The top two sides in the league met each other at Priestfields on Saturday in an eagerly awaited clash.

A good crowd boosted by a pre-match Vice Presidents lunch were treated to an enthralling game.

The game kicked off and Medway conceded early possession to CS Rugby who mounted attack after attack forcing Medway to defend against the slick, sharp and structured attack of their visitors. The visitors went close on numerous occasions but could not get the vital touch down.

On 12 minutes having forced the visitors to knock on just a metre short of the line Medway were awarded a scrum.  From that scrum Jordan Stubbington broke the line then a combination of Alfie Orris, Ben Dance and James Dance took play all the way up the field to the visitors line then quickly recycled ball was fed out to Tom Beaumont who scored out wide. Dan Harvey converted a try that was completely against the run of play but was exciting to watch with the excellent skills and clinical finishing.

The match was becoming a real cut and thrust affair with both sides playing with structure but unable to break the other down. That was until the 24th minute when, almost a replica of Medway’s opening effort, CS Rugby broke out from their own 22 and great interplay from them saw them eventually go the length of the field for their own converted effort to make the score 7-7.

From the re-start Medway secured possession and had a period of dominating territory and forcing their visitors to defend. Hall and Clement battering at the visitors defence.

Almost as the first half was up Medway were attacking. They successfully narrowed the visitors defence after several phases and found themselves with a 5 on 2 overlap on the left near the opposition line. The pass went out for what seemed a certain score but a defender gambled, successfully, and went the length of the field to score. A never give up attitude from Alfie Orris meant the try was scorer was forced out wide and the conversion missed to leave Medway trailing 12-7 at the half.

The second half was as closely fought as the first. The set piece for both sides secured their own ball allowing the cut and thrust nature of the game to continue. Easton and Hawkins were doing well in the line outs on the back of the Humphrey’s throwing. O’ Leary was anchoring the scrum for James Dance and Dan Harvey to game manage successfully.

Medway however soon lost influential prop Mike Gardner to a head injury. He was replaced by Tom Whitnell who performed well to ensure no dip in performance. Debeer also entered the fray and his strong carries backing up Huntley were a major factor in getting Medway over the gain line.

Medway had the chance to put the first points of the second half on the board when the visitors were penalised at a line out after 53 minutes but the effort sailed just wide of the posts. Harvey however made no mistake with his second chance in the 64th minute. CS Rugby penalised for a breakdown infringement and the successful kick narrowing the deficit to just 2 points at 12-10.

Both sides continued to play their structured rugby. Medway with great support from the crowd worked tirelessly to break down the opposition defence. Both sides were playing well but the excellent defences were cancelling each other out.

The next score came when Medway pressure forced the ball to go loose from a CS Rugby scrum. Harvey secured the loose ball and fed Sam Garofalo the ball was re-cycled from his carry and Harvey cross kicked for Alfie Orris to re-gather the ball and score in the corner. A great conversion from Harvey put Medway ahead 17-12 with just 10 minutes to play.

CS came back and good controlled possession saw them work their way to close to the Medway line and just as it seemed they would score Orris made an excellent cover tackle to deny the visitors. Medway now gained possession and despite being deep in their own half went through phases to retain the ball and run the clock down.

CS Rugby desperate to get the ball back conceded back to back penalties allowing Medway to clear their lines. Medway again retained the ball from the line out possession and with 30 second to go CS once again conceded a penalty. Harvey elected to kick at goal from 48 yards.

A well struck ball sailed through the posts to harshly deny the visitors a losing bonus point as the final whistle was blown with the score at 20-12.

CS Rugby are a fine team with an excellent attitude to playing the game and severely tested a strong Medway side who continue to thrive in this league.