Sunday 19 April 2009
Medway Cougars 36 - Vigo 8
Tries: Fitzpatrick 2, Shears 2, McManus, Wellard
Con: Gowdy 2, Stone
There were just a few delicate looking faces, including the referee, on display following the celebrations that came with the First XV's promotion as champions the day before, as the Cougars took to the field against Vigo on a cold and cloudy morning at Priestfields. Medway got into the game early and a period of intense pressure deep in Vigo territory saw Liam Fitzpatrick pick up and drive over for the first try of the game and a lead of 5-0. The Cougars, undefeated since last December, were on fire in these early exchanges and a sweeping move from one corner to the other through the backs left Adam Shears free to run in for another try, converted by Luke Gowdy. Under pressure, Vigo dug deep and pushed Medway back inside their own 22. Hands in the ruck by the Cougars resulted in a penalty which Vigo elected to kick, taking the score to 12-3. A lovely break by Charlie Wardzynski from within his own half saw him break four tackles and eventually feed Shears who ran in again. The try was converted by Dan Stone to take the score to 19-3. Shortly afterwards a penalty inside the Vigo 22 was run by Medway and when the ball was fed to Fitzpatrick he broke Vigo's line to score his second of the game and leave the half-time score at 24-3 to Medway.
Medway made a number of changes at the start of the second half but still looked just as strong. A pick-up deep by David McManus inside the Vigo 5 metre area, saw him have just enough power to dive over and ground the ball, for a try converted by Gowdy making the score 31-3. Vigo, to their credit, dug deep again and had a peiod of pressure of their own driving Medway back inside their own 5 metres. A forward's drive saw the referee unable to give a try as Medway desperately held Vigo up with bodies everywhere. However, from the resultant 5 metre scrum Vigo got the ball out wide and scored a good try in the corner to take the score to 31-8. Medway regrouped and drove deep into the Vigo 10 metres. Good forward work saw them up to the Vigo line and Ben Wellard was on hand to pick up and dive over for the final score of the game and a 36-8 result. A great effort by all involved as we near the end of a long, hard season.
(Match Report by Jim Kennedy & Pat Nolan)
