Super Bowl Winners
Great start...got better and finished fantastically. You can't get better than played two, won two, scored 60 points and conceded none. If only they hadn't fallen asleep for those middle two matches last week, they could've been playing for the Shield or even Cup. Kay Sarah Willoughby.
Sevenoaks B up first in the semi. The great Sevenoaks given a walloping by Medway! The match brought to a premature end five mins or so into the second half, as Medway chalked up 6 unanswered tries. Sidney Holland opened the scoring, before Alec Conway and Jordan Stubbington added two more before half time. No let up in the second half , as first Rebecca Wadhams (returning from injury) finished a fine passing move and then Stubbington got his hat-trick. But it wasn't all one way traffic. When they had to defend, Medway did so superbly. None more so than those tackle kings, Luke Robertson and Noah Hyde. Medway 30 - 0 Sevenoaks B.
Into the Final and up against Whitstable. Medway and Stubbington simply carried on their great work. Stubbington opened the scoring this time, before Robert Butler showed all the strength and grace of a gorilla with a power run straight down the middle. 10-0 to Medway. Stubbington then finished the ultimate kick and chase. Penned on their own try line, Oliver Woodward kicked the length of the pitch to drop the ball onto the Whitstable try line and it rolled slowly into the try zone. Who the Usain Bolt of Medway? Stubbington. He the man! To prove it he ran down the wing for his second hat-trick of the morning to make it 20-0. Joseph Earl and Oliver woodward added two more before this encounter too was ended prematurely. Medway won 30-0 again!
Last week, (and as in seasons past) they were good for a half or sometimes even a whole match, only to let themselves down in the second half or next match. No such inconsistency this week. Superb, start to finish. They've always been a good team capable of playing good rugby. Today they proved to themselves that they can be a great team and play great rugby. Super Bowl winners: Amrik Bains, Robert Butler, Alec Conway, Esme Conway, Joseph Earl, Connor Harmer, David Harris, Joe Hawkridge, Sidney Holland, Noah Hyde, Dan O'Brien, Luke Robertson, Jordan Stubbington, Rebecca Wadhams, Dominic Whittington and Oliver Woodward.
Kent Qualifying Tournament
Great start, even better finish, shame about the middle.
Notoriously slow starters, Medway actually won their opening group encounter 5-0 against Folkestone, in a match dominated by the evenly matched forwards and of few scoring opportunities. Sidney Holland touched down from the first opportunity and then their defence stood resolute: Oliver Woodward and Noah Hyde giving a demonsration of the art of tackling.
Perhaps it was the surprise of a confident, winning start to a tournament. Whatever it was, Medway seemed to go to sleep in their next two group encounters (Old Elthamians and TJs) conceding 11 tries and scoring none. But they did put up a fight in the second half against hosts and tournament favourites, TJs. There was life in them yet.
And so it proved. Through to the Bowl quarter finals (finishing third in their group) they defeated Sidcup 25-10. Robert Butler opened the scoring, before Jordan Stubbington touched down in the corner, following a great driving maul, to make it 10-0 at half-time. Thre was no resting on their laurels this time and Dan O'Brien scored a third early in the second half. A Joe Hawkridge break, supported by Stubbington who handed the easiest of tries to O'Brien. Butler and David Harris added two further tries. Job done:through to Finals Day next week.
If the carry on like they started and especially like they finished on Mothers Day, next week on Finals Day, could be their day. Come on Medway!
Medway v Gravesend
14 February 2010
Medway gold and red./Gravesend, white and blue./Medway at home./ Six tries all they drew./ A game of four quarters,/ And not three or a few./ Connor put Medway one up,/ And soon it was two:/ A Jordan Stubbington run,/ And Sidney followed through./ 'Send got one back,/ So, first quarter to Med - 1-2./ Second, Oliver didn't stop,/ A run of at least yards 52,/ Followed by his second./ 'Send got one back,/ So the score was 4-2./ 4-3, then 5-3,/ As Jordan got his number two./ 'Send come back to make it five all,/ Before Dan awakes and gets one too./ Last quarter, 6-5 Medway lead./ 'Send drew level and the final whistle blew./ Tough nuts 'Send, but Medway nearly got what they were due./ Great runs, all effort and heart, and great in parts./Tom Maberley made a good Medway debut./Oh, and Rob and Ben, Valentine sweethearts.
Medway Festival
4 October 2009
Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more...
So the few, the happy few, the band of brothers (and sister) played their opening matches of the season, just north of France, at Priestfields. Two teams of mixed abilities (the Hornets and the Wasps) went into battles, and fought 'til no fight was left in them: overcome by the sheer number of their opponents, and injuries.
The Wasps opened with a promising 16-0 victory over Maidstone: Jordan Stubbington, Sidney Holland, Oliver Woodward and David Harris breaching the Stone's defences. Barking proved a closer, tougher encounter, with Tom Collins' try not enough in an 8-4 loss. Aylesford then inflicted what seemed a mortal wound with a 16-0 win. But Andy the Fifth O'Connell rallied his troops and they saved their best 'til last. Starting with their last group encounter agains festival favourites, Sevenoaks, 13 Wasps showed their fighting spirit to hold their 14 strong opponents to just three tries: the referee obviously only has ten fingers and cannot be expected to count beyond that. Then in the Vase final they repelled wave after wave of attack from the New Ash Green men. They weren't going to be beaten ... ever. 0-0 the final score, they denied their opponents time after time, to earn the applause from appreciative opponents. A better defensive display won't be seen in our lifetimes.
Meantime, the Hornets started slowly, but improved steadily in a scoreless opening engagement against NAG. Gravesend proved too strong, beating the Hornets 16-0. Sittingbourne however, were dispatched 20-12 with a hat-trick from Robert Butler and a try apiece from Boo Wadhams and Bradley Chaplin. In their final group encounter against Upminster, fatigue and injuries took their toll and they went down fighting, 24-0. Barking awaited in the Bowl final and the Hornets did well to only lose 8-0.
So, the fewer the men, the greater share of honour. Outnumbered on and off the field (not for them the luxury of rolling subs), the feats they did today (Josh Kirwan an inch away from a try, Cameron Clarke tackling the opponent's big-boy and living to tell the tale, Adam Mumford and Shane O'Connell returning to the game after a few gap years), then shall their names familiar be in our mouths as household words. Those few that gave their all and more: Amrik Bains, Josh Kirwan, Sam Meadows, Tom Collins, David Harris, Sidney Holland, Oliver Woodward, Cameron Clark, Jordan Brown, Dan O'Brien, Jordan Stubbington, Joe Hawkridge, Matt Munday, Joe Earl, Shane O'Connell, Joe Coyd, Luke Robertson, Bradley Chaplin, Robert Butler, Esme Conway, Dominic Whittington, Noah Hyde, Alec Conway, Harry Cox, Adam Mumford and Boo Wadhams.