Thurrock travelled to Priestfields on Saturday to play Medway on the back of some good form with 5 consecutive wins which has seen them rise up the league.
The game kicked off with Medway playing into the breeze. Both teams intentions to play an expansive game were evident in the opening few minutes with kicking opportunities turned down for the running game.
It was Medway who opened the scoring with some good phase play which saw space created out wide for Alfie Orris to scamper down the wing. Drawing the cover defence he put Sam Sharpe over for the unconverted try, 5-0.
After 7 minutes Medway were inexplicably penalised at a scrum they were dominating and with the ball kicked to the corner conceded a try from the line out. An excellent conversion saw the visitors edge ahead 5-7.
On 12 minutes Thurrock scored again. Medway turned possession over on the half way line and the visitors 9 took full advantage breaking the defence and scoring wide on the left hand side. Another excellent conversion pushed the visitors lead out to 5-14.
Both teams were looking to dominate possession. Medway carried well into the wind with Beaumont, Stimpson and Stubbington working hard at the breakdown.
The next score came on 25 minutes. Medway were penalised for an early engagement. Thurrock tapped and went and after several phases and good interplay orchestrated by the visitors fly half they created an overlap out wide to score an unconverted try and push their lead out to 5-19.
Thurrock were playing well and looking good to maintain their recent good form. However Medway, although a young side, have plenty of character. They were patient and continued to to play their brand of rugby.
With 31 minutes on the clock their patience was rewarded when after several phases of play the space was created for Orris to race away out wide and score a fine unconverted try. 10-19.
Medway continued to take the game to Thurrock with every possession Fernyhough, Clement and Sharp carrying strongly and with just about every player in the team being involved through multiple phases of play it was Medway who scored next. The multiple phases eventually narrowed the visitors defence for the prolific Zach Garratt to score out wide. Dan Harvey added the conversion to bring the score back to 17-19.
Harvey very nearly scored just a few minutes later when he broke just inside the visitors 10m line and rounded the fullback but was held up as he went over the line by some good last ditch defence. Medway however were not to be denied. Their comeback was complete when, with Thurrock’s scrum reeling, scrum half Sammy Garofalo sniped over for a well taken try converted by Dan Harvey and a lead of 24-19.
Medway went into half time having come back from 19-5 down and a try bonus point in the bag.
The pace of the game did not relent in the second half. Two minutes into the second half Jordan Stubbington stole Thurrock’s line out ball and Medway attacked to the visitors 22m. At the ruck the Thurrock defence were caught napping when Amon Panikoula went from the base and scored a fine individual try. Harvey added the conversion and Medway led 31-19.
Thurrock knew they had to respond and they did. Consecutive penalties saw Medway kicked back to within 10 metres of their line and although they defended the initial catch and drive well sloppy defence allowed space for the visitors scrum half to exploit and score a sharp try. The conversion made the score 31-26 and also secured Thurrock their try bonus point.
On 58 minutes a Thurrock centre was harshly sin binned for a deliberate knock on and a minute later Medway capitalised. Both teams had been looking to get the next crucial score and it was Medway who obliged the large home crowd. Alfie Orris and Ryan Redman combined really well with some strong running and breaking tackles to put Zach Garratt away for a fine try converted by Dan Harvey. 38-26 Medway.
On 63 minutes Medway increased their lead with a 30 metre penalty from the reliable boot of Dan Harvey following good work in the scrum from Petch, Sandison and O’ Leary. 41-26 Medway.
Now 3 scores behind Thurrock knew they had to throw everything in to try and snatch a second bonus point. A free kick at the line out saw them run the ball. Medway were sloppy in their defensive organisation and Thurrock took full advantage scoring a well taken converted try and giving the strong travelling support hope.
Medway had made changes with Peter Walsh coming on for Antony Clement. Tom Whitnell on for Richard Petch and Dan Huntley on for Joe Fernyhough. With competition strong for places in the team there was no letting up of the ambition and standard of play within the Medway team.
Medway had a chance to extend the lead when Medway superbly drove Thurrock off their own scrummage ball 42 metres out. A penalty was awarded but although the kick was straight it dropped just under the bar. The resultant drop out saw strong running from Dan Huntley and good clearing from Peter Walsh provide excellent ball and Harvey released Orris on the inside who broke several tackles to score a spectacular try and complete his hat trick of tries for the day. Harvey converted to make the score 48-33.
A few minutes later a fracas saw Medway’s Dan Huntley and his opposite number receive a yellow card. Then Thurrock were on the end of a red card for a second yellow card offence for another deliberate knock on.
The scoring was completed when on the stroke of full time a Medway scrum in front of the Thurrock posts saw Thurrock collapse the scrum as they were being driven over giving the referee no option but to award the penalty try. Full time score 55-33 to Medway.
This was a fine game of rugby with some quality tries from both teams and although there were a couple of cards involved the game was played in excellent spirit by both teams.
Coach Taff Gwilliam said ‘Thurrock are a tough, skilful and well coached team, we are delighted with the victory…they came in on the back of 5 consecutive wins and at 19-5 down early on we could have fallen apart but we showed character and patience and won out in the end’.
He added ‘The coaching staff of Graham Longstaff and James Pearce did a great job in midweek preparing the team for this tough encounter’.