Medway RFC U17s

30 March 2008

Twelve points ahead with five minutes to play, Blackheath will feel that Medway picked their pockets at the end of this game. And yet, though Medway never held a lead, they might have won it but for giving away two easy tries in the second half. So a draw was probably fair for a hard-fought match that was great to watch for the quality and character on display. If only this had been the Kent Cup Final instead of that dour, wet and windswept Battle of the Somme that these sides played out two weeks ago.

So Blackheath were looking to consolidate their victory in the Kent Final and Medway were looking for revenge, and for the first 15 minutes there looked to be only one winner: Blackheath. Some curious changes to Medway's line-up caused more confusion to their own side than to Blackheath, and Medway looked disorganised and out of their depth. The home side pinned them back in their own 22 and piled on the pressure, going close to scoring on four occasions.

Ironically, it was just after Medway reorganised on more familiar lines that Blackheath scored their first try. A series of strong attacks to the left and right eventually wore the defence down and the ball was scrambled over the line in the corner. Blackheath's fly-half slotted the conversion to give his side a richly deserved 7 - 0 lead.

But then Medway began to grind out some possession and territory. A missed kick to touch was gathered by Tom Bourne and he returned it to the attack at top speed. Stopped ten metres out, the ball was retained by Joe Jelfs and as the Blackheath defence gathered the ball was moved rapidly left and was taken on by Richard Verrall and Stewart Stockford. A well timed pass gave Simon Brooks just enough space to accelerate into the corner. The conversion was missed, but as the half-time whistle went Medway were back in the game at 7 - 5.

The first ten minutes of the second half were physical and even, with neither side gaining ascendency although Blackheath had the territorial advantage. Then, as Medway looked to break out with the ball in hand, the Blackheath fly-half was gifted an interception and broke clean through the Medway line. Jamie Chapman made a valiant attempt to run down his man from out on the opposite wing, but reached his target just too late. Perhaps exhausted by his run, the try-scorer missed the conversion.

Stung into action again by the score Medway came back immediately. A strong run by Tom Barnes carried the ball into the heart of the defence to give Brooks a chance, but he was stopped two metres short. The ball was recycled and spread wide right, where Verrall and Chapman drew their markers and passed to give Tom Bourne on the overlap the chance to dive into the corner. Stockford converted superbly from out wide and the match was tied at 12 - 12.

Medway were encouraged and now enjoyed a good spell of pressure in the Blackheath half, but a swift counter-attack by the Blackheath fullback broke through the Medway line. A last-ditch tackle by Jonathan Saddington saved the try, but as support arrived Medway were penalised at the ruck. Blackheath use a well-rehearsed tapped penalty move, employing two dummy runners, and their England International prop took the ball at pace to crash over the line from short range despite two tacklers from the defence. Another conversion and the home side were back in front 19 - 12. Medway had conceded two preventable tries and were back on their heels again.

Worse was to come as Blackheath extended their lead straight from the restart after some fine open play which saw the ball carried and offloaded 60 metres and across the breadth of the field.  Medway were looking tired and they were 12 points behind with only five minutes to play.

And yet they found some physical reserve and determination from somewhere. As they put pressure back on in the Blackheath 22, perhaps the home side thought they had already won the game. In any case, a tapped penalty was crashed into the defence by Tom Barnes, and then Verrall found Brooks for his second try. The conversion missed, and time was fast running out.

Blackheath needed to play out the remaining time in Medway's half, and they tried to, but when a loose ball was recovered by Stewart Stockford on his own 22 he tried a chip over the top for Jamie Chapman to run on to. Chapman beat the winger to the ball, just, and then beat the fullback with a trademark jink and suddenly was clear and off at top speed. No-one got near, and he crossed the line and ran round behind the posts to give his teammate the best of chance of tying the scores. Stockford made no mistake with the conversion and the referee, who was excellent throughout, blew the whistle for the end of another hugely entertaining game between these sides, this time with honours even.