Exactly four weeks ago, Medway just managed to overcome a spirited Lewes team at Priestfields by a solitary point with the final kick of the game. So despite Lewes being near the bottom of the league table, this long trip into deepest Sussex looked to be anything other than straight forward. With Medway trailing by 19 points to 5 at half time, these pre-match worries were confirmed and only a superb, dominant second half performance, where Medway scored 31 unanswered points, enabled them to come away with a bonus point win.
Medway did contribute to their own problems in the first half, conceding some needless penalties, squandering good scoring opportunities and gifting Lewes their second try through a handling error in their own half. Lewes always looked a threat with the ball in hand and moved it wide at every opportunity. Their centres, wings and full back all played very well, particularly in the first half when they did enjoy some reasonable possession.
Medway head Coach Taff Gwilliam’s half time team talk was “frank and direct”, but certainly did the job. His team played far, far better in the second half, with added intensity and never really gave the home team a chance. Medway scored five tries at regular intervals in the second period and were back on level terms after 20 minutes, and in the end ran out comfortable winners – not something that looked possible at half time!
Ollie Best scored Medway’s sole try in the first half whereas Lewes kicked three penalties and scored two unconverted tries. Second half tries for Medway came from Billy Humphrey, Sam Brice, two for James Dance and a penalty try. Ollie Best kicked three conversions.
Key to this victory was the much improved performance from the Medway pack who gave Lewes a torrid time at every scrum, and their line out got better and better as the game went on. In addition during the second half they attacked closer to the ruck and maul and reaped the benefits scoring two tries through powerful driving mauls.
So the old adage, its game of two halves certainly came true. What looked like being a miserable day out in Sussex turned out well in the end.
Medway team;
Petch, Humphrey, Cooley, Easton, Weobley, Huntley, Beaumont, Samuela, Dance, Best, Liua’ana, Burns, Fussell, Catlin, Wardzynski, Reddish, Flanagan, Brice.
Next week, 8th March, Medway play Warlingham away in the League.