On paper this looked to be a difficult fixture as Staines are enjoying a successful season in London North West 2.

However Medway carried forward their excellent form from last week, and were simply too good for the visitors scoring eight tries for the second week running. Their first half performance was possibly the best rugby that they have played so far this season, going into the wind and up the slight slope, the locals scored five tries and opened up a 31 – 7 lead. The second half was understandably a little flat as the contest was effectively dead but Medway did score another three tries and kept the visitors pinned in their own territory for the full 40 minutes.

In a sparkling first half display Medway scored at regular intervals. Sam Garofalo opened their account when he outstripped the covering defence, Billy Humphrey broke off the back of a driving maul to register the first of his two tries of the afternoon, then Charlie Wardzynski beat three defenders to touch down and finally Fred Tila scored a brace of tries in quick succession shortly before the interval. Knowing that they had to up their game whilst playing into the wind seemed to suit the locals as they dominated possession and territory. The forwards were good in the set piece with hooker Billy Sandison regularly hitting his line out jumpers Max Easton and James Rutherford. The backs ran good lines and stretched the Staines defence whilst Fred Tila punched hole after hole with his direct running up the middle.

Playing with the elements in the second half Medway seemed to take their foot off the gas, and were unable to match the first half performance, They did however score three further tries via Tom Beaumont, finishing off an excellent team move, Billy Humphrey’s second from the back of a scrum, and lastly Dan Harvey carving through a tired looking Staines defence to dot down between the posts. On a difficult day for kicking Harvey also converted four of the eight tries scored by the scarlet and golds.

Overall a good day for the local lads with many good performances right throughout the team. The front five of Petch, Sandison, O’Leary, Rutherford and Easton laid an excellent foundation for those behind them to attack. Number 8 Billy Humphrey had arguably his best game of the season and the half back combination of James Dance and Dan Harvey was excellent.

Medway travel to Ashford next Saturday as they return to league action.

Medway team;

Petch, Sandison, O’Leary, Easton, Rutherford, Huntley, Beaumont, Humphrey, Dance, Harvey, Kay, Meares, Tila, Garofalo, Wardzynski, Cooley, Brice, Liu’ana.