Medway RFC Cougars

Sunday 9 January 2011

Whitstable 8 - Medway 22

Tries: Wardzynski, Kennedy, Fenton, Brown

Con: Gowdy

Cougars Squad:

After prolonged periods of snow, ice and yet more snow, the weather finally allowed the rugby season to continue with Medway's Cougars visiting Whitstable for a league fixture. It was a bright, cold morning but Medway put in a good enough performance to come away with the points against a much improved Whitstable side.

Medway kicked off and a Whitstable fumble put them under immediate pressure. They defended well and soon cleared to their own 22 with a penalty but the Cougars pushed them back again. Attempts to break through the forwards with pick and drive tactics were making little progress. With less than five minutes on the clock a late tackle saw a yellow card for the Whitstable captain who now found themselves down a man for ten minutes. Charlie Wardzynski put the penalty from the half way line down to Whitstable's 10 metre. The push saw Medway try feeding the ball down the backs but not quickly enough and they were held off until Wardzynski spotted a gap which he took full advantage of giving the Cougars a five point lead. Shortly after the restart there was a fine break from Alex Morgan who set Medway up for their second score. Tom Brown and Thoams Rawlins took over the drive from Morgan taking the ball just short of the Whitstable line and Matt Kennedy, who was playing a great game, picked up and scored a deserved try. Luke Gowdy converted for a 12-0 lead. Dominic French replaced John Last and Medway continued to push but Whitstable were tackling well and began to make ground. A great kick from Wardzynski relieved the pressure temporarily but a Medway knock-on gave Whitstable a scrum in the Medway half from which the ball was fed wide to their wing who sprinted to the line to pull the score back to 12-5. Jack Johnston replaced Lewis Bailey and Medway pushed straight back at Whitstable. The drive was well put together with some good phases and use of the ball putting Max Fenton within easy reach of the line and another score. No extras, 17-5. Whitstable then put the pressure on and drove to within 10 metres of Medway's line. Cougars defended well but gave away a penalty in the scrum which was converted for a half time score of 17-8 to Medway.

Sam Cornell replaced Alex Marchant on the wing as Whitstable started the second half with a kick that eluded all the Medway players. This gave Whitstable a 22 metre line out but as so often happened in the match Medway stole it with a well timed lifting, Brown reaching pretty much everything. Despite this, on this occasion Whitstable retrieved possession and threatened the Medway line. Some solid defensive work kept them out though and eventually pressure was relieved by Wardzynski's ever reliable boot. Medway then pushed forward, James Clarke contributing as he did many times through the game with some determined direct running at the Whitstable backs. The forwards made good ground in this phase and gave Brown the opportunity to break through and score. Wardzynski's conversion attempt fell just short so the score moved on to 22-8 which is how it ended. There were no real threats in the remainder of the game. Some notable contributions from Clarke, Morgan on the wing, and Jack Johnston tackling and driving forward. Kennedy played very well in the forwards but unfortunately had to limp off toward the end of the game. There was a great break from George Simpson who had been pinpoint with his line out throws which put Medway close but a penalty in the ruck halted progress. Whitstable pressed not least when a penalty was kicked cross field to Medway's 15. They lost the line out again but sustained pressure on Medway's line for a good part of the last 15 minutes. Cougars defended well and took a well deserved win.

Man of the match - great defensive work all round, Brown was king in the lineouts, Clarke impressed at centre but the award this week goes to Morgan for sustained effort, tackling and general aggression. He'll need to take these attributes into his off field game if he is to do any better representing the team in the head to head in the bar afterwards. His father reasoned that it was an unfair challenge, subjecting Alex to tap lager rather than the premium stuff he's more used to.

Paul's Pictures