Medway RFC Cougars

Sunday 31 October 2010

Medway 10 - Sittingbourne 33

Tries: Simpson

Con: Gowdy

Pen: Gowdy

Cougars Squad:

Match 3 of the Kent RFU Plate League saw Medway welcome Sittingbourne to Priestfields. Sittingbourne beaten by Medway in the Plate Final last season were in no mood for defeat today. They played with all the determination and spirit that Medway lacked and came away with a deserved victory.

Playing on the top pitch captain Tom Whitnell lost the toss and we were asked to play the first half up the hill. From the kick off Sittingbourne's first attack was well defended with some strong tackling from Luke Gowdy playing at full back. Sittingbourne however have some strong, fast backs and a break away allowed them an early score. Cougars challenged well on the reply but Sittingbourne were quickly up quickly on our backs slowing down the phases of the Cougar's attack. A penalty was conceded and Gowdy picked up 3 points with a well placed kick from around 30 metres. Sittingbourne attacked using their width but the overlap which looked threatening was well covered by Gowdy. The pressure was relieved by a good length kick from Charlie Wardzynski which was punted back for him to clear again and set up a well worked drive for the Cougars. The move broke down with a lost scrum on Sittingbourne's 22 and the play switched again. Honours were fairly even in the next passage until Medway gave away a penalty which was well taken by Sittingbourne to stretch their lead to 3-8. Medway then pushed up with purpose and they looked like they had lost the momentum when Sittingbourne kicked clear but the effort went straight to touch and Medway continued to press. A penalty on the Sittingbourne 5 was quickly taken and Max Fenton drove over but the referee was in conversation and pulled the play back. The ball was worked across the defensive line but Medway could not penetrate and the move ended with a long kicked clearance. Possession changed hands a few times before a very quick break gave Sittingbourne a try to make the half time score 3-13.

At the start of the second half Fenton had to come off with an injury and Ben Lazell took the field. The first real move of the second half saw the first of a number of powerful rolling mauls which gave Sittingbourne many yards. This ended with a Sittingbourne penalty which was converted. Before the restart Sam Cornell came on for Jake Christodoulou who had played a solid game. The kick off saw Medway drive forward with some good phases which eventually fed George Simpson, playing a great game at hooker, who squeezed in the corner for a well deserved try. Gowdy converted a difficult kick from wide, the score now 10-16, everything was to play for. Another powerful driving maul gave Sittingbourne the advantage again but Medway defended strongly. Simpson was hooking well and winning scrums against the feed and Sittingbourne were being held at bay. Then it all went wrong for Medway, first a superb try with a cross over run that caught the backs out, then Gowdy was caught unsupported as he collected a high clearance and lost the ball in the tackle which Sittingbourne scored from and finally Sittingbourne took another rolling maul on 15 metres, this time over the try line for another score, one conversion in three gave a final score of 10-33.

A game that Medway were capable of winning but didn't have the hunger to make it happen. Man of the match was Luke Gowdy at full back who took everything that was thrown (or kicked) at him. Caught well, tackled strongly, got involved. We'll have to raise our game next week as we travel to Bromley for another tough league fixture.

Paul's Pictures