Medway RFC U17s

14 January 2007

A slow start followed by a steady improvement into an irresistible surge of scoring again characterised the under-fifteens play this week. Both sides showed an appetite for spreading the ball wide and keeping the play open and fast which always makes for an entertaining game.

In the early stages Cranbrook's disciplined pack were far superior in retaining the ball, and after a series of well-managed rucks and fast ball, the fullback had just enough space to force his way over after only two minutes.

Aaron's under there somewhere.
At least the ref can see him

It was a warning at once heeded by the Medway pack, who struck back a minute later. Training ground drills paid off as Aaron took the
ball at a lineout on the Cranbrook five-metre line, and the rest of the pack closed and drove him over the line.

The efficiency of the Cranbrook forwards again gave them an advantage in possession for the next period of the match, and it took some big and timely tackles for Medway to keep them out. Cranbrook again had the ball over the home side's line but Medway got bodies under the ball and it was held up.

Eventually, Medway broke from their own half and won a penalty on the visitors' five-metre line. A quick tap and go by Gavin was stopped short, but as always Joe was on hand to grab the ball and close support by the rest of the pack drove him over into the corner.

Four minutes later a break from Vezz in his own half found some space and a dummy beat the last man for him to go under the posts. Stewart converted and suddenly Medway had a comfortable lead of 17 - 5.

Cranbrook were not finished though, and had the better of the last ten minutes of the half, recycling and retaining possession in stark contrast to Medway's efforts. Awarded a penalty in front of the posts at the end of the half, Cranbrook wisely took the reward for their efforts by kicking the three points and going into half time at 17 - 8.

The second half was a different matter. The Medway pack were more aggressive at the breakdown, and the whole team kept the ball alive superbly by offloading in the tackle and popping the ball off the floor whenever possible.

Jig touches down Stewart's kick

The backs also got to show some flair with the boot, as within two minutes of the restart Stewart kicked a perfectly weighted 40-metre ball over the defence for Jig to sprint into the in-goal and touch down. Stewart converted.

Not to be outdone, Vezza at full speed chipped the ball over the last defender and without having to break stride the ball bounced up into his arms and he was over for Medway's fifth.

Cranbrook came back but were unable to break through the defence despite
Medway conceding a string of penalties. The visitors were dealt another blow when a long clearance kick by Am was chased down and stolen from under the Cranbrook winger's nose by Jig, who outpaced the last defenders to go under the posts.

Everything had clicked into place for Medway. Backs and forwards alike were gaining ground at pace on every carry, and the support play was first-class. It seemed that every time the ball-carrier was stopped or tackled the ball was offloaded quickly or popped off the ground to the next, and the momentum generated by such play is often irresistible.

Stewart gets the milestone
500th point for the season

Stewart made the most of Medway's dominance. A jinking run by Jig was stopped ten metres short but the ball was popped to Stewart who forced his way over the line to take Medway's points tally to 500 for the season in their 11th match, and then added two more with the conversion.

Five minutes later a 40-metre surge by the forwards sucked in the defence and the ball was moved rapidly wide to Stewart who crashed over for the last try of the game. Cranbrook were much better than the 48 - 8 scoreline suggests, and threatened Medway's line often, but few teams would have coped with Medway's second-half performance.