After 17 league games unbeaten, Medway lost their first game of the season and also missed the opportunity to seal promotion on Saturday at Beckenham.

The visitors led 23 – 5 in the second half and also led for 77 minutes of the game but Beckenham finished the stronger of the two teams and ran out deserving winners scoring two very late tries.

The home team’s pack gave Medway’s forwards a torrid afternoon and as the game wore on their three-quarters’ confidence grew and they sliced through Medway’s rather lack lustre defence.

Medway played with the strong breeze on their backs in the first half and struggled to win sufficient possession to give themselves the platform they desired. This coupled with conceding persistent penalties meant that they never really got into their normal flowing, phased play going. They did take the lead after 18 minutes when a cross field kick from Harvey was expertly taken by winger Luke Burns to score the opening try. Harvey’s good conversion gave the visitors a 7 -0 lead. Beckenham hit straight back when their forwards rumbled over for a try following yet another penalty against Medway, 7 – 5.

Medway played a little better in the second quarter and extended their lead through three penalties from Harvey and although they came close, scoring tries somehow eluded them. Half time 16 – 5 to Medway.

Medway started the second half strongly and broke from their own 22 to cross the try line only for the linesman to pull them back for a foot in touch. Not to be denied, Charlie Wardzynski went on a great run to set up field position for Henry Hall to cross the line for a converted try, 23 – 5.

The game then swung back and forth. Beckenham hit back with two quick penalties and then on the 20 minute mark, Henry Hall intercepted to set up Jordan Stubbington for a Medway try, 28 – 13. Medway pressed again but a wayward pass was intercepted by a Beckenham player and the home team broke out to score a converted try giving them real hope of a comeback. 28 – 20.

With Beckenham now sensing an upset was on the cards they put their visitors under all sorts of pressure. A penalty reduced the arrears to 28 – 23 after 32 minutes and four minutes later they levelled the scores with a try after Medway were penalised close to their line and reduced to 14 men.

In the final play of the game, Beckenham broke from 70 metres and exploited their numerical advantage to score their fifth try and win the game. The large home crowd were ecstatic and the visiting supporters left bewildered how they had lost a game from such a good position at the 60 minute mark.

Well done to Beckenham who were better than Medway on the day. The Medway players knew they were below their best and had suffered a painful lesson that no team should be underestimated.

Medway play Bromley at home next Saturday and will be looking to seal promotion at their second attempt.

Medway’s team;

Petch, Humphrey, O’Leary, Fernyhough, Stubbington, Beaumont, B Dance, Huntley, J Dance, Harvey, Burns, Clement, Hall, Orris, Wardzynski, Subs; Sandison, Cooley (both used), Garofalo