27 January 2008
Tunbridge Wells dominated the first half of this match, and matched Medway for territory and possession in the second, and yet lost both halves and the game. The difference seemed to be a lack of cutting edge in Wells' play against a Medway defence that was a little below par for once, compared to Medway's sharpness in taking the few chances that they managed to work.
Stewart breaks through
Medway started slowly and allowed Wells to maintain pressure in their half for the first 15 minutes. The visitors continually attacked down the blind side, taking the home side by surprise several times before the defence was shored up. The Tunbridge players visibly grew in confidence as they tied Medway down and fashioned a few chances to score. One day Medway will get on the front foot from the kick off and deny the opposition this customary early confidence boost. If ever they do, someone had better watch out!
Half way through the first half Medway finally got into the Wells 22 and from a ruck spread the ball to the short side where Stewart Stockford dummied and burst through to run round behind the posts. He converted as well and Medway had a somewhat undeserved lead.
Wells again put on the pressure and again Medway soaked it up. When they stole the ball from a ruck ten metres from their own line a swift counterattack looked on. But for once it backfired. The kick over the top was charged down, Wells regained possession, and after recycling quickly from the ruck moved the ball swiftly left and into the corner. It was no less than they deserved but the conversion miss kept them two points behind.
Say "Cheese"
There was just time for Medway to visit the Wells 22 for only the second time, and again they came away with points. The visitors killed the ball at a ruck, and Stockford kicked the penalty to take the Medway into the break 10 - 5 in front.
In contrast to the first half Medway began the second like lightning. Immediately from the restart the ball was regained and carried deep into Wells' territory. From a scrum on the 5 metre line, Paul Pierce picked up at the base and passed to scrum half Ryan Ellis, who dummied to create a gap and then darted through it. Stockford again converted and Medway had some breathing space.
Medway had the better of the possession, and put more pressure on. Paul Pierce carried over but the ball was held up, and Medway looked much more threatening than in the first half.
Paul is stopped in his tracks
this time, but scores later
But Tunbridge weren't finished. Medway's scrum and lineout had been working well in the first half, but Wells were having much more success in securing ball from the set-piece in the second half and used it to gain ground. Five minutes from the end they were awarded a penalty close to Medway's line and crossed it after three drives and recycles from their forwards.
The conversion made it 17 - 12, but Medway drove back upfield and with the last play of the game Number 8 Paul Pierce picked up from the base of a 5 metre scrum. Despite the attentions of two large opponents he drove for the line and scored in the corner to make the final score 22 - 17 and bring to an end a well-matched contest played out in good spirit by both sides
