5 November 2006
It was deadlock for the first 15 minutes of this game as Westcombe Park's well-drilled pack made life difficult for Medway at the set-piece, and Medway failed to turn their territorial advantage into points.
The home side had to rely on kicking to gain ground from their own 22, but Medway's pace and aggressive running and mauling kept Combe on the back foot without finding the finish that they wanted.
It took a superb team try to break through, and it was a credit to Medway's preference for fast, open play and keeping the ball alive. Started from fullback, and carried to the opposition by backs and forwards alike, the ball was offloaded out of contact five times and 40 metres gained in a relentless advance to the five-metre line.
Tom Barnes won quick ball and drove over with the close assistance of James Tindall. Aman Gill converted impressively from out wide.
Aaron goes into the corner
Two minutes later an exciting move through the backs gave Jamie Chapman space to make ground on the wing. Flanker Aaron Dimmick, who had looped round the entire back line, was on hand to take the ball the final 15 metres into the corner. It was superb support play and characteristic of Medway's performance in this match.
Medway's confidence was now high, and a switch behind the scrum between
Stewart Stockford and Richard Verrall gave the latter an open channel through
the centre to go under the posts. Am again converted.
Then Tom Bourne took an attempted clearance close to the touchline and it took only three passes across the backs for Jamie Chapman to race down the opposite wing and into the corner.
Am again converted from near the touchline and the half ended with Medway having earned a 26-point lead.
Five minutes after the restart, Jack Thompson was stopped short as he burrowed towards the line but Sam Levett was in close support and touched down from short range. Am converted.
Jig jogs in
To their great credit, Westcombe Park never lost heart or let their heads drop. They continued to be competitive, and now enjoyed their best period of the match.
Driving into the Medway half, they kept the ball in hand and their retention at the breakdown improved. From five metres out, a pick and go by their scrum-half was rewarded with a try in the corner.
Five minutes later they scored again, this time a flanker dropping over the line from a maul.
Medway have a proud defence and to concede twice clearly rankled. Their next drive upfield was one of the most aggressive of the match, and it ended with Paul Pierce shouldering through two tacklers to score.
Combe came back again, but in the closing minutes Medway intercepted a pass and moved the ball quickly to Jig who ran in from well within his own half.
Shortly afterward the final whistle went and Medway could look back on an impressive team effort to win 45 - 10 against able opposition.
