29 April 2007
Medway travelled to Worthing to defend their crown with their squad wrecked by injuries sustained at the Kent Sevens the previous week, and by others dropping out in the hope of making the county side for a national competition next week.
Am gets the third against Worthing
Sevens requires pace more than anything else, and Medway were without their four fastest players. They had a squad where forwards outnumbered backs. Despite the best efforts of the replacement players, who had never trained seriously in the Sevens form of the game, the whole day was a struggle.
It began with a game against a Worthing "B" team that had remarkably similar-looking players to the Worthing A team that was playing in the other pool. Perhaps they were twins. Medway quickly scored two tries courtesy of Jonathan Saddington and Gavin Hyder, and turned round at half time with a 12 - 0 lead.
Worthing pressed in the second half and eventually scored and converted, but immediately a chip and collect by Aman Gill put him into the corner and Medway were 17 - 7 winners.
Horsham were next and Medway got off to the perfect start as Gavin Hyder caught the kick-off and ran it straight back for the opening try.
Paul crosess the line
against Horsham
But Horsham replied before half-time, and then scored and converted again just after the break to take the lead. Medway had to dig deep, with Ryan Ellis' tackling a revelation, and eventually Saddington scored to cut the lead to two points. Paul Pierce then won another kick and chase race, and a conversion from Stewart Stockford made the final score 17 - 12.
It was another dour struggle in the final pool game against Heathfield, with Medway twice going in front with tries from Stockford and Hyder, but being pegged back both times. Medway somehow found another gear in the second half, and Stockford and Joe Jelfs scored breakaway tries for a 26 - 10 final score.
No way through for Joe
against Hove
Three wins put Medway at the top of their pool and gave them a place in the semi-final against Hove, but the team's performances so far were unconvincing. They played with heart and determination but, without pace in the team, they were exposed on the flanks by a Hove team that had pace, ran good lines, and flung it wide at every opportunity.
Medway conceded four tries in the first half and another in the more evenly matched second half, before Gavin Hyder salvaged some pride with a score near the end. So Medway lost for the first time at Worthing in three seasons and gave up the cup with a 27 - 5 loss.
