Medway RFC U17s

21 January 2007

Medway travelled to North-West London on Sunday hoping for a hard competitive match, and were not disappointed. With three important regulars unavailable through injury (all three travelled to cheer the side on), the Medway supporters watched the Ruislip warm-up routines a touch apprehensively. Their large squad, and their very large forwards both in height and weight, promised a bruising encounter and so it proved.

The contrast in style of the two sides was fascinating to watch. Ruislip on the day played what might be called the "traditional English" 10-man game, using their mountainous tight five to try to batter holes in the Medway defence, and kicking from fly-half as often as not.

Medway tried to play their expansive, 15-man, fast and open style, with nearly every player capable of playing in multiple positions and doing so often throughout the match. They prevailed in the end, outscoring the home side by four tries to two, but it was a close run thing.

There was next to nothing between the teams in the first half as both sides adopted pressure defences, and progress against some fearsome tackling was difficult. First Ruislip and then Medway won some territorial advantage and threatened the goal line. Ruislip were unable to breach the Medway defence, but after 12 minutes kicked a penalty to take a 3 - 0 lead.

A battle for possession in the middle of the park ensued but Medway looked the more threatening towards the end of the half. A tapped penalty and a charge from Vezza was stopped just short and he was bundled into touch. At the lineout the Ruislip throw was tapped back but went loose in the in-goal. Aaron was first through the line to drop on it for an opportunistic try.

The conversion was missed, and the half-time whistle went immediately with Medway 3 - 5 in front.

The first ten minutes of the second half followed the pattern of the first half with Ruislip holding the advantage of possession and territory, while Medway initiated counter-attacking play from deep.

Then, perhaps because the physicality of the game took its toll, there was a spate of scoring.

Medway won a scrum in the centre and Tank was inspired to change the point of attack from right to left, wrong-footing the defence. Jig made 20 metres before being stopped inches short of the line, but Aaron was in close support, took Jig's popped ball and casually stepped over him to touch down and extend Medway's lead to 3 - 10.

Ruislip stuck to their game and it finally bore fruit as they scored two tries in quick succession. Winning a lineout on Medway's five-metre line, the ball was taken by a vast second-row and he was able to bulldoze through the defence and score with the help of the supporting pack.

Minutes later a determined Ruislip attack drew in the Medway defence and for once the ball was moved wide. The outside centre went over the goal-line near the corner. Both conversions were missed but Ruislip had restored their three-point lead at 13 - 10.

Medway once again forced their way into Ruislip territory, and their quick handling and pace were beginning to come to the fore. But their next opportunity came courtesy of Ruislip's Number 8, whose backchat to the referee reversed a penalty decision that would have allowed them to clear their 22 and relieve the pressure.

Medway instantly punished the ill-discipline by tapping the penalty quickly and getting the ball out to the right-wing where Vezza took it at pace, ran through the fullback, and dived into the corner to retake the lead 13 - 15.

Back came Ruislip but Medway's defence had tightened and held out, until a penalty was conceded within kicking distance. The points were taken and the home side were again in front at 16 - 15.

Medway had saved their best till last though, and it was a fine example of what controlled team play and individual flair can do. A ruck on the left-wing was secured and quick ball passed through four pairs of hands to Tom on the right touchline who offloaded out of the tackle to Richard. Another ruck formed but some of the Ruislip backs had been drawn in and as their forwards arrived Sparrow started the ball rapidly back down the line to the left where the elusive Jig lay in wait. A couple of sidesteps beat the remnants of the defence and he ran round under the posts. Vezz converted and the lead had changed hands for the fifth and last time in Medway's favour, 16 - 22.

Ruislip were not finished yet, however. The referee found a further seven minutes from somewhere, and Medway spent all of it on their own goal-line repulsing wave after wave of giant forwards crashing into them, seeking the converted try that would win them the game. As Medway bodies were thrown into the fray, Ruislip must surely have scored had they moved it wide at the right time. But they didn't, and the Medway defence held firm to the end.

Special mention must go to the the Medway front-row players Ian, George, Steve, Simon and Jordan for holding their own against their mammoth counterparts, and to Gavin who led the team superbly throughout.