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Posts Tagged ‘Medway Rugby’
Deal and Betteshanger 29-41 Medway
Written by Ian Dance
Saturday, 27 September 2014 16:25
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On a lovely late September afternoon Medway made the long journey to the coast to face Deal and Betteshanger in their third league match of the season.

With a record of one win and one narrow loss, it was important for the locals to register a victory to push them into the top half of the table.

Medway did come away with the win, but were a little disappointed with their performance which was only good in parts. Both teams looked good in attack, but equally both will be working on their defence for the return cup match at Priestfields next Saturday.

Medway led for most of the game and when the score was 41 – 19 after only 15 minutes of the second half, they threatened to kick on and post another big score. Deal and Betteshanger however refused to lie down and finished the game strongly scoring two late tries to give the final score respectability.

Medway scored four tries in the first half to secure the bonus point and a further two tries early in the second period. Dan Harvey kicked four conversions and a penalty. Leo Liua’ana stood out as Medway’s best running back, whilst Tom Beaumont had another good game in the pack and Ben Johnson got better and better as the game progressed. Joe Williams made a promising first team debut at number 8 working tirelessly for the cause.

Deal and Betteshanger have traditionally been a very difficult team to beat, and particularly at their Drill field home. They proved this again on Saturday and the local lads will need to raise their game next week as the D & B Lions will be out for revenge!

 

 

 

 
Medway 68-14 Aylesford
Written by Ian Dance
Saturday, 20 September 2014 16:29
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After four consecutive away games at the beginning of this new season, Medway made the most of the home advantage when they met local rivals Aylesford on Saturday at Priestfields.

Medway also hosted many of their sponsors for lunch before the game and then entertained them with some sparkling running rugby and scored ten tries in the process. Medway’s fly half Dan Harvey, who previously played for Aylesford, had a good all-round game and an even better one with the boot kicking 9 out of the 10 conversions.

Medway scored tries at regular intervals right from the beginning and secured the bonus point with their forth try after only 32 minutes of the game. They led by 33 points to nil at half time, and went on to score another 35 points in the second period. Aylesford to their credit never gave up and showed real spirit scoring two converted tries in the second half.

Many of the Medway team played very well. Second rows, Max Easton and Ben Johnson were both prolific in the loose. The back row of Humphrey, Beaumont and Huntley were outstanding with all three scoring tries and two of them from long range.

Medway’s remaining tries came from James Dance (2), Luke Burns (2), Billy Sandison, Charlie Wardzynski and Ben Johnson.

Medway are on the road again next week with a trip to the seaside to play Deal and Betteshanger in the league. By strange coincidence, they face the same opposition the following week in the cup but this time at home.

Medway team;

Brice, Sandison, O’Leary, Easton, Johnson, Huntley, Beaumont, Humphrey, J Dance, Harvey, Garofalo Meares, Liua’ana, Burns, Wardzynski, Petch, Chalmers, Graves.

 

 

 
Tunbridge Wells 24-23 Medway
Written by Ian Dance
Saturday, 13 September 2014 16:28
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Tunbridge Wells snatched a last gasp victory from Medway deep into injury time when the ref awarded them a penalty try for repeated infringements at attacking scrums.

Medway had led by six points but the seven points for the penalty try gave their hosts a win by the narrowest of margins. Tunbridge Wells players and supporters sportingly admitted they felt a little fortunate to get the result whilst the Medway contingent were bitterly disappointed to lose the game that they probably should have won.

Medway were left rueing a number of decisions that may have enabled them to close out the game and clinch victory. Unfortunately, they suffered a cruel lesson in game management at critical times and will learn from this painful experience.

The local lads travelled to Tunbridge Wells for the opening game of the league season knowing they faced a stern test but optimistic that their pre-season build up had gone well. Playing against the wind and up the slope in the first half, Medway started well and kept the ball in hand at every opportunity. After four minutes new fly-half Dan Harvey made a clean break from his own 22 and linked up well with the supporting players. Wells scrambled defence just managed to hold Medway out, but they did concede a penalty which Harvey converted to give Medway an early 3 – 0 advantage.

Tunbridge Wells took the lead themselves on the 14 minute mark when they used their large pack to catch and drive close to the Medway line before releasing their pacey backs to score a try wide on the left, 5 -3 to TW.

Medway responded quickly, going through their phases and playing some attractive flowing rugby and repeatedly testing the stout Wells defence. After 25 minutes, with a Medway catch and drive going nowhere, James Dance made a trademark darting break and set up a ruck close near the host’s try line. Ben Johnson was on hand to pick up and sprint over for the try. Harvey converted to give Medway a 10 – 5 lead.

Back came Tunbridge Wells, and shortly before the break they levelled the scores with their second try when a simple switch move caught the Medway defence surprisingly flat footed. 10 points all at half time and Medway had the advantage of the slope to look forward to in the second period.

Tunbridge started the opening 10 minutes of the second half a man short in the sin bin. Despite this, they were first on the score board when Medway failed to cover an aimless looking up and under, Tunbridge players pounced on the loose ball to score a try under the posts. Medway hit back immediately stretching the Tunbridge defence from side to side and creating the overlap for Sammy Garofalo to touch down in the corner, 17 – 15 to TW.

Medway regained the lead after 18 minutes through a Harvey penalty and extended it further after 27 minutes when Garofalo touched down again for his second try. Crucially the conversion attempt from out wide, that would have put Medway two scores ahead, shaved the wrong side of the post and Medway’s lead remained at only six points.

With Medway’s forwards tiring their hosts began to enjoy supremacy at the set piece. Both sides attacked, Medway looking for the bonus point try, Tunbridge to salvage the game. Unfortunately for the locals their error count was high and this offered Tunbridge one too many attacking opportunities to their grateful hosts.

Medway’s three new debutants Fred Tila, Dan Harvey and Rueben Meares all played well and were a constant threat in attack. Tom Beaumont had a fine game on the flank and was awarded Medway’s man of the match by their opponents.

Medway entertain local rivals Aylesford at Priestfields next Saturday and will be hoping to get their season back on track.

Medway team;

Brice, Sandison, Cooley, Easton, Johnson, Huntley, Beaumont, Humphrey, J Dance, Harvey, Garofalo Meares, Tila, Liua’ana, Wardzynski, B Dance, Petch, Flanagan.

 
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