Medway returned to league action on Saturday after three weeks without a game and not surprisingly, there was some rustiness to their play.

However they had sufficient fire power to win this well contested game against Warlingham, who always provide a stern test. Young seventeen year old Nick Hill was handed his first XV debut at scrum half and he acquitted himself very well.

Whilst Warlingham did enjoy long periods of possession, Medway’s defence was again very good, and time after time opposition runners were knocked back in the tackle.

Medway scored two tries in the first half and three in the second, and to be truthful probably should have scored at least two or three more. The score line could also have been greater but unusually, Ollie’s radar with the boot went off target in the second half as he missed five kicks on goal in succession.

Following good early pressure by Warlingham, Medway got the score board moving after 18 minutes when Ollie Best executed an accurate cross field kick for full back James Dance to leap and catch and to score a clever try.

Warlingham then had a man sent to the bin and Medway went close on a number of occasions but failed to increase their lead despite some surging runs from Dan Huntley and Rob Taylor. On 35 minutes and restored to a full complement, Warlingham built their phases and scored a well-constructed try.

With the score at 7 -5, one wondered if Medway were going to regret those missed scoring opportunities against 14 men. However, straight from the restart and just before half time, the home forwards set up an excellent rolling maul and drove the opposition back over the try line for Ross Cooley to get the touch down. Ollie Best converted well to give Medway a deserved 14 – 5 half time lead.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with both teams enjoying good period of possession but Medway having slightly more edge in attack.

The home team stretched their lead after 10 minutes when forwards and backs combined well, and Taylor fed Sam Brice to race over for a try. Five minutes later they scored their fourth when Best’s kick was half charged down, but Fiu Samuela gather the ball expertly at pace and raced through to set up Best for a simple touch down.

With the bonus point secured, Medway relaxed and their error count and penalties conceded increased. After 20 minutes of scrappy play, Medway eventually managed to regain their composure and scored their fifth try.

Dance made a good break from the back of a scrappy scrum and the ball was moved out to the ever present Dan Huntley to charge over and score a well-deserved try.

Overall a good team performance, excellent defence and pleasing to score five tries. Fiu Samuela had an excellent game which earned him the man of the match award.

Next game is at home against Aylesford in the League on Saturday 30th November 2013.