Medway RFC Cougars

Sunday 20 March 2011

Kent Festival Plate/Bowl Competition

Cougars Squad:

A Cougar's side much reduced by injury and absence travelled to Ashford to play in the Plate Quarter-Final against Dover and a hoped for Semi against either Bromley or Whitstable. It was a fine day in Kent and 'Laces' Marriott was in good form insisting on singing throughout their journey as he and 'Fat Sir Pat' travelled to the ground that morning.

Medway Cougars 10 - 14 Dover (Plate Quarter Final)

Tries: Chalmers

Con: Gowdy

Pen: Gowdy

First up then was Dover, a game that on paper we would have expected to win but you never can tell. With only a 16 man squad the day was never going to be easy but in this game a stream of unsupported runs, missed tackles, dropped passes, an unfathomable referee and a whole raft of penalties, including 16 in the second half, against were our undoing.

The game started well with Medway kicking off. A Dover fumble allowed the Cougars to take the initiative with a good run from 'Regular at training' Cornell and the 'Ginger Peril' Gowdy. The move broke down though and Dover pushed back but gave away a penalty around half way. 'Chatterbox' Wardzynski kicked for touch but Dover thought they could stop the kick by leaping and tapping back into play. Our new winger 'Gorgeous' Simpson though, whose work rate throughout the day was superlative, had chased the kick, took the tap and headed for the line. He was chased down but well supported by 'The baby faced assassin' Chalmers and Simpson's pass was well timed, Conor going over for the score. Gowdy stepped in to convert for a 7-0 lead.

From the kick off however, Dover drove straight back and scored a converted try of their own to even the scores. It was all Medway for most of the rest of the first half, Cougars winning line outs with some fine lifting from the forwards and 'Wing Commander' Brown seeming to be able to stretch for everything. Scrums were powerful but Cougars were being driven off the ball at the rucks as the carrier was too often left to fend for himself. Dover defended stoutly but were allowed to. A penalty from about 40 metres was well taken by Gowdy to give Cougars a 10-7 lead which they held to half time.

Dover came straight at us as the second half started but pressure was lifted with a long clearance kick from Wardzynski which Chalmers chased down well and the pressure was back on Dover. They turned over again though and made a great break down the line only to be met by the resolute Simpson who covered good ground to put in a saving tackle and supported by his backs drove Dover into touch. A couple of darting runs from Wardzynski pushed Cougars right up to the Dover line but a Dover defender intercepted, slapping the ball down but oddly winning a penalty which allowed them to clear their lines. Dover moved the ball across the field but couldn't make ground, they then switched moving the ball well back across finding a gap that was punished by an unconverted try moving the score to 14-10 in Dover's favour. Wardzynski's restart was chased down by the 'Mimic' Lazell and fed to 'Never Surrender' Whitnall who drove forward but at a break down Dover who were clearly off-side were awarded another of a series of bizarre penalties. Frustration showed and Gowdy was yellow carded with only 5 mins to go for accurately describing the ref's game up until that point (hairy spherical objects). There was nothing the Cougars could do and the final score was 14-10 to Dover.

Medway Cougars 5 - 15 Blackheath (Bowl Semi Final)

Tries: Lazell

As Plate Quarter-Final losers, Medway went on to play Blackheath in the Bowl Semi-Final. Cougars started well with Wardzynski's kick taking one bounce in to touch. The resulting move won Medway a penalty which cruelly bounced back off the upright. Chalmers was following up well though and won the rebound but was stopped just short. Our next chance again fell to Chalmers as Cornell made a good run and fed the winger a good ball. We were unable to penetrate though and Blackheath came back at us. They looked like they were going all the way but threw it away going over in a ruck. Play swung back and forth then Cougars had another break. A scrum 15 Metres out saw the 'Thespian' Fitzpatrick pick up and drive to the line but a resolute defence saw him held up. Blackheath won the scrum and tried to kick clear but 'Junior Mark II Frenchie' French chased and charged down to get possession back. Cornell picked up and fed Lazell who scored in the corner.

Blackheath pushed on after the restart, pressure relieved by a good kick from Gowdy, 'Wing Commander' Brown chased down this time and the Cougars had the advantage again. A scrum 5 was lost against though and Blackheath were able to kick clear. Next Cougars move was led by Lazell who picked up a Blackheath clearance and cut inside only to be held up on the line. Medway went in at half time with a slender 5 point lead.

The second half started messy with no real phases from either side. Blackheath spread the ball along their backs from one side of the pitch to the other and back looking for a gap. On the third sweep they found it and sprinted through to level the score. The Cougars then drove forward well and won a penalty which was attempted from about 40m. It fell just short but Blackheath knocked on trying to collect. Strain was showing on the normally verbose coach 'Laces' Marriot who changed from his normal "He's got to release it ref", to more of an Aussie walkabout, wandering round the Medway try zone. At one point it was like being in a canyon listening to an echo as Blackheath's 'Laces' copycat and 'Laces' himself bellowed the same helpful phrases to the ref. Meanwhile from the scrum Wardzynski broke and fed Lazell who nearly scored his second. Scrum 5 was one by Medway and Whitnell picked and drove diving over for the score only to be pulled back for coming off his feet in the very act of scoring! Penalty Blackheath. Blackheath moved the ball up to the Cougars half and won a penalty which was easily converted from about 20 metres to put them 3 points up. There was a spirited move from the Cougars at the restart but the drive was forced into touch. Blackheath then broke and found themselves with space to take a late try and close the game off with a final score of 15-5.

Not the best of days for the Cougars but well fought under the circumstances. Everybody worked hard but there was a lack of discipline at the breakdowns and passes were going astray. Simpson played a great game on the wing and our other George, 'New Boy' Nebbs, had a great game at full back and Lazell made some great runs. On the whole though, 'Wee Man' Marriot stood out at hooker, having a great game and imposing himself at the breakdowns. He was therefore the Cougar's man of the Festival. Well done Lewis.

(Scribes, Pete 'Repair Man' Cornell and 'Sir Fat' Pat Nolan)

Paul's Pictures