Medway returned to winning ways on Saturday with a comfortable home victory over Deal and Betteshanger. However, the locals were disappointed with their performance and the game was frustrating to watch as it was littered with mistakes from both sides, who were unable to master the very windy conditions.

Medway chose to play into the wind in the first half and had built up a 10 – 0 lead by the interval. This could, and probably should have been more, but time after time possession, or field position was squandered by either individual error, poor discipline or taking the wrong option. The points did come from a Dan Harvey penalty kick after 11 minutes and a good team try after 25 minutes finished off by Sam Garofalo touching down in the corner. One of the only bright spots of the day was the quality of Dan Harvey’s kicking. His touch line conversion of the first try was impressive, and was bettered with what followed in the second half.

One hoped that with the elements in their favour, the second half would be an improvement on the first.  Two converted tries were scored, the first after five minutes finished by Charlie Wardzynski and the second after 20 minutes by Dan Harvey following good approach work by Jimmy Rutherford. Harvey’s conversion of the Wardzynski try was remarkable as it was from the touchline and across a howling gale.

Medway huffed and puffed but could not find a way through to score the fourth try to secure the bonus point. Overall a frustrating day for players and spectators alike but an important win against a tricky side that keeps the locals in second spot in the league.

Man of the match went to Medway fly half Dan Harvey who scored 14 of the Medway points. Next week Medway have a very difficult away trip to face an inform Crowborough side at Steel Cross.

Medway team;

Brice, Humphrey, Cooley, Easton, Johnson, Huntley, Beaumont, Rutherford, Dance, Harvey, Liua’ana, Meares, Tila, Garofalo, Wardzynski, Subs; Petch, Morant, Matappa (all used).