22 April 2007
Medway U15s were left cursing their luck once again as they lost to Old Elthamians at the semi-final stage of a tournament for the second time this season. There were compensations though.
An absurd draw put three of last season's semi-finalists, Blackheath, Sevenoaks and Medway in the same pool, leaving the other pools dominated by a single team, or full of generally weaker sides.
Cranbrook and Dover made up the rest of Medway's pool, and the history did not look good. Medway had lost to both Blackheath and Sevenoaks last season, had lost to Cranbrook two seasons ago and beaten Dover by only the narrowest of margins. It was the group of death.
First up were Dover, and when they scored first and converted the worry lines on the watching faces deepened a little, since Medway also have a history of losing their first game in this tournament. However, the lads soon got into Sevens mode and hit back with two tries from Jamie Chapman and another from Simon Brooks before half time. Further tries by Stewart Stockford, Richard Verrall and Tom Bourne in the second half and a single reply by Dover gave Medway cause for optimism with a 40 - 14 winning start.
Vezz dives in against Blackheath
Next were Blackheath, the current Kent Sevens champions. Medway were raring to go for this match and in many ways this was their final. Losing narrowly to Blackheath by a last minute try in last year's Sevens tournament needed to be avenged, and it was important to show that the win over the champions in the 15-a-side game earlier this season was no fluke.
Once again no luck was required as they took a two-try lead through Aman Gill and Richard Verrall in quick succession. But the nerves were back on egde as Blackheath hit back with a try either side of half time. An injury to a Blackheath player caused a long pause in play while treatment was carried out on the pitch by paramedics. Everyone at Medway wishes the player well and hopes for a quick recovery.
Blackheath's momentum had been disrupted by the break, and it was Medway who pressed for the winning tries. Tom Barnes and Jamie Chapman provided them, and left too little time for Blackheath to stage another comeback, leaving Medway with a 24 - 12 win in the bag.
Revenge was also sweet against Sevenoaks. Joe Jelfs got the first try after a sweeping move from right to left and back, but Sevenoaks had the upper hand for the rest of the half and might have scored more than the single try that made the scores level at half time. However, Medway put the pressure on at the start of the second half and tries from Richard Verrall and Aman Gill put some light between the sides. Sevenoaks came back again with a try of their own but a final score from Stewart Stockford put the game beyond doubt and the final score was 22 - 12.
Stew rolls out of the tackle and
dives in against Sevenoaks
A win against Cranbrook would win the pool, but it proved to be a tough match. Medway had the better of the first half, but a try by Verrall was rubbed out by a fine score from Cranbrook and the half time score was 5 - 5. Two quick tries after the break from Gavin Hyder and Stewart Stockford gave Medway the advantage but Cranbrook would not lie down. An individual kick and run put their player over near the posts to make the final score 19 - 12.
Medway had won their group and went through to a quarter-final against Tonbridge Juddians and produced a convincing win of 31 - 14, with tries from Gavin Hyder, Stewart Stockford twice, Richard Verrall and Simon Brooks.
By this time the exceptionally tough route to the semi-final, along with the rock-hard ground and high temperatures, had taken their toll on the Medway team and especially on their pace men. Tom Bourne returned from hospital on crutches to cheer the team on, Jamie Chapman was carrying what appeared to be a hamstring injury and had to go off in the first half, and Richard Verrall played with a dead leg and without his usual power.
Medway started well and kept Old Elthamians pegged back in their own half for the first five minutes, and went into the lead with a score from Joe Jelfs, magnificently converted by Stockford from out wide. But just before half time the opposition levelled the score at 7 - 7. Old Elthamians closed down Medway's space very efficiently in the second half, yet found plenty themselves as Medway legs failed to stay with the pace. Three tries finished the game and Medway's tournament 22 - 7, but Medway can look back at some excellent performances against very good opposition, and an especially satisfying win against Blackheath. Roll on next year!
