Medway’s first team got back into action after three weeks without a game and hosted Heathfield and Waldron at Priestfields on Saturday.

They were keen to avenge the defeat that their opponents inflicted upon them earlier this season down in Sussex and ran out very comfortable winners scoring eight unanswered tries with Ollie Best kicking seven conversions and one penalty.

The local lads started like a train and scored 22 points in the first twenty minutes. They then lost some intensity and although scoring at regular intervals, didn’t play that well and made numerous errors that provided plenty of possession for the opposition to run back at them. However, and as has been the norm this season, Medway’s defence was resolute and although Heathfield tried hard, they just could not break through to score.

Playing up the slight slope and into the gentle breeze Medway got the score board ticking over after six minutes when the impressive Fiu Samuela won a turn over and Heathfield were penalised. Ollie Best kicked the relatively straight forward penalty.

In the next ten minutes Medway scored three excellent “team” tries; firstly Charlie Wardzynski drew the defence and released Leo Liua’ana to score under the posts.

Then Billy Humphrey’s fine off-load allowed Max Easton to touch down and lastly, a great team move with Best heavily involved, allowed the ever present Tom Beaumont to score the first of his two tries. 22-0 with only a quarter of the game gone, but Medway then took their foot off the gas and Heathfield enjoyed plenty of good possession and field position.

Despite running good lines and recycling the ball quickly, Heathfield could not break the home team’s determined defence. The half time score remained at 22-0 and home supporters were wondering if the important forth bonus point try would ever come.

Heathfield dominated the early exchanges of the second period but a remarkable individual solo effort, somewhat against the run of play, by Luke Burns broke the deadlock.

He beat numerous defenders and appeared to run through the whole of the Heathfield team before touching down after nine minutes.

Immediately afterwards Owain Fussell made a fine break and released the supporting Ollie Best to score under the posts. Best then made a break himself, and passed to Beaumont for his second try. James Dance was next on the score board after stealing the ball at the back of a Heathfield scrum and then on the stroke of full time, Sam Catlin hacked the ball through and beat the defence to the touch down and complete the scoring.

Ollie Best deservedly took the man of the match award but the whole team did well and again showed they are a very competent all round outfit. The pack played well with Easton, Beaumont Huntley and Samuela outstanding in the loose and in defence.

Burns and Fussell were again a constant threat in the centre and Leo Liua’ana worked hard all afternoon and made tackle after tackle.

Overall a pleasing performance and a useful work out after three weeks of inactivity.

Medway team;
Petch, Humphrey, Cooley, Easton, Weobley, Huntely, Beaumont, Samuela, Dance, Best, Liua’ana, Fussell, Burns, Chalmers, Wardzynski, Brice, Catlin, Reddish.

Next game is away at Crowborough in the League on Saturday 18st January 2014, kick-off 1415.