On a wet and dreary day Medway travelled to Crowborough to compete in the first round of the Intermediate Cup.

Team selection included numerous changes to enable coaches Gwilliam and Ginger to have a look at different players and new combinations. Medway played well for the first 50 minutes and established a nine point lead through the boot of Wardzynski, but Crowborough hit back and dominated the final 30 and very nearly did enough to win the game.

From the kick off, the opening exchanges set the pattern for the game with both teams struggling to come to terms with the wet and slippery conditions and making mistakes in possession. Medway’s pressure on the Boro line out, good loose play and excellent kicking game from young fly half Charlie Wardzynski enabled them regularly put pressure on the home team’s line. Boro were penalised at regular intervals and Wardzynski kicked penalties on 10, 20 and 27 minutes to open up the nine point lead. Full back Sam Garofalo and winger Leo Liua’ana looked dangerous on the counter attack and both came close to creating tries. New centre Valevou looked strong in attack and defence.

Crowborough’s first attempt on goal came on the 37 minute mark which was narrowly missed, Wardzynski then also pushed a long range effort wide, and therefore the half time score remained 9 – 0 in Medway’s favour.

The visitors picked up where they left off in the opening period of the second half dominating field position and exerting good pressure on the Boro’s line. Unfortunately they were unable to convert pressure into points and penalties were missed on 10 and 13 minutes. As the half went on, Crowborough’s front five began to take a grip of the game and slowly starve Medway of the ball.

As the pressure grew, so did the penalty count against Medway. No.8 Fiu Samuela was sin binned on 23 minutes, and soon after Crowborough went for the a push over try, Medway infringed again and the ref awarded the penalty try making the score 9 – 7 with 16 minutes remaining. Immediately from the kick off Boro again worked their way down field and set up camp on the Medway line and only spirited determined defence by Medway kept the home team at bay.

With Samuela back on the field and three minutes of the game remaining, the ref then sin binned Medway’s prop Sam Brice. With both front row replacements used and injured, the final few scrums were uncontested. Despite constant pressure from Boro, the fourteen men of Medway kept the home team at bay for the final three minutes and on balance of the whole game just deserved the win.

Special mention goes to David French’s first half line out steal, and Burnsey’s new boots. Well done to the whole team for another determined performance on a difficult day and especially for surviving the final 15 minutes with only fourteen players. All of the newcomers performed well and put their hand up for selection in the forthcoming league matches.

 

Medway team:

Petch; Humphrey; Reddish; Taylor; Easton; Beaumont; Johnson; Samuela; Dance; Wadsworth; Garofalo; Burns; Fussell; Liua’ana; Best; Cooley; Huntely; Valevou.