Medway Rugby Football Club

Kent Festival FInals Day

Medway's under 12s trip to Tonbridge Juddians on Sunday for their last games of the season resulted in a frustrating end to the rugby season. Sunday saw the semis and finals for the under 12s Kent Festival and with Medway qualifying for the cup competition after the qualifying rounds, their semi final was against their old rivals, Sevenoaks. As was expected, this was a close fought match with the final result being a win to Sevenoaks after a golden try was scored in extra time.

The start of the semi saw an evenly matched game with neither side gaining much ground, but a great kick from Aaron Robertson from a scrum saw Medway gain possession and Elliott Barnes scored the only try in this half after some fantastic teamwork saw the backs pass along the line to score. As was expected, Sevenoaks came back at Medway and their strong forwards pushed our boys back, but despite good tackling by Will Munday to stop their fast full back and further accurate kicking into touch by Robertson neither side were able to score again in this half. The second half saw great play by Barnes and a brave charge down after a Sevenoaks kick by Sean Marriott saw Medway in control initially but Sevenoaks were not going to give up. Further fearless tackling by both Marriott and Barnes saw Medway firmly in control for most of the second half but a determined Sevenoaks kept their heads and sheer determination and strength saw them score a try two minutes before the final whistle, resulting in the situation everyone dreads- extra time with the first to score going through to the final! Despite encouragement from the Medway parents and one of the infamous team talks by the coaches, Sevenoaks seemed to have a new lease of life and Medway were quickly forced to play defensively and despite Robertson giving it his best to stop a Sevenoaks forward from scoring he dived for the line, giving his team the chance to play and subsequently win the Kent Festival.

As part of the festival it was then another game with the two losers in the semis playing each other to determine third and fourth places and this saw Medway up against Old Colfeians and a loss for Medway to the tune of 4-1. A dejected Medway side saw them start the game with very little effort and the opposition took advantage of this to score three tries in this half alone, but the Medway boys started to wake up and great tackling by Josh Rann and Marriott saw the Medway we expect by the end of the first half. The second half saw Rann and James Evans getting stuck in, but a dangerous high tackle that resulted in an Old Colfeians player being sent off, saw Evans injured and unable to play further. Medway were further frustrated by the referee not allowing a try by Piers Carpenter because he could not see whether the ball was held up, but Carpenter persevered and scored our only try in this game. Sadly, an exhausted Medway side again missed the chance to tackle a fast opponent who went onto score again and the Medway boys were pleased when the final whistle blew, giving them the chance to support and cheer on Sevenoaks in the final against Dartfordians.

Despite a frustrating end to this season all those involved in the under 12s should be proud of their achievements this year and be looking forward to moving in to Youth Rugby next season. You are all a truly great team and an asset to the club and your faithful supporters wish you more success next season!!!

Pictures

Cup Winners at the Westcombe Park Festival

20 April 2008

Medway under 12s travelled to Westcombe Park on Sunday to compete in their annual festival and were unbeaten in five games to win the Cup.

Their first group game was against Folkestone and they won this game 3-1. Initially the game was well matched but Medway slowly warmed up and good play by Alfie James and Miles Huppatz in turning over the ball when the opposition had control, saw Medway in control. A great kick by Aaron Robertson saw Folkestone pushed back and a strong run and a try by Josh Rann saw Medway 1-0 up at half time. The second half saw good tackling by Josh Rann and a try for Elliott Barnes followed by a try for Folkestone. Medway kept their cool and good tackling by Elliott Barnes and a strong forwards pack saw the final try of this game being scored by Aaron Robertson to bring the final score of 3-1 to Medway.

The second game saw the same score of 3-1 to Medway against Old Colfeians, with Medway being caught completely off guard and Old Colfeians scoring in the opening minute. However, a determined side did not let this deter them and Richard Harris ran half the pitch at pace to score Medway's opening try. The forwards were again outstanding in this game and used their strength and skill to drive the opposition back and with good tackling by Robertson and Rann and fast running by Harris, Medway took control of the first half. The second half saw a fast strong run by Alex Saddington and our forwards driving the ball towards the line until they passed it out to Sean Marriott to score. Good tackling by James Evans and Piers Carpenter and a fast thinking steal by Barnes who passed to Robertson to score, saw the final score of 3-1 to Medway.

