Medway U13 32 Canterbury U13 17
Sunday 4th December 2006
The rain almost prevented the match going ahead on Sunday but as the morning drew out conditions improved and the Medway Under 13’s entertained Canterbury Under 13’s on a very heavy pitch.
Canterbury started the stronger of the two sides having brought their development squad for a training/match day at Priestfields. Canterbury scored early on and converted the try. The home sides tackling then improved as did Medway’s attacking options and a superb individual try was taken by Jordan Gilvear, running at least half the length of the pitch, to score under the posts.
This was converted by the Captain Luke Gowdy to draw scores level. Canterbury then forced Medway to continue to defend time and time again against the Canterbury waves of attack with Canterbury eventually scoring a very good second try unconverted to take the score to 7-10 at half time.
At the change Medway enjoyed the benefits of a wind and bright sunshine on their backs and began to play a more flowing and fluid game.
Some excellent kicking for field play by Charlie Wardzynski allowed the Medway forwards to press Canterbury back in their own half and Wardzynski then rounded a move off through the hands of Sam Nicholls and Sam Cornell to score himself which went unconverted.
The Medway forwards then began to dominate and secured plenty of ball for the backs to cut loose with Lewis Marriott scoring a wonderful try with a step inside to beat the cover and to dive for the line, again unconverted.
Matthew Kennedy was the pick of the forwards who continued to work very hard and then Dominic French who worked tirelessly as a flanker and as a centre in the second half (many positional changes were made by Medway as it was a development day) scored two good tries successively following a long series of pressure by Medway.
No further conversions were secured by Medway and then up stepped Robert Josling who completed a rehearsed backs move taking the ball at pace, running at a space in the Canterbury defence and effectively sealing the victory for Medway.
All credit must go to the Canterbury boys who would not concede the game easily, fought back to score the last try of the day, a deserved try from a penalty, to complete the game, Medway 32 points Canterbury 17 points.
Upminster U13 0 Medway U13 7
Following the U13 trip to London Wasps training academy day where
Medway's U13
squad met French captain Raphael Ibanez then England player Matt Corker
and secured autographs from England stars Phil Vickery, Alex king and Josh
Lewsey, Medway U13's anticipated their first premiership match. The
Medway boys then enjoyed a photograph on London Wasps Pitch before the
game with Ibanez and Corker.
The U13's then put into practice the world class coaching, they had received
and secured a victory against a very strong Upminster side, 0 - 7 on Sunday
12th November after a solemn two minutes silence....lest we forget.
Medway started with the slope and some fierce tackling from Aaron Thompson
and the backs kept a surgant Upminster from scoring. Kiera Edmeads
then set the Medway travellers alight and scored from a move he began that
moved through the hands of George Simpson, Ben Wellard, Sam Nicholls and
Lewis Marriott.
Luke Gowdy then converted well to end the first half 0pts-7pts to Medway.
Upminster had the slope now and were determined to score. Fly half
Charlie Wardzynski retired hurt and the Captain Gowdy held the
fort at 10.
Coach Mark Marriott was forced to change tactic and a tighter Medway game
saw the forward power begin to show with Liam Fitzpatrick, Dominic French
and Fergus Stewart everywhere. Matthew Kennedy, George Simpson,
Ben Wellard, Tom Whitnell and the rest of the team tackled, tackled and
tackled some more to hold Upminster out. A great Win with true
Medway spirit and
sportsmanship at the fore.
Medway under 13s bounced back from their defeat to Old Colfeans with a fine victory over Maidstone.
Medway Cougars dominated much of the play, but this did not deter a hard working Maidstone who never gave up.
The Cougars, scored tries through Liam Fitzpatrick, Jordan Gilvear, Kieran Edmeades, Charlie Wardzynski, Ben Wellard, Fergus Stewart and Luke Gowdy. Gowdy and Dominic French converted seven trys to give them a score of 57 points. Both teams showed some excellent sportsmanship during the joint training session and the match.
Medway under 13s battle to draw their first game of the season
Medway Rugby Club under 13s kicked their season off with a home draw against old rivals Thurrock. In a match of contrasting halves Medway fought back from 4 tries down to level the match.
With some missed tackles from the home side Thurrock grabbed the first try of the game. Charlie Wardzynski led from the centre with some excellent cross field kicking and some hard tackling from new player Kuldip Shokar, but a try eluded them and they found themselves 22 points down.
The second half saw a more aggressive side as they picked up their game. The first try came from Nick Hardinges on his debut, which kick started a Medway comeback. With more possession of the ball and well-executed passes Aaron Thompson scored the second try.
Throughout the second half the forward pack continued to hold off a physical opposition with a strong performance from Luca Syplywczak. It was only a matter of time before the third try came from winger, Jordan Gilvear, with a surging run through the centre and Luke Gowdy converted to bring them to within a try to level the match.
Medway fought back hard to gain a fourth try through Aaron Thompson, but they ran out of time to find the winning try. This was a positive start with lots to work on for the season ahead.