aaaaaaand breathe...

The Cheetahs 1s secured a bonus-point win vs old rivals Canterbury 2 at Priestfields on Sunday 1 November having had to endure a barrage of the visitors' pressure and attacking intent.

A very grey morning and slippery ball were indicators that handling was going to be a challenge at times in this league encounter and that proved to be the case, with both teams exchanging knock-ons for the first 10 minutes. Medway looked to play wide into space but were shut down well by Canterbury's wide defence who were fired up from the outset.

In classic Medway style, after gaining the ascendancy in the scrum and breakdown the visitors struck out of nowhere and banked the first 7 points. Medway's response was instant though, with Marley cleaning out the unfortunate recipient of the restart, putting Medway on the front foot for our trademark quick recycling to find Louie running a hard line to scythe through the away defence for our opening score.

This was followed up within a matter of minutes by a similarly rampaging carry from skipper Hayden, playing his first minutes since his return from a back injury and right back to his best and Medway had turned the score around. A moment of magic from the flying Leonard down the right wing saw him deservedly get the luck of the bounce from a kick through and crucial support from Tommy saw the Cheetahs winger touch down.

The boot of the assured Liam saw Medway add 2 conversions to these scores as it felt like the frantic period may give way to some calm now Medway went over a score ahead. This was not to be however, as quick Canterbury hands from a solid lineout saw them find the slightest gap in the Medway midfield for a converted score under the posts - such was the clinical edge they possessed.

Never one to shy away from a now-trademarked bulldozing run, it was Seleem's determination that saw Medway score 5 more points just before the half-time whistle to make the score 24-14 at the break.

Medway knew they could not take anything for granted or let their focus drift, especially seeing Canterbury empty their bench of their "bomb squad" that they were able to enjoy with their 1s fixture rearranged. And so this proved to be for the entirety of the second half, with Medway needing to defend for the majority - barely leaving our own half.

Medway's set piece never faltered though as a platform for trying to settle and keep driving forward in rare periods of possession - the scrum was colossal and the lineout once more imperious. Canterbury's confidence and voices raised in volume though as they believed they were in the ascendancy and the pressure mounted on the Cheetahs as a result. Every route the visitors tried they were rebuffed with interest, both up front and across the powerful backs. Only once was the Medway line breached, leading to a nerve-wracking final 4 minutes. And so it proved for both sides, with emotions running high and both sides ending the match with a player in the bin having exchanged high tackles.

As tempers looked set to flare and things threatened to boil over, Medway's captains Hayden and Oscar came to the fore, as always standing tall, strong and united in calming their teammates and commanding discipline. They held the defensive line and led the scarlet and gold wall in their last push to repel the opposition on Medway's own 5 metre line, disrupting the visitors' final attack to close out a terrific contest.

The roar that accompanied the final whistle - both on and around pitch 6 - reverberated around Priestfields (and likely the wider Medway towns). Extremely gracious in defeat in the face of rare competition, Canterbury congratulated Medway on their win, with their hugely respected Head Coach giving special mention to Liam for his fierce defensive press of their 10 and his formidable tackling, citing the difference on the day as being Medway's "Legendary Defence"

Players' and Coaches' player of the match went to Leonard(o) and Freddie E respectively, and deservedly so given their terrific performances both with and without the ball. This was a victory though that owed credit to all 18 Cheetahs, each one of which needed to put in a huge shift and without everyone's contributions would not have been enough to take the spoils against top-tier opponents. On we go...