The third and final group game saw the game being stopped after Medway went 6-1 up against Westcombe Park B. Tries were scored by Rann, Harris and Carpenter in the first half The second half saw a try for Alex Saddington followed by a Westcombe Park try and then two more tries by Medway scored by Kaine Dimech and Harris.

The three wins in the group stages saw Medway go through to the cup competition as clear group winners and after an hour and a half wait for the next game they met Bretwood in the semi final. This game was by far their best game of the day and they beat Brentwood 3-0. An unlucky Brentwood side thought they had scored in the opening play of the game but they were not quite there. However, this saw Medway determined not to give the opposition this chance again and Harris caught the ball after a great kick from Robertson to score their first try. The remainder of this half saw Medway in control and another try for Medway thanks to a strong run by Robertson and a pass to Saddington to score. Great teamwork by Harris and Saddington saw them close to the try line but the half time whistle went. The seond half saw Miles Huppatz thinking he had scored but the ref not giving the try as he could not see whether it was held up. Medway continued to put the opposition under pressure and outstanding teamwork saw Sean Marriott nearly reach the try line but the final try was scored by Saddington to put Medway into the final.

The final saw them competing against Blackheath, a strong side they knew would give them a great game of rugby. The first half saw Medway under pressure for much of the time but they kept their heads. However, a lucky bounce from a line out saw a quick thinking Blackheath player score the only try of this half. After some words of wisdom from the coaches at half time, a more determined Medway side emerged and a strong run by Barnes and a fast dodging run by Rann saw Medway nearly score but the ball being held up. Richard Harris soon scored Medway's first try after a great run at pace nearly the length of the pitch and Barnes was unlucky to have a try disallowed soon after. An accurate kick by Robertson saw Piers Carpenter score the second and final try of this game and Medway continued to play well to keep the score at 2-1 to Medway to win the Cup.

The proud parents and coaches would like to say a massive well done to all the boys and wish them Good Luck at the finals of the Kent Festival next week. Let's win again!!!!

Pictures

Medway v Westcliff and Romford

Medway travelled to Westcliff, in Essex, at the weekend to play both the hosts and Romford.

Medway emerged clear winners of the game against Romford with a score of 19-0. Elliott Barnes scored in the opening minutes but the conversion attempt was not successful. This first half saw Romford putting pressure on Medway but good tackling from Josh Rann and Luke Collins saw the score stay at 5-0 going into half time. The second half saw much better play by Medway with good play by Richard Harris, Barnes and Aaron Robertson but an unlucky drop of the ball by Harris saw Medway struggling to improve the scoreline. However, after great tackling by Sean Marriott and Mitchal Wray being strong to keep hold of the ball, the ball was spun along the backs for Rann to score bringing the score to 10-0, and a conversion by Barnes saw the score at 12-0. This saw a more confident side and Sean Marriott was the next to score, followed by a conversion by Harris to bring the final score to 19-0 to Medway.

The second game saw a close loss for Medway to the tune of 14-7 to Westcliff. From the start Medway put Westcliff under pressure and Robertson soon scored a try, only to be told by the ref that he could not see if the ball was over the line! A hard and physical game then saw Barnes being taken off injured after a knock to the head and a very strong Westcliff forwards pack saw Medway having to play defensively, but good kicking under pressure by Robertson saw Westcliff pushed back. Alex Saddington played well in this half as did Alfie James but Medway could not make it to the try line to score leaving the score at 0-0 at half time. The second half saw Medway caught off guard and Westcliff scored their first try and conversion and despite great tackles by Mac Halmkan, Marriott and Robertson, Westcliff used their strong forwards to keep control and to score a further 7 points. Medway however regrouped and didn't give up, resulting in Richard Harris spotting a gap in the opposition's defence to run three quarters of the length of the pitch to score and convert leaving the final score at 14-7 to the hosts.

Kent Festival Qualifiers

What a fantastic display of rugby at the qualifiers for the Kent Festival at Blackheath this weekend!!!

