30 November 2008
For four years, games between these sides have been hard fought and close, with no more than eight points between the sides on each occasion but with Medway always on the wrong end of the scoreline. It was close again on Sunday, but this time Medway came out on top thanks to an immense performance by the forwards.
A near-waterlogged pitch soon deteriorated into a mudbath, and yet some excellent rugby was played by both sides in the conditions. The first score was always going to be important, and it went to Medway after ten minutes. Deep in the Elthamians' 22 a clearance kick was charged down by Ryan Ellis and went into touch. The lineout throw was inaccurate and Joe Jelfs swooped on it, the rest of the pack got quickly behind him and drove him over the line for 0 - 5.
Five minutes later and Medway were awarded a kickable penalty for foul play and Stewart Stockford stepped up to plant it accurately through the posts.
Elthamians came back strongly, but the Medway forwards were dominating the set-piece, especially the scrum, and were having one of their best games in the loose. It was not long before they were back in the Elthamians 22 and again they came away with points as Stockford slotted a second penalty awarded for offside. The half ended with Medway 0 - 11 to the good.
The second half saw a massive effort by Elthamians to get back in the match, but not before Medway had gone further ahead after only five minutes. Tom Barnes made a storming run through the centre, handing off opponents and wading through missed tackles. When he finally went down 3 metres short of the line, Tom Bourne was immediately on hand to secure the ball, with Jon Saddington supporting, and Ellis was able to pick clean ball and dart over the line.
At 0 - 16 Medway may have felt the job was almost done, but Elthamians are a classy side and came back even more strongly. Putting pressure on the Medway defence, especially through powerful runs from their inside centre and Number 8, Medway were on the back foot for most of the rest of the half. After several close calls, the home side finally scrambled over near the corner for an unconverted try.
After another penetrating run by the Elthamians centre, Stockford went in at the side of the ruck to deny quick ball to the home side and was yellow-carded. Down to 14 men, Medway worked hard to keep the home side at bay and prevent any score - in Simon Brooks' case at the cost of a concussion and a trip to hospital. When Stockford reappeared, in fact, Medway were on the attack and George Dyer was denied a pushover try by some desperate but determined Elthamians defence.
However, it wasn't long before the home side broke out and camped back in the Medway 22 and with five minutes to go the Medway defence missed a couple of tackles and the Number 8 went into the corner. The conversion missed, but Elthamians were within a converted try of winning the game and a nervous few minutes were in store for the Medway supporters. They needn't have worried as Medway played out the time intelligently in the Elthamians half and the referee's whistle blew on a most satisfying win by 10 - 16.
The game was won by the forwards. Joe Jelfs' scavenging and hunting down of the ball was as good as ever. Tom Barnes' running broke the gain line more often than not, and Jon Saddington's support play was exemplary. Special mention should go to the tight five. The front row of George Dyer, Billy James and Tom Moore were rock solid on Medway ball, and highly destructuve on the opposition's. The second row of Aaron Dimmick and Richard Petch (and Steve Lowery later in the game) covered every inch of mud, won plenty of lineout ball, and tackled their hearts out.
Man of the match: Richard Petch.
