Sunday 26 April 2009
Medway Cougars 67 - Sidcup 0
Tries: Stone 2, Gowdy, Shears 2, Clarke, Simpson, Hardinges 2, Wardzynski, Johnston
Con: Stone 4, Fenton, Wellard
A glorious sunshine welcomed Medway's Cougars this Sunday as they took to the field looking to finish the season with a bang. The current Welsh International Challenge Cup holders could have been excused for having one eye on an unbeaten record that stretches back to December, or the possibility of scoring more than 600 points in a season, but they approached the kick-off with nothing on their minds other than securing another victory.
Medway made a good strong start from their own kick-off leading to a pick-up at the back of a ruck by Dan Stone who broke through the defence to run in under the posts for the first try of the game which went unconverted, A line out on the halfway was lost by the Cougars but good driving play by the forwards won the ball back which was played out to the backs who worked it through the hands to Luke Gowdy who ran in under the posts for try number two, which was converted by Stone. Another line out was this time won by Medway and the ball was fed through the backs to Jack Johnston who broke the gain line before being eventually taken to ground. However, Adam Shears was on hand to receive a brilliant Johnston pop pass and no-one could stop the speedy centre as Shears ran in a third try, which went unconverted. Sidcup were a very spirited side who refused to give up and they were to go close themselves as their forwards drove over the Medway try line but the ball carrier was turned onto his back and couldn't ground the ball. The resulting five metre scrum was stolen by Medway and Charlie Wardzynski cleared to touch to avert the danger. From the line-out, Medway drove Sidcup infield before a ruck saw the ball come out the Cougars side where, still inside their own 22, the ball somehow ended up with James Clarke who ran straight down the wing to outstrip the Sidcup defence and run in an excellent 'length of the field' try converted by Stone. Sidcup were to lose their influential prop and having only a bare minimum squad, Medway lent them a replacement to keep the game going. Lewis Marriott was the next to suffer, picking up a head injury that saw him also leave the field. Matthew Kennedy was to earn a reprimand from the referee, to the confusion of some in the crowd, for continued loitering at the side of mauls. However, Kennedy reacted brilliantly to this taking the ball on in the next phase of play, driving the Cougars to within a metre of the Sidcup line where he was able to ensure that George Simpson was presented with the ball for a simple drive over. The conversion was missed and the half finished at 29-0.
The Cougars made a number of changes at half-time but came out looking equally as strong as they did in the first-half. Aaron Thompson picked the ball up in his own 22 and set off on one of his trademark twisty runs which saw him break four tackles before feeding Shears on the outside who cut in to run in his second try under the posts, converted by Stone. Next saw a great run by Alex Morgan down the wing which looked like it would lead to a score of his own, but as we caught and held up just short of the Sidcup line, Nick Hardinges was on hand to take a pass and score the try, which went unconverted. Next Max Fenton charged down the pitch setting up a ruck midway inside Sidcup territory from the back of which Stone picked up, sold a dummy and ran thirty metres to score his second try of the game. Charlie Wardzynski, who had dictated Medway's play with no fuss throughout the game, was next to score with a sublime piece of skill. He picked the ball up and seeing a flat Sidcup line rushing towards him, he chipped the ball over the top, gratefully taking a kind bounce before outstripping the Sidcup defence to score a fine solo try under the posts, this time converted by Fenton. There was still time for Medway to add more scores, the first to Johnston who went over by the posts following good forward work, the try converted by Stone, and the second followed nine recycled phases of play by Medway before Hardinges dived over to secure his second try of the game, converted by Ben Wellard. Final score 67-0
Well done lads. There will be a full resume of the season on the website soon. However, at the end of season B-B-Q that followed this match, there was acknowledgement for player of the season, Charlie Wardzynski, and most improved player, James Clarke. There was also a special mention for David McManus in the most improved player category. All in all a brilliant day, a fantastic game, a great result and a superb season. Seventeen wins from 22 matches, more than 600 points scored and over 100 tries plus Welsh Challenge Cup winners - great effort lads.
(Match Report by Jim Kennedy & Pat Nolan)