Medway under 12s travelled to Blackheath on Sunday to play their group matches and the quarter final game before the semis and finals are held next week at Tonbridge Juddians. The first group game they played was against Old Elthamians and Medway won 4-0. From the off, Medway dominated the game and the Medway forwards were powerful, driving their opponents off the ball. Mitchel Wray and Elliott Barnes were strong and a fast run by Alex Saddington saw him the first to score. The second try of this half was scored by Elliott Barnes after our powerful forwards drove Old Elthamians back into their own half. The ball was then passed out to Aaron Robertson to make good ground before passing to Barnes to score. The second half saw Sean Marriott score in less than a minute of play when he saw a gap in the opposition's defence and this was followed by great tackling by Alfie James and Barnes keeping Medway in control. Good ground was made by both Richard Harris and Ollie Brookes in this half and Alex Saddington was unlucky not to score again ,but a pass from Harris to Mitchel Wray saw him nearly over the line but a quick pass to Robertson saw him touch the ball down to score.

The next game against Beckenham B saw an even better win for Medway with a score of 5-0 to Medway. The first half saw a slow start for Medway with some of the aggression they had shown in the previous game missing, resulting in only one of the tries scored in the first half.

Will Munday made a fantastic run before being tackled and a great pass to Hadley O'Connor saw him nearly score, but the try eventually came thanks to a pass to Robertson from a line out who made good ground before passing to Harris on the wing to score. The second half saw a totally different Medway side however, and accurate, well timed passing along the backs saw a try for Alex Saddington. Robertson then scored the next two tries, the second after running half the length of the pitch and this was finally followed by a further try for Harris resulting from a strong driving maul and a pass from Robertson to Harris.

The final game of the group was probably the hardest game of the day and saw a win for Medway against Sidcup to the tune of 3-1. Initially Medway were strong and Aaron Robertson scored, but started to slow down slightly in this first half allowing Sidcup to score their only try of this game. However, they were close to scoring a second try in this half but a fantastic tackle by Hadley O'Connor stopped the opponents from scoring. After a half time chat with the coaches the Medway that we have come to expect were back with a vengeance and outstanding teamwork and passing saw Richard Harris score. The final try was scored by Saddington again after good hands saw accurate passing to get the ball to him on the wing to score.

Three wins out of three saw Medway competing in the quarter finals as winners of the group. Their opponents, Old Alleynians, are one of the best sides that they have played season after season since the age of seven, so they knew that they would have to play the best rugby they could, and that is exactly what they did. The first half saw a well matched game with great tackling by Dominic Kempt and good support by Alfie James but neither side could break through their opponents solid defence. The second half saw much of the same well matched play with the possession of the ball going from one team to the other with neither side able to score despite determination on both sides. The final whistle of the game saw a 0-0 draw and the rule book consulted as to what to do next, as at this stage only one team could go through to the semi final next week. This saw five minutes extra time being played with the first team to score being declared winners. Both sides put in maximum effort and a well matched five minutes ensued with Medway thinking they had scored only to be told by the referee that the try did not count as the ball was held up, the extra time saw the score still at 0-0! The next step was to remove a back and a forward from each team and play a further five minutes with the first to score winning or, failing this, the toss of a coin would decide who would go through to the semis and finals next week. Outstanding tackling by Saddington and Miles Huppatz saw Old Alleynians players prevented from scoring and the opponents were disappointed to have a try disallowed after an Old Alleynians player broke through Medway's defence but handed off in the process resulting in the try being disallowed. Both teams knew that this 0-0 draw at the end of two lots of extra time saw the decision resting on the toss of a coin and Medway were jubilant, as were their proud parents, when the toss went Medway's way seeing them go through to play Sevenoaks in the semi next week at Tonbridge Juddians!!!!!!!!!!

A huge congratulations to the whole team and the best of luck in what we know will be tough matches next week! A big thanks should also go to the proud supportive parents that cheered their boys on at the weekend and we know if our nerves can take it we will be there again next week to cheer them on.

Team: Miles Huppatz, Elliott Barnes, Alfie James, Aaron Robertson, Sean Marriott, Alex Saddington, Josh Rann, Dominic Kempt, Will Munday, Jordan Attis, Niall Coyle, Hadley O'Connor, Mitchel Wray, Richard Harris, Ollie Brookes

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Medway v Canterbury and Westcliff

Medway under-12s travelled to sunny but windy Canterbury on Sunday and came home victorious. Medway played both the hosts and another visiting side, Westcliff and won both games.

