Medway’s final league game of the season was at Heathfield and Waldron on Saturday and was played in beautiful spring weather that attracted a large crowd supporting both teams.
Medway had secured the league championship several weeks earlier and were playing for pride; Heathfield were “reasonably” safe from relegation but a win would make avoiding the drop an almost certainty. Despite their lowly league position, Heathfield’s form at their home ground has been impressive having won five of their games and no side has beaten them by more than five points.
Medway kicked-off playing up the slight slope and Heathfield showed, straight from the start, that they were no slouches and ran with real purpose. After an even start, an Alfie Orris break through the middle set up a Medway scrum close to the home try line. The visitor’s forwards went to work, and presented Jordan Stubbington with a push over opportunity that he did not waste. Heathfield then edged the next twenty minutes and enjoyed good field position and several good scoring opportunities. Henry Hall chased back to make an outstanding try saving tackle; the Heathfield kicker missed two penalty shots on goal; the home side did score a good converted try after 20 minutes wide out on the left after good approach play; the well struck conversion gave them a deserved 7 – 5 lead. After more good play from Heathfield, Medway’s second row Tom Sandison, hit the line at pace on half way and surprisingly raced away from the covering defence to score an excellent individual try, against the run of play.
Heathfield levelled the scores with a simple penalty on the half hour mark but from this point in the game, Medway began to take control. Heavy pressure resulted in a yellow card for the Heathfield flanker and a simple 3 pointer for Wardzynski. Then just before the interval, the Dance brothers combined well for Ben to touch down under the posts and Medway had quickly opened up a 20 – 10 half time lead.
Playing with the slope, the second half belonged to Medway and they went on to dominate the game and score a further five tries. The forwards provided a plentiful supply of ball and the backs scored some well executed tries. Ben Dance scored his second; Eighteen year old Jordan Stubbington recorded a hat-trick; Henry Hall and Alfie Orris also got on the score sheet. Fly half Charlie Wardzynski kicked three second half conversions.
Medway’s eighth and final try of the game was celebrated the most as it notched up their 1000th point in the league for the season, an impressive achievement and means they have averaged over 45 points per game.
Overall, a very successful season with twenty one victories and just a single narrow loss. Well done to the whole squad including the coaching team who have prepared the players so well.
Medway’s team;
Petch, Sandison, O’Leary, Fernyhough, T Sandison, Beaumont, Stubbington, Huntley, J Dance, Wardzynski, B Dance, Hall, Walsh, Orris, Garofalo, Sub; Clement (used).