Medway entertained league leaders Westcombe Park at Priestfields on Saturday. In good playing conditions the game kicked off with the home side playing into the breeze. Westcombe Park made the stronger start. Two early penalties against Medway and a couple of missed tackles saw the visitors score with just 2 minutes on the clock. 0-7. On 13 minutes Medway were defending deep in their half when a loose clearance kick provided the visitors with the space to counter attack, their left winger going over in the corner for an unconverted try. 0-12. As the game progressed Medway started to find their way into it. They retained possession well and with the scrummage going well exerted pressure of their own. However kicking opportunities at goal and touch went begging. Scrum half Cullen Daly was forced to leave the field for blood injury. Despite losing him for 10 minutes Medway continued to press. The visitors penalty count was climbing on the back of good work at the breakdown. After 9 successive penalties the visitors were fortunate to keep 15 players on the field. On 38 minutes Medway secured good position and the strong scrummaging platform allowed Medway to go wide and Max Bullock crashed over for the unconverted try 5-12. With the prospect of having the breeze at the back in the second half at only 5-12 down the visitors gave Medway lesson in focus and application. With the final play of the half Westcombe Park recovered possession and some missed tackles saw a clinical finish out wide with the try converted Medway went into half time 5-19 down!

The second half began with the breeze at Medway’s back. Medway secured good field position but a missed tackle saw the visitors winger make a fine run. Although tackled short of the line Medway concede a penalty. Westcombe Park opt to kick in the corner and a well executed line out saw them crash over for a converted try. 5-26.Medway now had a mountain to climb but did not give up. On 50 minutes a high tackle on Antony Clement finally saw Westcombe Park reduced to 14 men. From the penalty Medway gained good field position but turned the ball over, the visitors looked to clear their lines but failed to find touch. Good counter attack work from Tom Beaumont and Cullen Daly saw Lewis Stimpson on hand to drive over for an unconverted try. 10-26. On 60 minutes Medway won another penalty. The kick to touch saw Max Easton and Billy Sandison combine to win the ball. Good carries from Dan Huntley and Mo Pangarker gained good ground Daly and Jack Cohen combined to put the outside backs away with Alfie Orris going over in the corner for the unconverted try. 15-26 The latter stages of the game saw Medway striving to get the 4th try and 2 bonus points but it was the visitors who had the final say. A Westcombe Park line out close to the Medway line was won by them but Medway turned the ball over only to lose possession on their own line and Westcombe Park drove over to score and convert the try with the final act of the match.

Coach Taff Gwilliam said “Westcombe Park are a good, well organised side and deserved to win. That said I was really pleased with the improvement in our performance and this will provide the belief for the boys that they can compete at this level successfully”