15 January 2006
Two of the best sides in Kent clashed head-on on Sunday, and no quarter was given or asked in a ding-dong battle.
Old Elts, the current Kent Champions, are a big and aggressive outfit, well-coached and disciplined with skillful players.But Medway arrived unbeaten this season and were looking to avenge a narrow loss last season.
Medway's intent was stamped on the match from the kick-off, as skipper Gavin Hyder ran down the catcher and nailed him with a hefty tackle. A lengthy period of territorial dominance began, but although they were camped in the Old Elts half Medway were unable to convert their advantage into points.
Too often their attacks broke down because of a wild pass or handling error, and set plays were demolished by the solid tackling of the opposition centres.
Making the most of Medway's errors, and regularly turning over possession, Old Elts eventually broke into Medway's half.
In the 21st minute the ball was moved rapidly left from a scrum on the
right wing. Jonathan Saddington made a thumping tackle on the left-winger
to stop him going over, but the ball was popped up to the inside centre.
He handed off Joe Jelfs' attempted tackle and crashed into the corner to
make it 5 - 0 against the general run of play. But two minutes later Medway
were on the scoresheet. A big heel from
Michael Puddy shot the ball out of the back of a scrum on the Old Elts
22, but Stewart Stockford was alive to it.
Picking the ball expertly off the ground at speed and evading the enemy flanker, he burst through a gap in the centre of the defence, sold a trademark dummy to beat the last man and scored under the posts. Richard Verrall converted to put Medway 5 - 7 ahead at half time.
The second half was the opposite of the first, with Old Elts dominating Medway territory but unable to crack their determined defence. Some crashing tackles went in to repulse Old Elts time and again.
Medway's efforts to score were limited to breakaways. Verrall broke through for what would have been a certain try but the referee blew up for an earlier offside.
An interception by Stockford gained 40 metres but Tom Barnes was eventually stopped ten metres out and the ball was cleared to touch. The clock was running down and it looked like Medway would hold on, but from a five-metre scrum the Old Elts scrum-half laid the ball back to their goal kicker, who neatly slotted a drop goal to make the score 8 - 7. There were two minutes left to regain the lead, but the referee, who had been giving long lectures for trivial offences all the match, talked for half of it and Medway had no time to threaten the Old Elthamians line.
It was the end of an enthralling match, and the whoops of joy from the Old Elts players at the final whistle were the best indication of the respect that Medway had earned. Medway had stood toe-to-toe with the champions and will know that, on another day, it might easily have gone their way.
