A sparkling, clinical display saw Medway post a convincing win over Beckenham on Saturday in front of a large home crowd including over seventy Vice Presidents.
The home team scored nine tries in total and had secured the result before half time by leading by 35 – 0 at the break.
Medway raced into a ten point lead in the first five minutes via an excellent long range penalty from fly half Dan Harvey and then immediately from the restart, Henry Hall ripped the visitors defence open with a scintillating break from half way to touch down for a converted try. The next twenty minutes of the game were crucial. Beckenham pressed forward using the driving maul as their main weapon of attack. Medway’s defence creaked, they had a man sent to the bin for repeated penalties, but somehow they managed to keep Beckenham at bay. After 10 minutes of soaking up heavy Beckenham pressure, the fourteen men of Medway broke out of defence and worked their way into the visitors 22. A good forwards drive was stopped just short and scrum half James Dance nipped through a small gap to get the touch down and break the resolve of Beckenham.
Dan Harvey extended Medway’s lead to 18 points with another penalty after 29 minutes and then as the home team increased the pressure, Beckenham had two men sent to the bin. Medway used their numerical advantage to good effect and clinically scored three tries in the ten minutes before half time. Billy Sandison finished off a good line out move, Alfie Orris scored wide on the right after an accurate cross field kick from Harvey and then Luke Burns scored a try wide on the left after an excellent flowing move involving the whole Medway team, 35 – 0 at the interval.
Four more tries were scored in the second half. Charlie Wardzynski showed real power and balance with an excellent finish in the first minute after the restart. Henry Hall and Alfie Orris both notched up their second tries and finally Max Easton celebrated his first game of the season with a touch down after a great run from Orris. Dan Harvey kicked five conversions and Beckenham scored a consolation converted try via some lacklustre tackling from the Medway three quarters.
Overall, a great performance from the home team and one that sees them extend their lead at the head of the league to eight points over second placed Old Colfeians. Man of the match was shared between skipper James Dance and Dan Harvey who were at the heart of everything good.
Medway now enjoy a welcome week off and then travel to Bromley on the 19th November.
Medway’s team;
Matappa, Sandison, O’Leary, Easton, Fernyhough, Beaumont, Humphrey, Huntley, J Dance, Harvey, Burns, Hall, Walsh, Orris, Wardzynski, Subs; B Dance, Clement (both used)