Medway RFC U17s

3 February 2008

In the last three seasons matches between these sides have been classic encounters, with Medway always on the wrong side of a close score, and everyone was expecting another exciting and tense contest. We rarely criticise referees, and especially when Medway lose as it just looks like sour grapes, but sadly a weak and indecisive referee who could not keep up with play ruined this game - the grapes were of wrath, if anything. Confidence in him was not high before the start when he was heard asking what the laws were for this age group.

Medway started quickly for once and within five minutes Simon Brooks was released and went into the corner for the first try. Elthamians reacted strongly putting pressure on in Medway's 22. The defence looked strong, with one maul being driven back 20 metres at one stage, but the home side looked dangerous when they moved it wide and after ten minutes a large forward went over on Medway's right wing to draw level.

Elts went close twice more on the opposite wing, before Richard Verrall restored some balance with a strong run that was stopped five metres out. The scrum was contested robustly and as the ball was laid back it went loose in the in-goal where James Davies was narrowly beaten to the touchdown by a defender. The referee gave a five metre scrum to Medway, but then after consulting the Old Elthamian players (!), changed his mind and gave a 22 drop-out, and Medway's chance had gone.

Towards the end of the half Old Elthamians scored twice. An attempted kick for touch from a lineout by Medway simply gave the ball back to the opposition, and good determination and strength, along with missed tackles by the defenders, put OEs into the corner again. A minute later they added a penalty to bring the score to 13 - 5.

It was important for Medway to strike back before half-time and they did with a counter-attack from deep. Wing Jamie Chapman got the ball on half way and in space and at top speed beat three defenders to go under the posts. Stewart Stockford converted and half-time came with the score at 13 - 12.

Medway again started brightly in the second half and were retaining the ball better than they had in the first. But midway through the half Elthamians maintained a presence in Medway's 22 and then spread the ball wide to the right. Ignoring an overlap, they moved back inside and eventually went over close to the posts for a converted try which stretched the lead to eight points.

Medway again needed to get back within a score of the home side quickly. Richard Verrall uncharacteristically missed a penalty in front of the posts, but shortly afterwards Joe Jelfs tapped a penalty on the Elthamian five metre line and Stockford scored from close range to bring them within three points at 20 - 17.

Five minutes later the most ridiculous episode of the match occurred as an Old Elthamian player crossed Medway's goal line in the corner enveloped by two defenders. The referee was walking (some might say sauntering) 40 metres away and behind the action. He cannot possibly have seen whether the ball was grounded (and the Medway tacklers and touch judge swore that it was held up). There was a long pause while he wandered over and the Elthamian players assured him that it was a try, and finally he gave it.

They were the last points of the match. At the restart an Elthamians player was clattered and injured severely enough for an ambulance to be required, and as for safety's sake he could not be moved the referee ended the game early. The good news is that although the player was concussed he is otherwise ok.