Medway RFC Cougars

Sunday 18 October 2009

Medway 22 - Maidstone 10

Tries: Clarke, Brown, Murray, Fenton

Con: Gowdy

Cougars Squad:

Yet another glorious autumn day as Maidstone visited Priestfields at short notice to fill in for Anchorians. This proved to be a hard fought match with Medway taking their time settling into the game but a much better second half from the Cougars secured victory in the end.

From the Maidstone kick-off Medway set up an early drive but were turned over in the maul. As Maidstone fed the ball wide Connor Reynolds intercepted well and made about 20 metres before being stopped. The pattern of the early part of the game was one of missed opportunities. Maidstone were powerful in the rucks but were let down by their passing. Medway were not quick enough to the ball and did not move it fast enough when they did get it. There was too big a gap between scrum-half and fly-half which on several occasions stopped the Cougars from building. Things settled a little and after a good period of Medway pressure with Maidstone continuing to get up quickly on the backs the breakthrough came with a penalty. Tom Brown received the ball at speed and made good ground, the ball was then fed through the backs, Sam Cornell found a gap then fed the ball to the wing for James Clarke to score. Luke Gowdy sent over a very good conversion and Medway were leading 7-0. From the kick-off Brown was unlucky not to gather and Maidstone capitalised pushing on and eventually feeding out to the winger who crossed in the corner but was allowed to cut in and score under the posts. An easy conversion made it 7-7. Maidstone were playing hard, constant interference at the scrum put-in and the occasional foul from the opposition scrum-half and flanker proved too much for Ben Wellard who was caught retaliating and sin-binned just before half time. Maidstone then pushed forward, Medway were caught going over in the ruck and Maidstone kicked the penalty to make the half time score 7-10.

Early in the second half Medway coach Mark Marriot made a number of changes and the Cougars seemed to wake up. A 10 metre line out then a scrum won against the head by Medway found Nick Hardinges who drove through feeding Brown who scored. Gowdy went very close with the conversion attempt, but the score remained at 12-10. The Cougars now took control and were much sharper on the ball. Charlie Wardzynski showed his typical quick thinking, kicking a short ball through the backs which was tapped into touch by Maidstone but Wardzynski was following up and took a quick long throw which could well have been successful if not for a dubious knock on decision. Medway regained possession and switched play, Luke Murray going over in the corner for 17-10. The next Medway move of note saw Harrison Irons make good yards, shrugging off tackle attempts. When he was finally stopped George Simpson who had been supporting took over but the move broke down as the ball was fed down the backs. Medway pressure continued and a break through by Cornell was stopped on the line. Max Fenton took the ball and pushed over with ease. Gowdy's conversion attempt hit the wrong side of the upright, and the score finished 22-10.

(Match Report by Pete Cornell)

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