The first game saw Medway beat Canterbury 1-0 in a very close and well matched game. The start of this game saw a fired up Medway and they shocked Canterbury when Aaron Robertson scored the first try within the opening two minutes of the game. This was the only try of the game however, as Canterbury came back at Medway with determination but they could not break through Medway's defence. Good tackling in this half from Alfie James and Robertson along with some fast and dodging runs by players such as Josh Rann and Sean Marriott saw Medway in control but Canterbury soon replied with good teamwork and the remainder of the first half saw a more well matched game of rugby. The second half saw Medway having to play more defensively against a Canterbury side that were keen to win but with good passing from Rann and Robertson and great kicking under pressure from Elliott Barnes, they managed to hold on to their lead and emerged winners.

The second game saw Medway win 4-2 against Westcliff. The first try was scored by Aaron Robertson after our strong forwards pack drove the ball towards the try line and then passed out to Robertson to dive over the line to score. This try was quickly followed by a try for Richard Harris and despite some fantastic passing along the Medway backs, Westcliff saw a gap in Medway's defence to score their first try. Medway kept their heads and Richard Harris went on to score two more tries in this half to bring the total to four. The second half saw a change of players for Westcliff and another try for the opponents, but Medway's determination to win this game saw a frustrated Westcliff side unable to score any more tries despite being inches from scoring. Medway however had other ideas kept their heads and prevented Westcliff from scoring.

Well done to the boys! Two games against two strong sides and two wins!!!!

Pictures

Medway v Thurrock and Braintree

3 February 2008

Medway under 12s travelled to a cold and very windy Thurrock RFC in Essex on Sunday, to play two games; one against the hosts and the other against Braintree. The boys displayed some outstanding rugby at times, especially in the second game and finished the morning winning both games.

The first game against Thurrock saw a very shaky start for Medway and mistakes that would not normally be made by Medway were occurring, giving Thurrock the first opportunity to score and then convert putting them 7-0 up in the first couple of minutes of play. Medway immediately came back at Thurrock and Aaron Robertson scored the only Medway try in this half but was unsuccessful in his conversion attempt putting the scores at 7-5 to Thurrock. Despite good tackling by Elliott Barnes in this half the powerful forwards pack of Thurrock saw them score and convert their second try of the game resulting in a score of 14-5 to Thurrock at the end of the first half. However, team talk at half time and more concentration in the second half saw Medway turn the game around in their favour. With a fired up Sean Marriott making good ground for Medway and Richard Harris scoring his first try in this half, but Elliott Barnes missing the conversion, saw the score at 14-10 to Thurrock. Medway knew that they had to step up their defence to stop the opposition from scoring, at the same time as scoring at least one more try to win the game and that is exactly what they did. Accurate passing along the backs and a fantastic run by Hadley O'Connor saw Thurrock struggling to gain control of the game. Alex Saddington was unlucky not to make it to the try line on a couple of occasions after a James Evans' kick under pressure, but Richard Harris succeeded in scoring earning five points to bring the final score of the game to a close 15-14 to Medway. With tackling from players such as Ollie Brooks and a determined Dominic Kempt, who at one time was sandwiched amongst about six players from both sides trying to rip the ball from him! Medway kept their heads and the score stayed at 15-14 to Medway.

The second game of the day against Braintree saw the outstanding rugby that we have come to expect from Medway and a resounding win for Medway to the tune of 21-0. A new player, Hunter, was held up and unlucky not to score after great passing along the backs in the opening minutes but Medway regrouped and Aaron Robertson scored the first try with a conversion by James Evans putting Medway 7-0 up. Fantastic teamwork and passing by Will Munday and better kicking by Robertson saw a strong forwards' drive towards the line and then out to Barnes to allow him to score, followed by the conversion by James Evans giving a score of 14-0 to Medway. A fast O'Connor saw Braintree pushed back into their own half but despite Braintree's efforts towards the end of this first half, Medway stayed firmly in control. The start of the second half saw good Robertson tackles but then the game had to pause for some time to allow Cameron Thomas to be tended to, after a high tackle that deserved a sending off by a Braintree player. Medway did not let this put them off though, and replied with a Robertson try after a dive over the line and a conversion by Robertson saw the final score of 21-0 to Medway!

This Sunday saw a mixture of some unexpected errors but more importantly some outstanding rugby again by the boys, resulting in two wins against Essex sides that they might not regularly encounter during the rugby year.

