16 March 2008
Medway may have lost this match but the character of the side shone through to the end as, with some of them half-naked in the mud, they defiantly sang the club song at the presentation of their runners-up medals . In miserable conditions of wind and rain, and on a pitch more suited to a cattle show, it was no surprise that Medway were unable to play their normal running rugby.
The conditions were more suited to Blackheath, and with the weather behind them in the first half they started like a train and maintained territorial advantage for practically the whole half. Penned back in their own 22, the Medway forwards battled to hold back the opposition pack and succeeded despite a number of close calls. Only once did Blackheath try to spread it wide, but their outside centre was knocked flat backwards by a colossal tackle from Gavin Hyder, and very little was seen of the Blackheath backs with ball in hand after that.
But the Blackheath forwards are drilled and skilled at retaining the ball at the breakdown. Medway were penalised several times for misdemeanours at the ruck, and from one of these Blackheath kicked into a 3 point lead.
Medway tried to respond but Blackheath were canny. Keeping the ball in the forwards and gaining ground through driving mauls, or keeping Medway on the back foot by kicking over the top - a tactic they knew had a 50-50 chance of a defensive error in the horrible slippery conditions underfoot.
Then, as a relief from the grim, attritional physical battle Blackheath produced a fine slice of rugby that gave them an eight-point lead. After a series of rucks in the Medway 22, the defence was stretched thin and with three short passes to the right, and despite last-ditch tackle attempts by Chapman and Stockford, the Blackheath flanker was able to dive ostentatiously into the corner.
The try fired Medway and from the re-start they powered into the Blackheath half for almost the first time, and brought about an impressive attack of their own. Stockford and Barnes combined to get to within five metres of the goal line, and Aaron Dimmick and Paul Pierce forced it right to the brink before Blackheath got bodies behind the maul. When the ball came back Stockford tried a crossfield kick but it wouldn't go to hand and the attack came to nothing.
Medway did better in the second half, but it was a hard, physical dogfight mainly in midfield, and Blackheath continued to kick for territory to keep Medway away from their line. The forwards continued to battle it out, and the backs on both sides were reduced to a defensive role. Jamie Chapman on the left wing didn't touch the ball all the match, while Tom Bourne on the other wing made the only break by any back on either side and made 40 metres before the cover came across and wrestled him into touch.
Right at the end Medway went close again with a series of drives that saw Tom Barnes again carrying the ball powerfully into the heart of the Blackheath defence. But it was clear that the end was nigh and the final whistle came before Medway could press their advantage any further.
Blackheath played the conditions well and deserved their victory on the day. It was hard, physical and rough out there but always played in a sporting fashion that was a credit to both sides. Medway ended with their indomitable spirit intact, muddied but unbowed.
