Medway RFC Cougars

Sunday 13 March 2011

Medway 17 - Saracens 22

Tries: Morgan, Kennedy, Lazell

Con: Gowdy

Cougars Squad:

A major injury crisis and serious doubts as to whether the Cougars would have fifteen fit players to take to the field meant that the East Kent Cup Final scheduled for today was postponed until 27 March 2011. We thank Sittingbourne for their considerable patience in this matter. However, with the Kent Festival Plate Quarter Final, and possible Semi Final, coming up next week it was important that those players fit to take to the pitch got a game to keep the rugby juices flowing. With this in mind phone calls were made and the result was a real coup for the Cougars as Saracens Amateur RFC agreed to make the long trip from their home in North London to our Priestfields ground. That's right - The Saracens, albeit the amateur arm of the Aviva Premiership side, but still a National League side at this age group all the same and quite possibly the strongest opposition that the Cougars are likely to face this season. With such esteemed opposition it was only right that the game should be played on the 'DS' pitch. So with the Sarries lads and coaches welcomed to Medway it was on with the game.

With 'Marvin' Stone unwell at home (from all the Cougars, hope you're feeling better soon Gordon!) it was left to Head Coach 'Laces' Marriott to fire the side up. Seventeen players made themselves available with 'Nice South African' Clarke and 'Feisty' Wellard also there watching from the sidelines. 'The Thespian' Fitzpatrick was named captain, the starting fifteen were sent into battle and Medway started the game playing up hill. It seemed that Sarries were lined up with sixteen players until we realised that one of the 'players' had a whistle and score card on him. Despite the referee choosing to wear a black top, the same as Saracens, he was to go on to have an excellent game, letting the game flow and spotting infringements by both sides in equal measure. Both sets of coaches and fans commented positively on the referee's performance, so well done Colin.

The opening exchanges were fairly equal. The Sarries lads were huge and, when they got clean ball they moved it at great pace. Medway, on the other hand stood manfully to the task and refused to give quarter easily. In fact, after finding their feet following a nervy start, the forwards begin to impose themselves on the game, notably 'Wee Man' at Hooker, 'Terminator' Bailey at prop and 'The Power' Fenton playing at eight. With both sides having sized each up in the early exchanges the first real play of note came when Saracens worked the ball through their backs powerfully out to the left wing. It seemed that a try was inevitable with the only cover being 'New Boy' Nebbs playing at Full-Back and the Saracens winger speeding towards the line. Step forward the man as Nebbsie raced across from a central position to nail his man with a well timed tackle. Medway recovered in numbers and bundled Sarries into touch. The resulting line out was won by Medway and fed back to 'Chatterbox' Wardzynski who cleared towards halfway. Charlie was to have an inspired game today with some great clearance kicking when required, but mainly in the form of his incisive, probing, tactical kicks that drove the Cougars forward time and time again. With 'Crom' Rawlins also giving a major performance at Flanker and particularly in the line-out where he won a lot of ball, Medway had a platform to build on. 'Chatterbox' and 'Junior Frenchie Mark II' combined to thwart the next Sarries attack, wrapping the Sarries Centre up before stripping him of the ball and clearing up field. However, Saracens came back and the pressure told as they got to within ten metres of the Cougars line setting up a rolling maul that powered them over the line for a deserved try that went unconverted. 0-5 Sarries.

'The Thespian' gathered his troops together and after some inspiring words back Medway came. The Cougars penned Sarries back with some power play of their own. 'The Power' was picking up and charging forward from the base of the scrum, combinging well with the 'Ginger Peril' Gowdy playing at nine, and when Saracens won the ball and kicked clear down field they found 'New Boy', 'Flag Face' Morgan and 'Gorgeous' Simpson, playing on the blind-side wing, ready to return the ball with interest. On twenty minutes 'The Terminator' made way for 'Care Bear' Irons and the Medway onslaught continued. Make shift centres, 'Teetotaller' Kennedy and 'The Mimic' Lazell, began to punch holes through the Sarries back line and with 'Never Surrender' Whitnell and 'Junior Frenchie Mark II' on hand, Medway were making some serious ground. The next passage of play saw Matthew take the ball on before taking a big hit that left both him and the tackler nursing saw heads on the ground. After getting the magic sponge treatment from 'Nurse Gladys' Wardzynski 'The Teetotaller' was ready for action again. The Cougars drove play deep into the Saracens half over on the right hand side of the pitch. They had numbers out left and 'Laces' considered it his civic duty to inform them of this. However, this is a Cougars side very much capable of thinking for themselves and having secured the ball at the ruck the 'Ginger Peril' fed 'Chatterbox' who spotted a gap on the blind side. A trademark Charlie jinking run followed and inside the ten metres he fed 'Flag Face' with a brilliantly timed late pass. Taking the ball at pace 'FF' went over in the corner for an unconverted try, levelling the score at 5-5.

