17 December 2006
Cancellations of matches by opposition teams meant a five-week lay-off for the Medway side, which was no preparation for a hard match against a bogey team. Medway were out of practice and match fitness and it showed in the first ten minutes, when Old Elthamians raced into a 17 point lead.
An early penalty gave them a start and Medway had to play catch-up from then on. Defensive errors were exploited and two tries in quick succession under the posts, both converted, put the Medway side further on to the back foot.
Nevertheless, they started to show their real form and began to put pressure on. A surge upfield in the 17th minute forced a penalty, and a quick tap and rapid passing saw Richard Verrall stretching out of a tackle to touch down under the posts. Aman Gill converted and Medway were back in the game, but despite having the balance of play were unable to add to their score before half-time.
Medway came out for the second half in determined mood and camped in the opposition 22 for the first ten minutes. Eltham were conceding penalties, and a tap on the five-metre line gave Tom Barnes the chance to accelerate over to make the score 12 - 17.
Vezza brings the scores level
Medway now had the better of it, as evidenced by the increasing number and volume of complaints to the referee from the Eltham supporters on the sidelines, and the Eltham players had to resort to sledging to try to undermine the Medway team.
Richard Verrall had the answer to that. Receiving the ball from a scrum inside the Medway half, he produced a powerful mazy run through the entire opposition defence and dived in near the corner.
The scores were level and the home contingent were now confident of a winning score in the last ten minutes, but it was not to be. With five minutes left a break from the Eltham right wing evaded a tackle and the final try was scored.
