Sunday 7 December 2008
Westcliff 22 - Medway Cougars 12
Tries: Wardzynski, Williams
Con: Gowdy
The Cougars have travelled far and wide so far this season and been on the end of some questionable refereeing decisions (Blackheath, Chelmsford and Dartfordians all spring to mind) and Westcliff was to prove no different. However, an inability to play the referee as their opponents have done and stick to their pre-match game plan, is what ultimately cost Medway in this game, allowing their poor run of form against Essex sides to continue.
The game against Westcliff began fairly evenly with no real gains after the first 5 minutes. Then Charlie Wardzynski playing at fly half picked up from a scrum on half way. He showed brilliant vision, dummied a pass down the line twice to open a gap in the Westcliff defence running through to score a great individual try - his first of the season. Ben Wellard's conversion attempt fell short but overall a very promising start. The resultant kick off was collected and returned strongly but Westcliff turned the ball over in the ruck and broke away down the wing to take the lead after a successful conversion. This was to set the scene for much of the match as, unscene by the referee, the big Westcliff number 5 continued to drag the Medway scrum half into every ruck and maul destroying Medway distribution. This coupled with regular offside infringements amongst the backs that went unpunished saw Medway pushed onto the back foot and unable to get into any sort of rythem. However, despite the lack of any assistance from the referee where it mattered Medway stuck manfully to their task and set about taking on the big Westcliff forwards. The Cougars continued to keep the pressure on when Sam Cornell broke away across field making good ground and exchanging passes with James Clarke who was supporting well on the wing but the pair couldn't break through on their own. It was then Westcliff's turn to pile on the pressure and although their first phase was knocked back by some solid defensive work the ball was driven over in the second push. Westcliff scored again all too easily as their tall centre collected a ball from a wayward Medway 5 metre line out for a simple touch-down. Sadly shortly afterwards Clarke, playing well on the wing, had to go off with an ankle injury. Medway's coach Mark Marriot took the opportunity to make a few changes and Medway continued to put pressure on the Westcliff defence which rattled Westcliff as they started to give away penalties. A couple of good Medway drives, the second of which was set up by a brilliant charge down from Luke Gowdy, used the width well and almost saw Medway score but they just couldn't get the last pass in to finish the moves. The half time score 17-5.
Needing to catch up a couple of tries, Medway were forceful in the second period, the play hardly ever leaving the Westcliff half. Continual drives were making little ground as Westcliff continued to spoil ruck and maul and their backs were always up on the Cougar line with alarming speed, occasionally being pulled up for off-side and panicky high tackles. Highlights included a couple of menacing breaks down the wing from Sam Nicholls, the second of which ended in an unceremonious dump tackle but Nicholls held on to the ball to keep the play moving forward. Medway were eventually rewarded when what looked like a wayward pass was plucked out of the air by Alex Williams who used his pace and strength to drive through and score for what was also his first of the season. An excellent conversion from wide by Gowdy brought the Cougars to within 5 points and at this stage the most likely looking winners. Sadly, the kick off was stolen by Westcliff who then broke down the wing. Everything stopped as it was thought they had broken touch with the touch judge signalling so but there was no whistle from the referee and Medway's momentary lack of concentration was punished as the ball came back inside for Westcliff to score. Again no conversion, the final score 22-12. Hopefully the Cougars will learn from this experience and be able to lay to rest their Essex jinx when Woodford travel to Priestfields in the New Year.
(Match Report by P. Cornell and P. Nolan)
