9 April 2008
Medway took on a select side from the borough of Bromley on Wednesday night, comprising players from some of the top clubs in Kent, including Old Elthamians, Westcombe Park and Beckenham. It was the last fifteen-a-side game of the season and promised to be tough, but Medway were determined to end the season on a high, and put in a performance to match.
The early stages were played out in midfield as the two sides probed for weaknesses and tested each others' mettle. Medway made one of their slow starts, and Bromley looked a little unfamiliar with each other. The first serious threat came from Bromley when their fly-half broke the Medway line with a dummy and a burst of speed, and then kicked the ball into the Medway in-goal. It was a close race to the touchdown, but a Medway player won it by a nose.
Encouraged by going so close, for the next ten minutes Bromley looked the more likely to score. But Medway kept them out and then suddenly came alive in the last ten minutes of the half. Ryan Williams made it over the Bromley line, but the referee saw a knock forward. A minute later, the first score came as Jamie Chapman broke down the left wing, jinked past the fullback to go under the posts, and Stewart Stockford converted.
In the last play of the half, Number 8 Paul Pierce picked up from the base of a five-metre scrum, then Ryan Ellis fed Simon Brooks who dived between the posts for the second try. Stockford again converted and Medway had a 14 - 0 lead at half time.
Bromley started the second half well, and it wasn't long before they hit back. Recycling the ball with skill from several rucks in the Medway 22, their scrum-half broke the line and then timed his pass well for a teammate to cross the line for a converted try.
With their lead threatened, skipper Stockford decided to kick a penalty to increase it to ten points before the team scored the try of the match. From a scrum on half way fly-half Aman Gill, who is always so aware of space and opportunity, made a beautifully subtle feint to pass and broke through the line, making twenty metres before timing his pass to Stockford. As the Bromley defence rushed across to cover Chapman on the wing, Stockford saw the gap and chose the inside pass to Brooks who was away and under the posts again. Stockford converted and with a 24 - 7 lead Medway unwisely eased off.
Bromley put pressure back on and after a series of rucks Medway were caught offside. Taken quickly the Bromley fly-half, who was outstanding throughout, dummied and broke through before converting his own try.
But that was the end of the Bromley resistance and there was still time for Jamie Chapman to get his second try with another mazy, jinking run past three defenders to make the final score 29 - 14.
