Second placed Medway made the short journey down Blue Bell Hill to face Aylesford on Saturday, a side who prop up the league and are having a very difficult season. The biggest concern for the locals was complacency and underestimating the opposition, but thankfully Medway played well scoring four tries in the first half and five in the second.
Aylesford to their credit never gave up and during the final quarter defended bravely as Medway battered their line time after time. Their pack played particularly well throughout the game and won plenty of possession through their solid set piece scrum and lineout.
Coach Taff Gwilliam made a few changes to the Medway line up for this game with Conor Chalmers starting on the wing and Billy Humphrey moving from hooker to No. 8 and thus making room for Billy Sandison to go into the front row. Medway played with pace and plenty of attacking threat, backs and forwards combined well via the impressive half back partnership of James Dance and Dan Harvey. First half tries came at regular intervals and were scored by Fred Tila, Conor Chalmers and two for Leo Liua’ana. Aylesford scored a well worked try from a lineout move and thus the half time score was 24 – 5 to the visitors.
Medway’s play in the second period was probably better than the first, but equally Aylesford defended better and really made the visitors work for their tries. Dan Harvey out stripped the covering defence to score the first, Charlie Wardzynski touched down for the second, Chalmers set up Fred Tila for his second, Flanagan scored a push over and finally Leo Liua’ana completed his hat-trick just before the final whistle. Dan Harvey kicked four conversions during the game to complete the Medway scoring.
Tom Beaumont had yet another fine game on the flank and was heavily involved in several of the tries, Alex O’Leary had his best game of the season and carried with purpose. Max Easton and James Rutherford were both very good and continue to forge an impressive partnership in the second row.
Overall a good team performance and an important bonus point win that consolidates Medway’s second spot in the league. After the Christmas break Medway face Maidstone in the Intermediate Cup on the 3rd January at the Mote.
Medway team;
Petch, Sandison, O’Leary, Easton, Rutherford, Huntley, Beaumont, Humphrey, Dance, Harvey, Liua’ana, Meares, Tila, Chalmers, Wardzynski, Subs; Cooley, Brice, Flanagan (all used).
