Despite the recent inclement weather, Medway played Sevenoaks on Saturday on an excellent playing surface and in-front of fifty past players who were enjoying their annual reunion lunch.

The young Medway team did not disappoint and produced one of their best performances of the season. Playing into a stiff breeze during the first half, they were more than a match for Sevenoaks, and were a little unlucky to turn around at half time behind, facing a narrow deficit of 20 -14. After the interval however, and with the elements in their favour, Medway were unstoppable and scored 33 unanswered points including four well worked tries.

Medway welcomed back Ollie Best, Ryan Redman and Tom Beaumont to their line up, and all three had influential games with Tom putting in a man of the match performance. Throughout the game Medway’s pack played the conditions well, keeping the ball tight, making good yards, and tiring the opposition by forcing them to make tackle after tackle. When the time was right, the tempo was suddenly increased and backs and forwards combined with excellent handling and support play to score six tries.

Medway started the game well and threatened the Sevenoaks line straight from the kick off. After 12 minutes, and somewhat against the run of play, Sevenoaks profited from an interception and scored converted try. Stung into action Medway responded immediately when James Dance took a quick tap penalty, Owain Fussell made a fine break, and Ollie Best was on hand to level the scores with his own converted try. On the half hour mark Sevenoaks took the lead again through an excellent long range penalty kick and then added a converted try following good scrum work under the Medway posts. Just before half time, Medway scored their second try when Fiu Samuela went over and Best converted. Finally Sevenoaks increased their lead with another penalty to make the half time score 20 – 14.

Any doubt about the result was removed when Medway scored two tries in the 5^th and 6^th minutes of the second half. After a patient forwards drive that sucked in all of the defensive cover, Dance fed Best who dived over for a simple try. Straight from the kick off Ben Johnson made a good break, Best provided the link to Tom Beaumont to score the converted try. Medway scored a further two tries from Leo Liu’ana and, impact sub, Sam Catlin. Best also kicked two penalties to keep the score board regularly ticking over.

Overall a very pleasing performance from the whole team and one that sent the past players home happy!

Medway team:

Petch; Cooley; Reddish; Taylor; Easton; Beaumont; Johnson; Samuela; Dance; Best; Garofalo; Burns; Fussell; Liua’ana; Redman; Brice; Catlin; Huntley

Next game is at away at Lewis in the League on Saturday 9th November 2013.