Medway RFC Cougars

Sunday 7 March 2010

Old Colfeians 15 - Medway 22

Tries: Christodoulou, Wardzynski, Brown, Fenton

Con: Stone

Cougars Squad:

Although a cold chill was in the air, glorious sunshine greeted the Cougars as twenty four of them travelled to South East London to take on Lewisham's Old Colfeians, a very strong outfit who have produced two high class Saracens/England players at this age group. The pitch was also a tribute to Colfeians, given the amount of rain we have had recently. It was a testimony to both set ups that there were plenty of players available, so it suited both sides ahead of the Kent Festival of Youth next week, to play a development game ahead of the main event.

Tom Brown skippered the Medway development side who settled well early on. However, it was Colfeains who showed the early attacking prowess sweeping the ball out to the wing where Alex Morgan put in a covering tackle and David McManus stripped the ball at the subsequent break down. More of the same followed as Morgan was called in to action with another great covering tackle but an early penalty followed with Medway being judged off their feet. A subsequent scrum following a Colfeians knock on, allowed Luka Syplywczac to clear to touch. Conor Chalmers made a great run but lost his footing as he seemed certain to break through the Colfeians well marshalled defence. Syplywczac was kicking intelligently pinging the Colfeians back but it was the home side's development boys who still seemd to have the greater threat going forward. Ben Wellard, supported by his forwards drove Medway up the pitch before great Colfeian counter rucking put them back on the attack. An attempted kick over the top was charged down by Morgan, who was having a great game in defence. Another Colfeians break saw Medway kick the ball dead from what looked like a Colfeians knock on. From the subsequent scrum the Colfeians broke on the blind side and touched down in the corner for the first score of the game. Shortly after the re-start, 2 missed tackles in centre field saw the Colfians break through for a further try, this time converted. Medway tried valiantly to get back into the game but the development match ended at 12-0 to Colfeians.

Jack Johnston took over as akipper for the main event, as Medway saw to gain revenge for their loss in the development game. Medway started strongly and all the early play was deep in Colfeians territory. The pressure paid off as Ben Wellard drove his side to just short of the try line, and Jake Christodoulou was on hand to pick up and drive over for the first Cougars try and a score of 5-0. Brown and Harrison Irons put in some great tackles before Charlie Wardzynski put in a magical blind side run of 30 metres before being forced in to touch. Medway were dominant in this phase of the game and a George Simpson take out of the sky led to the Colfeians giving away a penalty that Dan Stone narowly missed going for goal. However, the Colfeians failed to clear their lines and Wardzynski broke blind side again, throwing several dummies, before diving over for a second Medway try, the conversion narrowly missed from out wide by Luke Gowdy. Colfeians came back into it next and Gowdy was required to kick clear. Next followed some confusion as the referee blew the whistle but then played on. Medway were confused and Colfeains took advantage going over in the corner for a score of 10-5. Medway went back on the attack straight away and earned a penalty. Colfeians dissent moved the Cougars 10 metres closer where Brown's tap and go led to him crashing through and touching down for a try converted by Stone. At half time the score stood at 17-5 to Medway.

In the second half early Colfeains pressure led to a penalty that they kicked to make the score 17-8. Next up was a Johnston break that took Medway deep in to Colfeians territory where he slipped the ball to Clarke, who was taken in to touch on the 22. More Medway attacking play led to a Stone drop-kick attempt that faded inches wide at the last moment. Medway, still on the attack, tried a long pass through the backs that didn't go to hand. The Colfeians broke hard and fast but were held up 5 metres short. The subsequent scrum led to a well worked number 8 pick up by Colfeians who drove over for a converted try, taking the score to 17-15. These were two well matched sides but more Wardzynski quick thinking got Medway just short of the Colfeians line where Max Fenton was on hand to steam over for another try. The final score, 22-15 to Medway

Gordon could not pick a man of the match come the end of the game, his message being that the whole squad deserved the honour. Well done lads.

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