12 October 2008
Medway Cougars 31 - Old Gravesendians 5
Tries: French, Shears 2, Johnston, Fitzpatrick
Cons: Gowdy 3
A dramatic change in the weather from last week but no change in the strength and determination of the Medway Cougars side as they welcomed the Old Gravesendian under 15s to Priestfields on Sunday. Originally planned to be a match of three twenty minute periods, a lack of Gravesendian players and subsequent injuries meant that the game was shortened to forty minutes. However, the sixteen Gravesendian players that made the fixture can be rightly proud of their gusty display which was to prove not quite enough against a strong Cougar squad who really are on fire at the moment.
Consistent pressure straight from the kick off and some good early work through the backs ended with Medway finding touch close to the Gravesendian try line. In the resulting five metre line-out the Gravesendians failed to secure their own long throw, fumbling the catch to Dominic French who punished the mistake by stealing a try in the third minute of the game. French's second try in a week went unconverted as Luke Gowdy's conversion attempt came back off the post leaving the score at 5-0 to the Cougars. From the re-start Tom Whitnell returned the kick-off with interest making a determined run and gaining good ground. Excellent support work from the other forwards and some very good ball through the backs brought a try for Adam Shears who scored in the corner. An excellent kick from Gowdy made it 12-0. The Gravesend side played much of the rest of the half a man down with two injuries costing them equality in the pack. Consequently the rest of the half was dominated by the strength of the Medway forwards winning every ruck and maul and with much hard work from scrum-half Ben Wellard who continually fed the Cougars backs where Gowdy starred. One such move gave Jack Johnston space to score. A rare Medway error saw the kick off fumbled giving Gravesendians a 20 metre scrum but they were turned over again and a solid clearance from Charlie Wardzynski was chased by Johnston whose strong running saw Medway on the attack again. Captain Fergus Stewart made ground carving his way through the Gravesendians backs and Shears took a slightly off-target pass brilliantly and went through for his second try of the game, converted again by Gowdy. The last move of the half saw another good spell of pressure result in Liam Fitzpatrick forcing himself over and Gowdy converting his third for a half-time score line of 31-0. The second period started with Medway making a number of changes to give their emerging boys a run out. However, the Gravesendians looked much more positive and opened the second-half scoring with the help of Fergus Stewart, a Medway sub loaned to them. The rest of the half consisted of much hard work by both sides with neither team being able to add any further points to the scoreboard to leave a final score of Cougars 31 Old Gravesendians 5. Three in a row for the Cougars now who have made a very strong start to the season. Three very sound team performances with excellent work in all areas of the field. Next Sunday sees the Cougars at home again - this time to Tonbridge Juddians.
