind the intended recipient and Wardzynski had to recover and turn back inside. With some clever foot work he picked his way through a crowded defence to score under the posts. A simple conversion for Stone took the score to 0-41. More changes from the coach but Medway continued to feed the ball well through the backs, challenge well at the breakdowns and close down any threats that might arise from a spirited Gravesend side. The next score was a typical result with Ben Lazell driving over and Nick Hardinges now stepping up to convert. The next push saw Hardinges, Simpson and Lazell combining well for 30 metres with the ball finally finding Max Fenton who added his name to the score sheet as he pushed over, Hardinges again converting, the score now 0-55. Gravesend didn't give up the fight and a well timed interception gave them half a chance but James Clarke was alert to the danger and made a saving tackle. Medway then used the full width of the pitch first to Sam Nicholls on one wing then reversed to Simpson on the other who scored in the corner. Gravesend had a good spell pushing Medway back but an interception allowed Medway to push through again with Tom Whitnell making the play and feeding Hardinges who was well supported by Simpson who took the final pass to score his second. This time Adam Shears converted to take the score up to 0-67. Shears then returned the Gravesend kick off making excellent ground with little support. He was finally taken to ground with a very good defensive tackle by which time Aaron Thompson was on hand to take the ball over. Lazell converted for 0-74. A great individual try from Hardinges was converted by Fenton whose strength was evident as the ball was still rising as it soared through the posts and over the cricket square into the distance. Gravesend's kick-off was too long and Medway chose to scrum but gave away a penalty at the restart and were caught napping as Gravesend took it quickly and outran the Medway defence to score under the posts. Unfortunately, the conversion fell short but another chance came almost immediately afterwards when Gravesend kicked intelligently into the space behind the backs which had been left as Gravesend had lost their full back due to injury and with no available subs, Medway had also dropped to fourteen. Thompson collected though and sprinted forward, the ever present Mosuro supporting and collecting the ball to score a well deserved and first try for the club which he converted himself with the last kick of the game, the final tally 5-88.
A very good all round performance with some well worked moves, good handling through the backs and good pressure moving up quickly on the opposition. Hard fought scrums and rucks from the forwards who stole a lot of ball at the set pieces. Bad luck Gravesend who came up against a Medway side on top form but very well played with heads high right up to the final whistle.
(Match Report by Pete Cornell)
