Medway RFC Cougars

Sunday 18 April 2010

(Match Report by Pat Nolan)

Pictures

Thurrock 21 - Medway 10

Tries: Morgan, Fitzpatrick

Cougars Squad:

It was a glorious sunny day in Essex that greeted the Cougars as they arrived at Thurrock's Oakfield show pitch. Previous encounters between the two had a seen a high scoring draw and, this season, a Cougar win. The previous encounters suggested that both teams were very evenly matched and it was to be that way again today. But with each side also fresh from their successful end of season tours, it was Thurrock's "T's" who looked like they wanted the 'revenge' victory more. That said Medway should have secured an away win but two lapse in defence ultimately meant that Thurrock secured the coverted win.

The early exchanges were somewhat scrappy. Thurrock settled the better working the ball nicely through the backs, but when Medway's blitz defence came up, handling errors would creep in. Unfortunately, Medway were unable to take advantage as they gave away a number of silly penalties. The result was that for the first twenty minutes Medway found it difficult to get out of their own half. Despite this, Luca Syplywczac was showing how his all round game was improving with some monster pressure releaving kicks, whilst Ben Wellard was tackling like a demon whenever the Cougar line looked like it might be breached. One kick went down the throat of the talented T's full-back who ran it back with interest from his own 22. A couple of side steps and dummies enabled him to eat up the ground but Alex Morgan, playing on the wing, got back and made an impressive cover tackle. However, another penalty saw Thurrock break into the Cougar'22 before being awarded the scrum. From the scrum the T's were awarded a free kick which they took quickly. A well reheased vbacks move saw the ball with the inside centre who broke through to go in under the posts for a converted try, 7-0 Thurrock.

Medway needed to regroup and take their time to recover. Unfortunately, their restart kick was swallowed up by Thurrock who fed the ball through the backs again and thrir winger got away from inside his own half to breach the Medway try line unchallenged for another converted try and a score of 14-0 to Thurrock.

Lesser teams might have crumbled but Medway stood firm and began to grind their way back into the game. Cougars forward power saw them get to within 5 metres of the Thurrock line with great carries and off loads from Jack Johnston, Tom Brown and Harrison Irons, tearing through the T's line only for them to lose control and knock-on inches short of the line. With a scrum on the 5 metres line to contest Medway found themselves penalised for the early hit and Thurrock cleared their lines. The half came to a close with Medway still conceding penalties and Thurrock spurning another break away following a forward pass.

Coaches Mark Marriott and Dan Stone ripped into the side at half-time and demanded more, which they got. It was a more spirited Medway that started the second half. The forwards were beginning to dominate exchanges at the break down with a fine carry from Ben Lazell getting the Cougars into the hosts half. Quick work by Wellard got the ball to Charlie Wardzynski who made one of his customary runs down the right flank. What came next was sublime, even by Wardzynski's standards. As he was swallowed up by the T's cover defence he must have heard the "inside" call from Morgan. With that Wardzynski waited until most of the T's defence were committed before off loading blind out of the back of his hand to the on rushing Morgan. Morgan took the ball gratefully and powered to the line. Despite the attentions of the T's number 10 Morgan grounded the ball for a well earned try that went unconverted. Score now 14-5 to Thurrock.

From another scrum Medway won the ball and an inside switch saw Jake Christodoulou eat up the yards before being tackeled deep in T's territory. However, Thurrock stole the ball and broke away themselves before being stopped in Medway's half, a penalty resulting. Medway failed to make touch and the T's full back was off again. More missed tackles by Medway and Thurrock were in again for another converted try and a score of 21-5. Medway still wouldn't give up and the backs were coming alive. Syplywczac was inspired with ball in hand and Connor Reynolds was finding more room on the wing. 5 metres out and Medway earned a penalty, taken quickly for Liam Fitzpatrick to break through and score another unconverted try. The score now 21-10. Medway scented blood now and that the game was not lost. A Tom Brown pick up at the back of the scrum gained yards followed by an offload to Wellard. A quick exchange with Reynolds and Wellard was streaking through before desperate T's defending got him. Hands agains, this time down the left wing involving Wardzynski, Syplywczac and Thomas Rawlins before Morgan was forced into touch. A Christodoulou break away , supported by Irons, again took Medway deep into T's territory. ASnother break from full back by Syplywczac tore into the Thurrock half but the inside pass was knocked on as Morgan looked clear. The final chance fell to Morgan once more as the backs exchnaged before setting him free on the wing. It looked like he was in but Thurrock wer able to hold him up. That was that and the game finished shortly after, Thurrock 21 Medway 10.

It was a fine day in Thurrock, with excellent hosts. Maybe not the result we wanted but a great game all the same. Here's to the Kent 7s. C'mon Medway....