Tunbridge Wells trailed for the majority of this match but got their noses in-front with 10 minutes to go and ultimately were worthy winners of this entertaining and keenly fought contest.

On the day they edged the forwards’ battle, always looked dangerous in their backs and probably most decisively, kicked the ball far better from hand than Medway. During the second half, they continually used the strong following wind to push Medway back deep into their own 22 and made it very difficult for them to escape.

The game was switched to Skinners’ School grounds and the playing surface was surprisingly good given the torrential overnight rain. Medway coach Taff Gwilliam was concerned beforehand that his troops were not “up” for the game and watching the opening encounters he was right.

His team failed to catch the kick off, were slow to react to the loose ball, and were then pushed off the resultant scrum. Things did get better and after six minutes and some useful possession, Ollie Best kicked a penalty to give the visitors a 3 – 0 lead.

TW levelled the score after 12 minutes and then on the 20 minute mark, Medway scored the opening try of the game when Leo Luia’ana was first to dive on an intelligent chip through from Ollie Best. Best converted and Medway led 10 – 3, but one felt with the elements in their favour, it was important for them to score more tries to open up a bigger lead for half time.

Unfortunately this didn’t happen and TW kept the score line close by kicking two further penalties to Medway’s one and going very close to scoring a try themselves on a couple of occasions. Half time 13 – 9 to Medway.

Tunbridge Wells’ half time substitutions seemed to strengthen their forwards, and they ran with added purpose and power in the second half. Medway defended heroically for long periods but with TW’s intelligent kicking into the corners, and Medway’s line out not functioning as efficiently as normal, the visitors found it very difficult to get out of their own half.

For a full 30 minutes Medway soaked up almost continual pressure from TW’s with them battering the Medway line. On several occasions TW did cross the Medway try line but great last ditch tackling prevented the try being scored. Eventually and with a man in the bin, the pressure told and the TW’s powerful forwards did force their way over for a deserved try and good conversion to give them a slender lead of 16 – 13.

This score was the start of a frenetic final 10 minutes of the game. Medway responded immediately to going behind and enjoyed good possession and field position. On 34 minutes TW infringed, and Ollie Best kicked a fine long range penalty, into the wind, to level the scores at 16 all. TW again kicked expertly into the corner, and Medway lost their resultant line out.

Forwards and backs combined to allow the TW winger to touch down in the corner for a good try and an even better conversion followed, 23 – 16. Again Medway responded well and spent the final minutes of the game attacking and stretching the home defence from side to side, but there was no way through and the local lads had to settle for a losing bonus point.

Tunbridge Wells fully deserved their victory but credit goes to the Medway team who showed tremendous fight and spirit in a rear guard second half performance. They appeared to run themselves to a standstill at times and the defensive work was huge.

Special mention to Sam Catlin who looks to be back to his best and winger Leo Liua’ana who tackled anything that moved and was often found in amongst the forwards repelling the TW attacks.

Medway team;

Petch, Humphrey, Cooley, Easton, Weobley, Huntley, Beaumont, Samuela, Dance, Best, Liua’ana, Fussell, Burns, Catlin, Wadsworth, Redman, Chalmers, Reddish.

Next game is away at Lewes in the League on Saturday 1st February 2014, kick-off 1415.

Despite the awful weather this week, thankfully Crowborough’s pitch was just playable but very soft underfoot making running rugby difficult.

As is the norm between these two sides, the games always seem to be tight affairs, and on this occasion Medway just prevailed. Had Medway been more clinical earlier in the game the tight, the nerve jingling finish would not have been necessary!

The visitors started the game the better of the two sides with the benefit of the breeze and slight slope. Territory and possession were rewarded with a penalty after 5 minutes to give Medway the lead. Two minutes later, the visitors butchered the simplest of scoring opportunities with the try line begging and a four on one overlap.

Having survived this early scare, Crowborough then got their game going and enjoyed a sustained period of possession but were unable to find any weaknesses in the solid Medway defence.

On 25 minutes, James Dance fielded a loose Crowborough clearance kick and released Glenn Wadsworth who did brilliantly to beat several defenders and set Sam Catlin up for the try under the posts, 10 – 0. The remainder of the half was forgettable with not much happening!

