Sunday 8 November 2009
Medway 52 - Aylesford Bulls 0
Tries: Chalmers, Wardzynski 2, Gowdy 2, Brown, Fitzpatrick, Stewart
Cougars Squad:
Brown, Chalmers, Christodoulou, Clarke, Cornell, Fenton, Fitzpatrick, Gowdy, Hardinges, Irons, Johnston (C), Kennedy, Lazell, Last, Marriott, Rawlins, Reynolds, Simpson, Stewart, Syplywczac, Wardzynski, Whitnell and Williams.A tough test for Aylesford coming up against an on form Medway Cougars side. Aylesford were short off a complete front row so special thanks to Alex Williams and Harrison Irons for playing a half each as substitute props for the opposition.
The game started with a short high kickoff by Aylesford which was well and bravely taken by Tom Rawlins under pressure. This set up a good first attack for Medway which saw the ball being fed through the backs to the opposite wing, a ploy which worked very well for the Cougars throughout the match. There were a lot of turnovers in the rucks and mauls though with little ground being made by either side until Tom Whitnell appeared from the back of a ruck and made good yards, the ball finding its way to Connor Chalmers on the wing who was unlucky not to break through. Soon after another play through the backs with a Medway overlap gave Chalmers the space to score in the corner. Luke Gowdy narrowly missed, one of only two out of eight attempts on the day. Medway were looking positive with sturdy work from Max Fenton and Liam Fitzpatrick leading the forwards, Matthew Kennedy working hard and George Simpson who was following the play well and put in some excellent clearances as rucks formed. After a couple of near misses for the two wingers Gowdy and Chalmers, Charlie Wardzynski sold a lovely dummy and sprinted through the emerging gap to score, Gowdy converted for 12-0. The next try was by Gowdy (also converted) who found himself in space after a quickly taken penalty was again fed though the backs, this time Nick Hardinges entering the line to give Gowdy the overlap. Ben Wellard was playing with his usual commitment, shown admirably when a Wardzynski chip was returned by Aylesford and looked threatening until Wellard took the sprinting winger into touch. The next try followed a great run from Hardinges, there was some great team play here and the interchange between Gowdy and Tom Brown gave Brown the try, Gowdy converting. At half time the score was 26-0.
Medway set up a good drive from the kickoff and Aylesford were obviously conscious of the way Medway were feeding down the backs. Medway were winning scrums with Lewis Marriot doing a fine job as hooker and it wasn't long before Wardzynski gave himself space with another clever dummy and scored under the posts, Gowdy again converting. Wardzynski got straight back into the action, returning Aylesford's kickoff with a penetrating run. A later build up was fumbled but Luka Syplywczac was watching closely and picked up the loose ball quickly, the move was finished off by Gowdy, but this time he failed to convert.
At 38-0 down Aylesford were in no frame of mind to give up and they put Medway under a lot of pressure. The move ended with a penalty about 25 metres out which Aylesford decided to kick but unfortunately the attempt fell short. The game then got a little messy, no clear winners of rucks or mauls, no fluidity. Cougars had the upper hand though and Fitzpatrick drove over. Gowdy converted with what was probably is best kick of the game almost from the touch line on the wrong side for a right footed kicker. The score now 45-0 Aylesford to their credit continued to push forward but just couldn't break through, Medway eventually regained possession and some great worjk from Wellard, Syplwaczak and Sam Cornell, gave Fergus Stewart the opportunity he had been looking for to get his name on the score sheet. Gowdy's sixth from eight made the score 52-0. That was the last scoring move but not for want of trying. A penalty to Medway around 25 metres saw Stewart take the ball at full tilt and he looked unstoppable. Too many bodies though and he was forced into touch with just 2 metres to go.
A fine performance from Medway for the most part, some lapses in concentration nearly let the opposition in, excellent kicking from Gowdy, intelligent running from Wardzynski and solid hard work from the rest of the squad. Congratulations to Aylesford who never gave up and played a spirited game which did not really deserve such a heavy defeat. Head Coach Mark Marriott's Man of the Match went to Ben Wellard - well done Ben.
(Match Report by Pete Cornell)
