Sunday 4 October 2009
Canterbury 24 - Medway 12
Tries: Fenton, Thompson
Con: Stone
Cougars Squad:
Christodoulou, Clarke, Fenton, Fitzpatrick, Gowdy, Hardinges, Johnston (C), Kennedy, Lazel, Murray, Reynolds, Simpson, Stewart, Stone, Stone, Syplywczac, Thompson, Wardzynski, Wellard, Whitnell and WilliamsThe Cougars were fortunate to get a berth as Charlton Park could not fulfil a fixture and canterbury hosted the Medway u16's on a bright and clear day, perfect for running rugby.
Three 20 minute sessions were agreed and Medway started sluggish with Canterbury out of the blocks early. Canterbury recycled quick ball and spun the ball wide to secure 2 early unanswered tries. Medway then began to settle and were extremely unlucky to concede a third try after some signs of driving attacking rugby with Jack Johnston (Cap'n Jak!)leading the way when Canterbury seized a loose ball and scored again to win the first session 19-0. The Cougars had it all to do!
The second session was targeted to win the session and the forwards through Liam Fitzpatrick and Max Fenton leading the line, driving into the heart of the defence and finding gaps to exploit. With lineout training now paying off George Simpson hit his mark and most of the possession went to Medway. The ball was spun to Nick Hardinges who stretched the defence to set up a battering of the Canterbury line who, to be fair to the homeside defended with defiance, set up a drive by Jake Christodoulou and completed by Fenton who scored a try to win the 2nd session 0-5.
The third and final session saw Fergus Stewart make many hard yards in attack and the centre pairing of Aaron Thompson and James Clarke defended the line stoutly. Eventually Canterbury, through their powerful number 8 mounted a sustained attack, repelled by Medway for at least 12 phases but a good try completed a Canterbury pattern. Medway, unwilling to capitulate continued with the game plan and a mazey run by Hardinges released the wing, Connor Reynolds who gained ground and then the forwards led by Tom Whitnell, Ben Lazell, Alex Williams and Matthew Kennedy put their bodies on the line to recycle the ball for Ben Wellard to feed Luke Murray who then put Aaron Thompson into space and the try was scored. Dan Stone converted and the score was 24-12. With 2 minutes left Charlie Wardynski set out to replicate the previous move with Canterbury reeling but the clock did not permit further scores and Medway were left to rue early lapses in concentration. Winning the second and third sessions gave the Cougars positives to take away from Canterbury and the hosts were thanked and congratulated on their victory!
Both sides took much from the encounter, and the re-match will be a match to diarise!
C'mon Medway!
(Match Report by Mark Marriott)
