Medway RFC Cougars

Sunday 14 March 2010

Kent Festival

(Match Reports by Pat Nolan)

Pictures

Bright sunshine greeted the Cougars on their arrival at Ashford on the warmest day of the year so far, and although conditions became overcast and breezy, nothing was to detract from a fine display by Medway. Historically, the Cougars do not fair well on Festival day, not enjoying the format of short games and waiting around in between matches. This Sunday that was to change though, as the Cougars put on the finest Festival showing in their history.

Cougars Squad:

Medway 0 - Old Dartfordians 7

Medway's first pool game was against old rivals Dartfordians. These two sides met earlier in the year in an evenly contested draw at the Brentwood Golden Boot Festival so the watching support looked on with interest as skipper Jack Johnston led the Cougars into battle. Darts got into their stride quickly, using their well practiced driving game to gain ground whilst practicing the 'dark arts' in the break down to secure any advantage they could. However, the referee was on top of this early on as Darts gave away two penalties in promising attacking positions allowing Charlie Wardzynski to clear Medway's lines. Medway settled and some Jake Christodoulou disruptive work at the ruck saw Tom Whitnell pick up and drive 15 metres before Ben Wellard fed the ball out through the backs to Wardzynski who gained 20 metres more before being forced into touch. Darts raised their game again, stiffling Medway's attacking options with a mixture of their bullish game and rugby nouse that allowed them to take full advantage in the line out, the scrum and the break down - three key areas of the game. Feeling that the referee should be taking a stronger stance with Darts, Medway became increasingly more frustrated and an errant Dartford boot on Whitnell led to tempers becoming frayed. However, the referee did well to stop matters getting out of control and half time was called. The second half was more of the same. Medway showed more of the attacking flair gaining ground at lighting pace but tenacious Darts defending stripped the ball allowing them to kick clear. A Darts attacking maul saw the referee pull play up. Possibly with a mind to the events at the end of the first half, he showed Harrison Irons a yellow card and now a man down, the Cougars were on the back foot. Darts kicked the penalty to touch gaining a 5 metre attacking line out, but solid Medway defence resulted in a 22 metre drop out. A rare Medway penalty gain saw the Cougars kick to touch but no further gain was made. Then an impressive Darts kick saw Medway with a defensive line out on their own 5 metre line. Darts stole and drove over collapsing the maul over the try line. Despite bodies being everywhere and Christodoulou emerging with both hands under the ball, the referee awarded the try which Darts converted for a 7-0 lead. Medway tried manfully to turn the game around but to no avail and that's how the game finished, 7-0 to Darts. Acknowledging that the Cougars had lost to a side that had played the referee well, the coaches praised the side for a gutsy performance.

Dover 0 - Medway 17

Tries: Fitzpatrick, Stone

Con: Stone (2)

Pen: Stone

Next up was Dover. An early Dan Stone kick to touch from within his own 22 saw play taken up to the Dover 15 metre mark. Tom Brown stole the line out and the ball was worked out to the backs but a knock on brought a halt to a promising attack. Medway stole the Dover scrum and the forwards picked and drove on two or three occasions to get within sniffing distance of the Dover line. The final pick up was by Liam Fitzpatrick and over he went for the try which was converted by Stone for a 7-0 lead. At the restart Brown broke through Dover tackles before the ball was worked out to James Clarke who was forced into touch. However, a Dover infringement saw Stone kick a penalty and at half time the score was 10-0 to the Cougars. In the second half, Matt Kennedy playing at centre, made a strong break but the support was lacking and Dover turned the ball over. A Wardzynski dummy and break saw more metres gained but he was forced into touch. A knock on at the line out saw Dover awarded a defensive scrum but an early Dover strike saw Medway gain the penalty. Brown tapped and went and Medway were back on the Dover 5 metre line. Medway were awarded an attacking scrum and the fowards worked the ball to Stone who created space with a well worked dummy before going over for the try which he converted himself for a 17-0 lead. There was just enough time for another Brown and Whitnell break before the referee called time. As the Cougars made it into the Plate knock out stages the Coaches acknowldeged the largely unnoticed performances of Ben Wellard, who was fantastic at 9, both going forward and in defence.

Ashford 0 - Medway 5

Try: Reynolds

An injury to Johnston meant that Fitzpatrick had taken over as Captain as the quarter finals of the plate saw Medway take on hosts Ashford in a game where the Cougars forwards were to dominate. The early exchanges saw Medway take five scrums against the head as Ashford struggled to contain Medway's power play. Luke Gowdy broke from one such scrum gaining valuable metres. He chose to kick over the top of the on rushing defence but his kick was intercepted. Ashford panicked and kicked clear themselves but the ball went straight to Connor Reynolds who returned it with interest running in a try in the corner for a 5-0 lead. Another fine Gowdy break saw Medway on the attack again but a knock on stopped them in their tracks 5 metres out. Despite their forward dominance Medway were unable to add any more points as sloppy line out work led to penalties against them in promising positions, with Ashford able to clear their lines. When Asford had their prop sin binned and the scrums went uncontested, Medway's advantage was further restrained. The second half saw Medway's dominance continue but knock-ons or forward passes saw them unable to press home their advantage. However Reynolds early try was enough as the Cougars went through to the Plate semi finals with a 5-0 victory. Acknowledging a fine Luke Gowdy display the coaches got the squad together and asked each and every one of them for one final big effort.

Bromley 0 - Medway 5

Try: Clarke

The semi final of the plate and Bromley were Medway's next opponents. A much improved Bromley since we last had the pleasure who had looked very strong in the backs during their previous games. An early Bromley penalty saw them into the Medway 22 where we saw the first 3 man line out of the day. Bromley took it but a knock on amongst the backs saw play brought back for a scrum. A Gowdy defensive kick was charged down resulting in a Medway line out. The powerful Medway scrummage machine secured the ball before the forwards drove Medway on some more. The maul collapsed and a Bromley hand in the subsequent ruck saw Medway awarded the penalty. Some 30 metres out, Stone took the kick on but it fell just short. Medway continued to press forcing Bromley back and they were rewarded with a line out on the Bromley 5 metre line. Bromley won their ball and passed back to the fly half who was in his own in goal area. He got a horrible slice and the ball sailed up into the air coming down directly under the posts where Stone was on hand to collect. Unfortunately, the combination of the high ball, the wind and the posts meant the ball slipped through his fingers and at half time the score was still 0-0. Both sides exchanged more of the same in the second half. Medway were using their forward dominance to the full whilst Bromley were trying to get their backs into the game. Bromley broke from centre field and as the Medway blitz defence moved in they were tempted by the obvious overlap on the wing. They went for the pass but Clarke had timed his move to perfection, taking the ball out of the air to run 60 metres before going over in the corner. A try and a valuable 5-0 lead to Medway. Play became more and more scrappy as the clock ticked down and the final play saw Mewday win a scrum against the head before feeding Wardzynski who kicked to touch for the end of the game and a 5-0 win. The coaches announced their gratitude of a fine squad performance. All the player's were heroes, although there was an obvious special mention to James Clarke for that fantastic intercept try, but man of the Festival went to Ben Wellard, the team's engine room, and we go forward to next week's Plate Final with Sittingbourne with high hopes. Well done Medway!

Ashford are thanked for their hospitality and a splendid day of running rugby.....C'mon Medway!