Sunday 18 January 2009
Medway Cougars 39 - Woodford 7
Tries: Stone, Fenton 2, Brown, Nicholls, Thompson, Shears
Con: Stone, Gowdy
The first match of the New Year for the Medway Cougars was at home to Essex side Woodford on a gloriously sunny winter's morning. A game that Medway played for the most part with passion and determination reflected in the final score which in terms of tries was 7-1.
Woodford kicked off into the wind and were caught out as they failed to reach the requisite 10 metres and from the scrum restart Medway piled on the pressure. The only Woodford attack in the first 10 minutes was stopped as the ball went wide but Sam Cornell had spotted the overlap and moved out from centre to take the Woodford winger into touch. Medway were moving the ball well and Ben Wellard trying out on the wing had a couple of useful breaks down the line. After one such run Medway fed the ball out from scrum to the opposite wing where there was a two man overlap. Luke Gowdy made use of the fact as Woodford tried to cover and the gap that opened up was punished as he sprinted through, offloaded to Dan Stone who ran in to open the scoring. A very good conversion from Stone gave the Cougars an early 7-0 lead. Medway continued to pressurise and Wellard again made a break down the line but was forced into touch. Medway stole the line out and drove forward. Woodford defended well but couldn't stop the final push from Max Fenton whose try was converted by Gowdy. Medway pressure was relentless although progress was slow as Woodford didn't give any ground but the forwards kept recycling the ball from the rucks and a smart pick up from Liam Fitzpatrick got the break through. Jack Johnston supported and made enough ground to feed Tom Brown who carried over, pushing the score out to 19-0.
Woodford then had a good spell and pushed Medway back. When play was halted for a Woodford injury, Fergus Stewart substituted for them and Medway took the opportunity to make a number of changes. At the restart, the new Cougars had not got into their stride and Woodford took full advantage feeding the ball wide, their winger cutting inside to score near the posts. Converted off the woodwork Woodford had pulled back to 19-7. Woodford saw their chance and continued to pressure the Medway backs. A good tackle from Lewis Marriot stopped one break through and soon afterwards Connor Reynolds stopped a second. Woodford were unable to break through again and Medway found their form again pushing in to the Woodford half. Stone tapped through but just too far but Cougars turned over the resulting scrum and pushed the ball out to the wing where, unselfishly, Stone fed Sam Nicholls to score in the corner. Stones conversion attempt was close but the half finished 24-7.
Woodford started the second period strongly and a break through the centre meant Reynolds had to chase hard to avoid a breakaway try. The ball turned over, Cougars started the push back into Woodford territory. As in the first half Woodford defended well and Medway had to win every ruck and recycle to keep the move going. Brown eventually got the break through and was stopped just short of his second score but Aaron Thompson was following up well and nipped in to pick up the loose ball and take it over for a well deserved try.
Woodford pushed forward again but their break was stopped by a brilliant interception by James Clarke which put the game back into the Woodford half and Medway pressed forward again. A second injury saw Jake Christodoulou join Stewart in a Woodford shirt and while play was stopped Medway brought back most of the first team players for the last fifteen minutes. A break down the touch line from Adam Shears make good ground and the ball fed inside found Johnston who was held up just short. Minutes later Johnston was back and over the line but again held up, this time with some satisfaction by team mate Stewart playing with as much determination for Woodford as he does in his Medway shirt. The next period of play was messy, handling was letting both sides down but a pick up and drive from Fenton put an end to it with an unconverted try to take the score to 34-7. Woodford's attack from the kick off was stopped 10 metres short of the Medway line and a great chase from Shears stopped Woodford returning the kicked clearance. More gritty work from the forwards pushed Medway on and a great ball through the backs found Nick Hardinges appearing in the line for what is becoming a trademark assist but Woodford again defended well. The play was switched to the other wing by Medway and Shears got the final score of the game in the corner.
A good display from the Cougars, well defended by Woodford who fought hard to keep Medway out. Special thanks to Stewart and Christodoulou for donning Woodford shirts.
(Match Report by Peter Cornell)