Medway again started the second period the better of the two teams and missed a penalty after 4 minutes to extend their lead. Throughout the game Medway looked more threatening whilst in possession but failed on several occasions to finish good scoring opportunities.

Crowborough on the other hand looked less dangerous, but one got the feeling that unless Medway did extend their lead, Crowborough would score, and set up another tight finish to the game.

In accordance with the script, and after 22 minutes of the second half, the home team did score under the posts. Choosing a scrum from a close range penalty they were unable to push the Medway pack back over the line, the ball was moved to the backs and Walters ghosted through sloppy defence in the Medway midfield for an easy try.

Medway reacted well and for the next ten minutes dominated possession and field position but again, scoring opportunities went begging. Crowborough broke free and moved down the field into the Medway 22 for the dying minutes of the game. Despite going close, Medway’s defence remained firm and they were mightily relieved to hear the final whistle and get off the pitch with a narrow win under their belts.

Not the greatest game of rugby, but both sides did well given the difficult underfoot conditions. For Medway Tom Beaumont was outstanding and the front five of Cooley, Humphrey, Petch (sub Brice), Easton and Weobley (sub Reddish) did well to match the home teams powerful scrum.

Medway team;

Petch, Humphrey, Cooley, Easton, Weobley, Huntley, Beaumont, Samuela, Dance, Best, Liua’ana, Fussell, Burns, Catlin, Wadsworth, Brice, Chalmers, Reddish.

Next game is away at Tunbridge Wells in the League on Saturday 25th January 2014, kick-off 1415.

Medway’s first team got back into action after three weeks without a game and hosted Heathfield and Waldron at Priestfields on Saturday.

They were keen to avenge the defeat that their opponents inflicted upon them earlier this season down in Sussex and ran out very comfortable winners scoring eight unanswered tries with Ollie Best kicking seven conversions and one penalty.

The local lads started like a train and scored 22 points in the first twenty minutes. They then lost some intensity and although scoring at regular intervals, didn’t play that well and made numerous errors that provided plenty of possession for the opposition to run back at them. However, and as has been the norm this season, Medway’s defence was resolute and although Heathfield tried hard, they just could not break through to score.

Playing up the slight slope and into the gentle breeze Medway got the score board ticking over after six minutes when the impressive Fiu Samuela won a turn over and Heathfield were penalised. Ollie Best kicked the relatively straight forward penalty.

In the next ten minutes Medway scored three excellent “team” tries; firstly Charlie Wardzynski drew the defence and released Leo Liua’ana to score under the posts.

Then Billy Humphrey’s fine off-load allowed Max Easton to touch down and lastly, a great team move with Best heavily involved, allowed the ever present Tom Beaumont to score the first of his two tries. 22-0 with only a quarter of the game gone, but Medway then took their foot off the gas and Heathfield enjoyed plenty of good possession and field position.

Despite running good lines and recycling the ball quickly, Heathfield could not break the home team’s determined defence. The half time score remained at 22-0 and home supporters were wondering if the important forth bonus point try would ever come.

Heathfield dominated the early exchanges of the second period but a remarkable individual solo effort, somewhat against the run of play, by Luke Burns broke the deadlock.

He beat numerous defenders and appeared to run through the whole of the Heathfield team before touching down after nine minutes.

Immediately afterwards Owain Fussell made a fine break and released the supporting Ollie Best to score under the posts. Best then made a break himself, and passed to Beaumont for his second try. James Dance was next on the score board after stealing the ball at the back of a Heathfield scrum and then on the stroke of full time, Sam Catlin hacked the ball through and beat the defence to the touch down and complete the scoring.

Ollie Best deservedly took the man of the match award but the whole team did well and again showed they are a very competent all round outfit. The pack played well with Easton, Beaumont Huntley and Samuela outstanding in the loose and in defence.

Burns and Fussell were again a constant threat in the centre and Leo Liua’ana worked hard all afternoon and made tackle after tackle.

Overall a pleasing performance and a useful work out after three weeks of inactivity.

Medway team;
Petch, Humphrey, Cooley, Easton, Weobley, Huntely, Beaumont, Samuela, Dance, Best, Liua’ana, Fussell, Burns, Chalmers, Wardzynski, Brice, Catlin, Reddish.

Next game is away at Crowborough in the League on Saturday 18st January 2014, kick-off 1415.