On another fine day for running rugby, Medway registered their fourth consecutive bonus point victory in the league against Old Colfeians in South London on Saturday.
With an unchanged team to the one that faced Aylesford last week, the local lads did well to overcome a spirited performance from the Old Boys who battled hard from start to finish of this well contested game.
Medway’s three quarters didn’t quite match the quality of last week’s performance, but the forwards excelled and won the lineout and scrum battle, and also impressed in the loose. The Old Colfeian’s side always looked dangerous when in possession and had a real threat in attack that twice breached the Medway defence.
The visitors started the game brightly and went through their phases retaining possession for long periods but never really threatened the stout Old Boys defence. After 8 minutes Old Colfe’s had their first meaningful passage of play and Medway were immediately penalised in front of their posts for a simple penalty, somewhat against the run of play. 3 – 0 to the Old Boys.
The two teams then nullified each other out for the next twenty minutes although Colfe’s did miss two further penalty kicks against Medway’s solitary unsuccessful attempt.
After 32 minutes, Medway won a scrum against the head and the ball was worked blind through Samuela, Dance and Best who drew the defence to release Luke Burns in for a try in the corner. Three minutes later Colfe’s hit back with a fine try of their own when centre Alex Gallager sliced through sloppy Medway defence to score a fine individual try. With both conversions missed, Colfe’s led 8-5 after 36 minutes.
As per last week, Medway then made a decisive move in the game scoring tries either side of half time to pull away and open up clear space between the two teams. Just before the break two good kick chase efforts firstly by Dan Huntley and then Leo Liua’ana enabled Owain Fussell to release Luke Burns for his second try.
Best converted the difficult kick to give Medway a deserved 12 – 8 half time lead. Straight from the restart, Medway scored their third try. Chalmers did well to claim the kick off, forwards and backs combined well and eventually a sublime off-load by fly half Ollie Best put Tom Beaumont in under the posts for a good team try. The easy conversion gave Medway a 19 – 8 lead after 43 minutes.
Understandably the visitors then relaxed a little and allowed Old Colfe’s to again show their attacking threat and only determined defence kept them at bay. Medway were possibly guilty of trying to play too much rugby in their own half which often resulted in mistakes and pressure on their own try line.
After 21 minutes Medway scored the all-important forth bonus point try. A good lineout, strong punch up the middle from Burns and then a rewind move to Wardzynski enabled a rampant Humphrey to score in the corner. 24 – 8.
Eight minutes later Medway extended their lead further with another converted try this time scored by the excellent Owain Fusselll. The Old Boys did score a late consolation effort to reduce the arrears to 31 -15.
Overall a pleasing performance on the road with most parts of the Medway game working well.
Medway team;
Brice, Humphrey, Cooley, Easton, Weobley, Huntely, Beaumont, Samuela, Dance, Best, Liua’ana, Fussell, Burns, Chalmers, Wardzynski, Petch, Taylor, Catlin.
Next game is at home against Maidstone in the League on Saturday 14th December 2013.