Medway RFC Cougars

Sunday 14 November 2010

Folkestone 0 - Medway 7

Tries: Wardzynski

Con: Gowdy

Cougars Squad:

An injury ravaged Cougars side made the trip to Folkestone for another round of the East Kent Cup and the opportunity to put back to back defeats to Sittingbourne and Bromley behind them. Players and spectators alike stood in the centre of the field as a minute's silence was observed on this Remembrance Sunday and we thought of those that had fallen on our behalf. On the referee's whistle the spectators left the pitch, the heavens opened and Medway kicked off.

Folkestone settled early on and Medway were put quickly on the back foot. Conditions were attrocious and the ball at time resembled a bar of soap as fumbles and knock ons were the order of the day. Folkestone attacked for much of the first half, spending most of their time in the Medway half. However, they rarely looked like threatening and when they did, Ben Lazell was making some crunching tackles whilst Thomas Rawlins was collecting a lot of ball in the loose to relieve the pressure. Injuries meant that Lazell and Jake Christodoulou were playing in the front row where they put in major performances. Alex Morgan started at flanker where he made an important contribution before moving to his more regular wing spot as the game developed. Medway looked the more dangerous side when they had the ball but despite Luke Gowdy's kicking they were playing the game too deep and at half-time the score was still 0-0

Returning from injury, Tom Brown was sent on at the start of the second half as the only change. Medway went on the attack early and didn't look back.The scrum was looking powerful and Rawlins was now dominant in the line-out. Surface water was forming as the 'French' rain continued to fall heavily, but eight minutes into the second half Charlie Wardzynski took a pass and opened up down the wing. A jinky run outfoxing the Folkestone cover saw him make it to the line with a final head slide for the only try of the game, duly converted by Gowdy's boot. Medway were on the up and continued to attack. Morgan was put away down the wing and you'd have backed him to score before the cover tackle put him into touch. Gowdy was to get the chance to extend the lead with a penalty as Folkestone were punished, but he missed the posts narrowly on the left side. Medway were in control but some retalitory 'afters' by Dominic French made the final fifteen minutes interesting as the Cougars were forced to play most of it with fourteen players. Folkestone sensed an opportunity and were back on the attack but the Cougars defended brilliantly. Despite the pressure they found themselves under due to the uneven numbers Medway gained in confidence and stole a Folkestone quickly taken line out, putting Brown away who seemed destined to score before the referee pulled him back on a technicality. Shortly afterwards Gowdy had another go at the posts with a penalty from distance but this time his kick faded right in the attrocious conditions. With three minutes left French was allowed back on the pitch and the side saw the game out for a well deserved win.

Both sides were a credit to their clubs playing some exciting rugby in conditions that were really only suitable for ducks - you had to be there to know how truly bad the weather was. The whole Medway side played with passion and spirit. However, special mention must go to Christodoulou and Lazell for stepping in to the breach in the front fow with our regulars missing. Rawlins had a fantastic game sweeping up in the loose and dominating the line out whilst captain Liam Fitzpatrick led from the front and regularly stole ball he had no right to win. Morgan had a solid game both at flanker and wing and was unlucky not to score a try. He also receives the award for the most spectacular slide of the game. The Cougars man of the match though goes to that man Lazell. In the unfamilliar front row position he held his own and nailed every tackle that was required of him during the game in open play. He got around the pitch well appearing at more or less every break down and gained valuable ground with the ball in hand - great effort Ben, well done.

Paul's Pictures