Medway travelled to Bromley on Saturday and despite a faltering first thirty minutes, where they trailed their opponents twice, eventually ran out comfortable winners scoring eight tries to one.
Bromley, despite being without a win this season, have been competitive in every game and unfortunately for them, keep losing by narrow margins. So, a potential banana skin for Medway avoided.
Playing up the slope in the first half, the locals started brightly and immediately put their hosts under pressure. Mistakes and penalties however, interrupted their early flow, and Bromley were able to escape the pressure and move down into Medway territory via relieving kicks. Medway’s indiscipline then put them behind as Bromley kicked penalties after 7 and 23 minutes to go 6 points to nil up.
Stung into action, Medway attacked immediately from the restart and following multiple phases, Dan Harvey ghosted through a gap to dot down for Medway’s first converted try, 7 – 6 to the visitors. Bromley wouldn’t lie down and following another penalty miss, they scored a try after 32 minutes when their scrum half, under enormous pressure, slotted through a grubber kick and the excellent Bromley winger won the foot race to score in the corner. Bromley back in the lead 11 – 7.
Over the next 10 minutes Medway took control of the game. Joe Fernyhough showed good strength to power over after 36 minutes, 12 – 11. Just before half time, Chalie Wardzynski made a fine break and then the ball was moved quickly to the other wing for Luke Burns to touch down. Harvey’s fine conversion gave Medway a 19 – 11 lead at the half time interval.
Now playing with the advantage of the slope, Medway quickly pulled away in the second half. Within a minute of the restart, James Dance dotted down in the corner following a forward drive and Harvey’s fine conversion stretched the lead to 26 – 11, thus securing the four try bonus point. Minutes later Medway chose to run a penalty right in front of the Bromley posts and were rewarded as Dan Huntley powered over for a converted try. Harvey then scored his second try after fifteen minutes with a carbon copy of his first, again ghosting through a gap and dotting down under the sticks, 40 – 11.
Bromley rallied, showing character and enjoyed plenty of possession but Medway’s defence was good enough to keep them at bay. The visitors finished the game with a flourish scoring two more tries from Luke Burns and then Billy Humphrey from a scrum drive.
Overall, a workmanlike performance on the road and Medway were satisfied with their performance and the result. Bromley showed themselves to be a competent outfit with good set piece and some dangerous three quarters. Their performance and quality will surely result in some victories in the near future. Medway’s man of the match went to loose head prop Richard Petch who was making a welcome return after injury.
Medway entertain Charlton Park at Priestfields next Saturday 26th November.
Medway’s team;
Petch, Sandison, O’Leary, Stubbington, Fernyhough, Beaumont, Humphrey, Huntley, J Dance, Harvey, Burns, Clement, Walsh, Orris, Wardzynski, Subs; B Dance, Easton (both used), Hall