“A game of two halves” was certainly the case on Saturday when Medway played Brighton in the final league game of the season.

Brighton led 12 – 3 at half time having been the better team in the first period and looked as though they would easily go on to score the four tries required to snatch fourth position in the league from their hosts.

However, Medway improved significantly and dominated territory and possession in the second half, preventing Brighton from adding to their score and never really letting Brighton exit from their own half.

Medway went close to scoring on several occasions and with time running out, and still trailing 12 – 6, fly half Dan Harvey ghosted through a gap to score a try under the posts stealing the game with the simple conversion by a solitary point. The win was enough to lift Medway into third spot in the league as Sidcup unexpectedly drew at home to Chiswick.

Medway played with the advantage of the chilly northerly wind in the first half but too many handling errors and indiscipline prevented them from building sustained pressure. Dan Harvey kicked a good penalty after 17 minutes to put them 3 – 0 up, but Brighton hit back with tries after 26 and 39 minutes. Medway never really threatened the Brighton line and it was the visitors who possessed the attacking threat.

Immediately from the second half restart, Harvey kicked a penalty to narrow the score to 12 – 6. Despite good field position the locals didn’t look dangerous in the first twenty minutes of the second period. Things improved further in the final quarter and only desperate Brighton defence kept them at bay.

Medway went close to scoring on 20, 22 and 35 minutes but on each occasion the chance went begging. With 39 minutes on the clock they attacked again and patient pressure was rewarded when Harvey found the gap in the Brighton defence. Whilst Medway were elated, it was tough on Brighton who had fought so hard for so long only to lose the game at the death.

Medway’s man of the match went to Jimmy Rutherford who was superb in the second row. Harvey scored all of Medway’s points, but the whole team are to be congratulated on a good second half performance that epitomised the character and never say die attitude shown all season.

Medway’s team;

Matappa, Cooley, O’Leary, Easton, Rutherford, Fernyhough, Beaumont, Stubbington, J Dance, Harvey, Burns, B Dance, Liua’ana, Ebanks, Wardzynski, Sub; Petch, Ellis, Humphrey.