11 December 2005
Medway recorded their 10th victory out of 10 in a match that was far more competitive than the score suggests. Cranbrook are a disciplined and well-coached side, but Medway's superb team play and razor-like cutting edge proved decisive.
The first try came after three minutes when Tom Bourne made a fast break from his own 10-metre line and set up some surging ruck play by the Medway forwards on the Cranbrook 22. When the ball was released, Stewart Stockford was on hand to sweep through from 10 metres out. Jamie Chapman added a second in quick time after a classic back line move from right wing to left, and added another after 8 minutes when he picked up a clearance on half-way and made a jinking run at speed through the Cranbrook defence.
All three tries were converted by Stockford, and with the score at 21 - 0 Cranbrook needed to step up a gear to avoid a rout. They did. For 15 minutes Medway were pinned in their own half as the Cranbrook forwards pressed and won more and more ball.
Unfortunately the visitors' backs lacked the pace and penetrative power to make the most of their possession. They tried miss-moves and dummy switches, but usually without making any ground. The Medway defence stayed rock solid, and they bided their time. It was no surprise when James Tindall powered through to score Medway's fourth a few minutes before half time to make the score 26 - 0.
Medway matched their first half score in the second. A strong run by Stockford was stopped 5 metres out, but Joe Jelfs followed up and scored from 5 metres out.
Up till now, Richard Verrall had been an immovable object in defence, putting in some thunderous tackles to stop a succession of Cranbrook attacks dead. He now turned into an unstoppable object with a hat-trick of tries to finish off the match. Taking a pass from James Collier he smashed through from the 22 metre line for his first.
Medway then showed their instinct to counter-attack from deep with the ball in hand. Pushed back to their own goal-line by a kick into the corner, Davies, Bourne and Barnes threw the ball around and gained the 22 before setting up a maul. The ball emerged quickly, and a step from Stockford created the space for Verrall to make a 60-metre run to the posts.
Cranbrook were now looking tired and a dash and pass from Gavin Hyder were all the invitation Verrall needed to break through for his third, and he celebrated his hat-trick with an impressive swallow-dive behind the posts. Stockford converted three of the second-half tries to make the final score 52 - 0.