The 'Wee Man' made way for 'Mad' McManus on thirty minutes, with 'Gorgeous' moving to hooker, and the game continued. Possibly because of the reshape, the Cougars went off the boil and Saracens, with their nine heavily involved, powered through for another unconverted try. From the restart Medway settled once more and spent much of the rest of the half camped deed in the Sarries half. They rucked, mauled and performed brilliantly in the line-out despite the obvious height advantage that Sarries had. However, although they spent the last five minutes of the half inside the Saracens ten metres, Medway were unable to breakthrough again and the score remained 5-10 at the interval. 'Laces' and 'Sir Fat' Pat had a prior engagement with a Fox in Twickenham so they departed sheepishly leaving 'The Real Frenchie' French and 'TAF' Simpson to inspire the lads for the second half.

Medway continued the second half as they finished the first, on the front foot. They were enjoying their rugby and playing with a smile on their faces and the watching crowd was really enjoying a great game of rugby between two good sides, so much so that your scribes almost forgot to record any match facts in the second half. Although Medway were on the attack for long periods, Sarries were still dangerous, attacking at pace when they had the ball, and Medway's defence needed to stand firm. 'GP' and 'FF' combined to halt a great run by the Saracens nine, cutting him in two with their well timed challenges. 'Chatterbox' was still probing and after a sustained period of forward dominated pressure the ball was spread wide to Matthew who crashed over for a try converted by 'GP'. The Cougars 12-10 lead came at a cost with Matthew sustaining damage to his nose when going over, casting doubt on his teetotal image as his conk literally spewed Claret. The blood injury meant a return to the firing line for the 'Wee Man' with 'Junior Frenchie Mark II' moving out to the centres. 'The Terminator' was soon to re-enter the game as 'Flag Face' came a cropper. Possibly in an attempt to avoid any flack for bringing his girlfriend Heather with him, 'FF' was to follow last week's facial flag attack with a similarly unprovoked assault on the knee of a Sarries player as he made a tackle. The result was a bash to the temple, a glazed expression (nothing new there), some soothing words from 'Nurse Gladys', and a trip to casualty. The trip was not in waste though as he bumped into 'Samson' Last while he was there whose absence today was explained by an ankle injury sustained whilst skipping! Shouldn't think he'll end up in Court for that one!

Back to the game, and Medway's injuries kept mounting up with 'Mad' doing his ankle that meant he too had to leave the field. In an effort to get David's game time up your scribes suggest he be allowed to play on crutches. At one point the Cougars were down to thirteen players until Matthew could come back from his blood injury, and they finished the game with fourteen men. Sarries took their opportunities in this period despite Medway reforming as best they could, initially running an unconverted try into the corner, following that with a run straight through the middle of a static Cougars defence for a converted try that gave them a lead of 12-22. Manfully Medway fought back and ended the game with the try of the match, possibly the season. 'Chatterbox' had the ball and spotted an opportunity, launching a cross field kick that was caught brilliantly by the 'Mimic'. Five metres out and still with a defender to beat, Ben got his head down and shrugged the Sarries defender off to cap a great team display with a great try. The final score, 17-22 to Saracens.

Medway's injury problems continue with more players joining the physio's room. We wish them a speedy recovery. However, despite the obvious disappointment this was a superb match and a great advert for the game of rugby. Overall the game was played in an excellent spirit and this was commented on by the Saracens supporters and coaches. Despite playing a significant period with only fourteen men, numerous positional changes (Gorgeous on the wing, 'The Mimic' and 'Teetotaller' in the centres, 'Never Surrender' at flanker, 'GP' at nine and 'The Power at 8', and absences, it looked like only one team would win it at the start of the second half. Unfortunately, enforced changes disrupted the pattern greatly for Medway as the match wore on. Saracens are an excellent side with strength in depth and who chose to train some of their key players today rather than play them ahead of a National Quarter Final next week. The team were well drilled and disciplined and we thank them for making the trip and wish them well for the future. We look forward to a rematch at Saracens next season.

Finally, to man of the match. All fifteen players put in a shift today proving that when they click they can be a match for anybody, a thought worth bearing in mind as we get to the business end of the season. 'Wee Man' and 'The Terminator' stood up manfully in the scrums, whilst 'The Teetotaller' and 'The Mimic' had imposing games in the centres deserving their tries. 'Chatterbox' was the master of the tactical kick today, 'The Power' was a revelation at eight and 'New Boy' showed that he is growing in to the full-back roll. The side were led brilliantly by their inspirational captain, 'The Thespian'. However, all seventeen players were heroes today putting in an almost perfect team performance and on that basis all deserve man of the match. Well done gentlemen.

Next week sees us take on a Festival Quarter Final at Ashford against Dover. With players returning and this performance behind us we can have high hopes of making the Semi-Finals. C'mon Medway!

(Scribes, Jim 'Mrs Doubtfire' Kennedy and 'Sir Fat' Pat Nolan)

Paul's Pictures