Medway travelled to fellow Kent side Westcombe Park looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season but were soundly beaten by a team that showed more hunger and desire and a better cutting edge on the day.

The home side thoroughly deserved their win and although Medway dominated the latter stages of the game, the first and decisive hour was all about Westcombe Park. The game kicked off and within 2 minutes Medway had conceded a try. The home forwards carried the ball well, got over the gain line then put the ball wide for their outside backs to score the unconverted try.

Straight from the kick off the home side were on the front foot and on two occasions only James Dance’s last ditch tackles on the home winger Hamilton, when he was clear, prevented more early tries.

The home side were rampant and a penalty in front of the posts stretched their lead to 8-0. On a rare foray into the home half Medway won a penalty at the set piece and Dan Harvey converted to narrow the gap to 8-3.

The pressure came straight back on Medway when after 28 minutes a failed exit kick saw Westcombe Park counter attack and breach the defence to score in the corner. An excellent conversion from Cameron put the home side ahead by 15-3.

Medway looked and needed to get their hands on the ball and retain possession and this paid dividends when on 33 minutes the home side infringed in front of their posts for Harvey to kick the goal and make the score 15-6.

From the re-start however another poor kick out of defence saw Westcombe Park capitalise and with an excellent counter attack scored a fine converted try to go into half time leading 22-6. In truth it could have been more.

Medway came out for the second half with more commitment and good early field position and pressure saw the home side reduced to 14 men for cynical play. Medway failed to capitalise though when poor discipline allowed Westcombe Park to clear their lines.

On 54 minutes Medway finally breached the home defence. A whole series of scrums on the home line eventually allowed the hard working Jordan Stubbington to pick and crash over. Harvey was on target with the conversion to make the score 22-13.

Any hopes of a Medway comeback were dashed when they conceded a penalty at the kick off and from the resultant line out a backs strike move saw Hamilton break the visitors line and score the bonus point try.

Medway dominated the latter stages of the game on the back of some quality scrummaging but did not reap the reward they deserved. The home side ran out deserved winners by 29-13.

Medway Coach Taff Gwilliam said ‘We were second best today and Westcombe Park deserve the plaudits’, he added ‘For our part we know we have areas we need to work on and I will be looking for our squad to show character and bounce back next week’