5 February 2006
With eight players missing, and their opponents having lost only once this season, Medway were expecting a tough match and so it proved.
Early on, the sides probed for weaknesses but soon Brentwood's heavy pack put on some sustained pressure, and Medway's tenacious defence had to be at its best to hold out for the first 15 minutes. It took some big hits by Richard Verrall to break up attacks through the centre, and timely tackles by James Davies and Tom Bourne prevented certain tries on the wings.
Eventually Medway broke free and put the first points on the board. From a lineout on the right wing the ball was spun along the line to the winger Jonathan Saddington. Caught by his opposite number, he was able to offload to the looping Stewart Stockford who went over in the corner. But Medway were soon back in defence, and expert Brentwood mauling and rucking forced a succession of penalties. One maul was pushed over the Medway goal line but the ball was held up.
From the scrum, the Brentwood Number 8 picked and went, but grounded the ball a foot short and lost it. Strangely, the referee signalled a try even though the ball was in Medway hands at the time. The Brentwood players were equally mystified, but they converted the try and took a 7 - 5 lead into half time.
With the slight slope now in their favour, it was Medway's turn to put pressure on the home side's goal line. For ten minutes they pounded the defence, with Gavin Hyder going closest with a clever run that was stopped two metres short.
But Brentwood eventually came away, and scored in the left corner after a fast move through their backs from a lineout.
With a successful conversion, Medway were now 14 - 5 down and only ten minutes left. With no fresh legs available to bring on, the team had to fall back on their fitness, character and spirit.
Gavin Hyder scored Medway's second with a pick and go from the base of a five-metre scrum, dummying a defender and diving over. Verral converted and Medway were within two points of the Brentwood score.
Verrall went close with a powerful run that was brought up a metre short. Then, in a tense finish, Stockford fed Ellis out of the back of his hand, and the ball went through Finlay to Verrall in front of the posts. A drop goal would win the game by a point, but his attempt was horribly scuffed.
But the ball bounced into the in-goal, and the ever-alert Stockford somehow reached it before any of the defenders and touched it down. Verrall converted and Medway were ahead 19 - 14.
Brentwood were unable to threaten in the last two minutes, and the referee's final whistle ended an exciting and memorable match.
