Medway RFC Cougars

Sunday 24 January 2010

Ilford Wanderers 12 - Medway 12

Tries: Fitzpatrick (2)

Con: Gowdy

Cougars Squad:

Ilford Wanderers provided strong Essex opposition for a Cougars squad deprived of competitve rugby for three weeks due to the weather. These two sides met in the Brentwood Bowl earlier in the season but this was to be the first time they had got it on in the full version of the game. Our hosts supplied an excellent pitch showing little sign of wear and tear despite the recent poor weather and the match kicked off in overcast but mild conditions.

Dan (Stonie) Stone kicked off for Medway and the Cougars settled in to their stride early on, applying pressure on the Ilford defence. However, despite the game being played in the Ilford half, the early exchanges were even. Ilford broke out of defence and attacked at pace down the left flank requiring great cover tackles from, firstly, Alex Morgan and then Fergus Stewart, playing out of position at full back. Alex Marchant looked good going forward with the ball in hand and is a welcome addition to the club at this stage of the season. However, despite these obvious positives Medway handling errors and some missed tackles allowed the Wanderers to go on the attack again. A succession of penalties allowed the Ilford prop to run at Medway but on each occasion he was thwarted by the superb tackling of Liam Fitzpatrick. When Medway were able to strip the ball at the break down legally, Charlie Wardzynski was able to relieve the pressure with yet another fine display of defensive kicking. However, more pressure from Ilford led to the first score of the game to their fly-half, a score that went unconverted.

From the restart Ilford continued in the ascendancy and Medway were forced to defend stoically, Stewart, Irons and Fitzpatrick standing out in particular. On twenty minutes Coach, Mark Marriott, made his first change bringing Nick Hardinges on at full back with Stewart moving back to the centre. There was instant reward for the Cougars as they attacked from deep switching the ball from side to side. The forwards driven on by Max Fenton took them in to the Ilford 22 where the ball was switched through the backs to James Clarke who drove the team up to the 5m line. The forwards got there again and the ball was re-cycled and put in the hands of Fitzpatrick who crashed over for Medway's first score. The extras were missed and the scores were even at 5-5, which is how it stayed until half time.

Gordon provided the Cougars with what is his now customary rapped half time team talk and Medway carried on at the start of the second half where they had finished in the first. More pressure was applied to the Ilford defence and, after a great break from Hardinges, Medway were awarded with a penalty 5 metres out but on the wing. The confident Luke Gowdy considered taking the penaly kick, but Captain Jack Johnston elected to tap and go. The ball was placed in the hands of Fitzpatrick again who couldn't be stopped from going over for his, and Medway's, second try. Gowdy was successful with the extras and the score was now 12-5 to Medway,

Now in the ascendancy, Medway were unable to press home their advantage and back game Ilford in this titanic battle. There were some great tackles in defence from Tom Whitnell and Hardinges, and when going forward Medway showed superb continuity with good offloads the key. However, the game was still closely contested with both sides giving their all. On occasions the intensity of the game brought players close to over stepping the mark but the excellent referee brought everybody back in line when he had to. This closely contested game was being tightly fought and more pressure through Ilford's rolling mauls resulted in a converted try to make the scores level at 12-12.

As the game reached for its close there was still time for more Ilford pressure and more try saving tackles from Stewart. Ilford were awarded a penalty which they elected to kick, missing narrowly on the near side, leaving the honours even at 12-12.

Man of the Match as nominated by coach Mark Marriott was Liam Fitzpatrick. In a team of heroes Liam led the pack by example, putting in some crunching tackles all over the park but still being on hand in offence to convert possession into points and his two tries were just reward for his efforts. Well done Liam.

This was a great game of rugby by two evenly matched sides, evenly contested throughout and played with pride and passion. A good result for both teams.

(Match Report by Graham Reynolds and Pat Nolan)

Pictures