Medway RFC Cougars

Sunday 3 January 2010

Medway 19 - Thurrock 7

Tries: Wellard, Stewart (2)

Con: Gowdy (2)

Cougars Squad:

Westcliff had cancelled our scheduled fixture just before Christmas which meant that some work had to be done to secure a game to start the New Year with. After a few phone calls and emails another Essex side stepped forward in the form of Thurrock and it was game on. Our thanks go to Andy and the rest of the Thurrock team for doing us the honour and making the trip to Priestfields at short notice and providing us with such strong opposition. The players and coaches started to arrive just before 10am on a crisp and sunny Sunday morning in anticipation of an 11am kick off. Both sides were able to field squads of 19 with both missing some key players. An overnight frost and subsequent pitch inspection meant a slight delay to the scheduled start time to give the top pitch time to soften but the fact that we had a game at all is testimony to the excellent work of Gerald and Mel, the Medway grounds men.

The Cougars were to get 2010 off to a winning start with victory over a previously unbeaten Thurrock side, this season, that are currently second only to Barking in a very strong Essex League. However, this victory owed much to a courageous and resolute defensive display from the Medway under 16s, epitomised by the fact that Thurrock went over the try line on five separate occasions but found themselves unable to ground the ball.

The match got underway at 11:20am in what were now somewhat cold and overcast playing conditions. The Cougars got off to a flying start receiving Thurrock's kick off and pressurising the Essex side deep in their own half for a good five minutes. The Medway forwards looked up for it and an early driving maul saw Tom Brown heading for the line and a certain try only to be pulled back by the referee's whistle for a knock on in the build up. Thurrock were struggling to get their hands on the ball or gain any momentum during this early passage of play and an attacking scrum 5 metres from their try line set up a further opportunity, this time for the Medway backs, but another knock on brought the play back again. In truth, Medway's early pressure created three good try scoring opportunities, another falling to the backs, but handling errors meant the game remained scoreless.

Deep in Thurrock territory a Medway line out was turned over by the Essex side and having got their hands on some quality ball Thurrock burst up the pitch towards the Medway line. A number of missed tackles saw Thurrock get to within striking distance of the Medway try line but the Medway forwards, led by Matthew Kennedy and Max Fenton, regrouped and the defence was able to halt the drive. Thurrock were awarded an attacking scrum but this was overturned by the Cougars and Charlie Wardzynski, who was to have an excellent defensive kicking game, relieved the pressure with the boot. Back came Thurrock and another powerful drive towards the Medway line saw them go over but unable to ground the ball as they were held up by the Medway defence. Medway were to find themselves pinned back on or in their own 5 metres for the next 15 minutes as Thurrock continued to win attacking scrum after attacking scrum in this battle of attrition. As the two sets of forwards set about trying to gain supremacy the dark arts started to creep in and consequently the referee awarded a free kick to Medway with Thurrock delaying the put in at the scrum too many times for his liking. Consequently, Wardzynski kicked clear to touch and the pressure was off.

Thurrock came forward again but Medway stripped the ball at the maul and a Wardzynski break away took him to within 15 metres of the Thurrock line before he was stopped. From the resulting scrum Medway applied pressure nudging the Thurrock pack backwards resulting in scrappy possession for their scrum half. Consequently, his loose pass was snapped up by Ben Wellard who broke through three tackles and the covering defence to score the first points of the game. A Luke Gowdy conversion took the score to 7-0, where it remained until half time.

Urged on by Tina's pre Christmas warning to "get on with the wrapping", Gordon continues to deliver his half time team talk in Ali G style, complete with back to front baseball cap and true bling sunnies. On this occasion Gordon's words of wisdom no doubt featured the heart the Cougars were displaying in defence and that this alone had earned them their lead. However, a worrying feature of the game thus far was that whilst there was parity in the scrum and the maul, Thurrock were destroying the Medway line out consistently. Medway would need to do something about this in the second half if they were to remain in the ascendancy.

Gowdy restarted the game and Thurrock came forward. The first few minutes of the second half were quiet compared to what had gone before and the Cougars made a couple of early changes bringing off Conor Chalmers after another superb performance, and Connor Reynolds who had suffered a blood injury during the first half. Eventually, Medway were able to turn a Thurrock ruck over and subsequent good work by the forwards and a succession of driving mauls saw a good breakaway by Wellard, this time off loading to Fergus Stewart who drove over to score a well deserved try. Gowdy again converted the extras and the score was 14-0.

Thurrock came back again but the ball was stripped by the Medway forwards again and worked, through the backs, to substitute Alex Morgan on the wing who was driven into touch by a sound Thurrock cover defence. The resultant defensive line out on Thurrock's own 22 was, for once, overturned by Medway and the ball was spread to the powerful centre, Stewart, who burst through several tackles to go over again, this time the try going unconverted.

At 19 points down lesser sides may have crumbled, but not Thurrock. They came back even stronger, proud of their unbeaten record and determined to hold onto it. With fifteen minutes left Thurrock went back on the offensive through their forwards, taking the battle back to Medway. It was a battle that was taking its toll as Harrison Irons sustained a blood injury that required attention, while prop Tom Whitnell possibly dislocated a shoulder. Thurrock too were showing the signs of a hard thought battle with their own tight head prop sustaining a rib injury and other players showing signs of wear and tear. However, all players heroically carried on after being patched up with the magic sponge and spray. As the game wore on Medway were forced to defend even harder and deeper as Thurrock continued to try and batter them up front. The Thurrock coaches were screaming for the ball to be got to the backs but four times the Thurrock forwards drove over the Medway line in this final period but on each occasion Medway bodies, nearly always having the spirited Wellard in there somewhere, got under the ball to stop Thurrock grounding it. Eventually, the pressure told and a fine move by Thurrock finally saw them create some space and a try was scored by the posts, although Wellard again did his utmost to prevent the score. The Thurrock fly half and captain converted the extras to take the score to 19-7. With only a minute left the game was lost for Thurrock and Medway played the game out in their opponents 22 before the game was brought to an end by the referee's whistle.

Supporters, coaches and players all agreed that it had been an excellent game of rugby and vowed to try and play again before the season is out. Thurrock will take many positives into their Essex Cup game with Barking next week in what promises to be a close run thing. For Medway, they need to work on their line outs once more with the set piece becoming more and more important as we head towards the under 17 league next season. Amongst a team of heroes the Cougar's Man of the Match was Ben Wellard. He was a continual nuisance to his opposite scrum half epitomised by the try he scored. Another fine break away and off load created the second try for Stewart and his sheer determination in defence ensured that Thurrock's territorial advantage was not turned into points. Well done Ben.

(Match Report by Jim Kennedy and Pat Nolan)

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