Well Done to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Medway v Sevenoaks

27 January 2008

This Sunday's visit to Sevenoaks RFC saw two forty minute games with the A team playing fantastic rugby against probably one of the best sides they get to play during the season, and a B team consisting of some very new players, in fact it was the first game of rugby for some, showing great promise.

The A team game against Sevenoaks saw Medway two tries and two conversions down at half time, but the half time coaching tips saw some of the best rugby played by Medway all season to bring the final score to three tries a piece but with Medway only successful in one of their conversion attempts. The first part of the first half saw a mainly well matched game with both sides putting their opponents under pressure and forcing errors, but despite good tackling by the likes of Elliott Barnes and Richard Harris, Sevenoaks scored their first try and conversion after an Aaron Robertson kick was charged down by a Sevenoaks player inches from the line. Hadley O'Connor stopped the Sevenoaks scrum half from scoring but Sevenoaks' full back, an extremely fast and strong player saw his chance to break the Medway defence and Sevenoaks' second try and conversion was scored in this first half. Sevenoaks continued on the attack in this first half but determined defence and great tackling by players such as Ollie Brooks, Sean Marriott and Miles Huppatz saw no change to the score at half time. The second half saw a more positive Medway side and Elliott Barnes was the first to score a try in the opening two minutes of this half, with James Evans being unlucky to narrowly miss the conversion attempt. Sevenoaks immediately replied and their full back again ran almost the length of the pitch, only to be stopped by a Robertson tackle but Sevenoaks kept control and went on to score and convert their final try of the game. Medway kept their heads and the rest of this half saw a Sevenoaks side having to play defensively for the rest of the game with Medway very much in control. The next try scored was thanks to a stunning run by Harris of half the pitch, but sadly Robertson could not convert. Josh Rann made good ground for his team and Marriott nearly made it to the try line but team work and commitment saw accurate passing along the backs for Harris to score again and a conversion for Robertson to finish the game.

 

The B team game saw a first half where Sevenoaks B dominated despite great tackling by Dominic Kempt and the B team captain, Will Munday playing great rugby and displaying good kicking under pressure. A fired up Philip Coultrip, pushing players off the ball and a strong Mac Halmkan saw Medway starting to get stronger by the end of the first half, but Sevenoaks had already scored five tries by the half time whistle. This score did not deter this team though and a side with a much more positive attitude saw only two more tries for Sevenoaks but three tries for Medway thanks to Miles Huppatz, Josh Rann and James Rowan with many of our new players showing encouraging potential.

This weekend saw not only enjoyable and exciting rugby for the spectators against a well drilled opposition, but it showed yet again the determination of Medway Under 12s when under pressure and how keeping focused, good teamwork and a positive attitude can change the final outcome of a game of rugby.

More pictures

Medway v Old Elthamians and Maidstone

20 January 2008

Medway under 12s travelled to a windy and muddy Old Elthamians ground this weekend in order to play the hosts and another visiting side, Maidstone. The first game against Maidstone saw a mixed team of old heads and some new Medway blood against Maidstone and a win for Medway of 29-0. Maidstone put out a strong forwards pack and were an even match for our mixed team, but following a pressurised attack and a well worked move from the base of the scrum, Josh Rann scored the first try of the game, putting Medway in the lead at 5-0. The forwards continued to put pressure on Maidstone gaining a scrum five yards from the Maidstone line, with scrum half, Will Munday picking up from the base of the scrum and scoring, bringing the score to 10-0 to Medway. The next try came from quick hands and great running by the backs resulting in Richard Harris scoring the next try of the game, increasing the score to 15-0 to Medway. Aaron Robertson was the next to score, followed by a successful conversion kick by Robertson, bring score to 22-0. Continuing pressure from the Medway forwards led to Elliott Barnes scoring the last try of this game after some great mauling, and with a conversion by Roberson this resulted in the fantastic win for Medway of 29-0.

The second game of the day against Old Elthamians saw Medway putting out a team of the more experienced players and another win for Medway to the tune of 17-5. Old Elthamians were quick off the mark, catching the Medway boys off guard and scoring their only try in the opening minutes, from a scrum ten yards out putting Old Elthamians in the lead 5-0. Medway soon equalised thanks to Alex Saddington intercepting an Old Elthamians pass and running 40 metres to score, making the score 5-5 and with a Jmaes Evans conversion the score stood at 7-5 to Medway. Alex Saddington scored again after great mauling work by the forwards led by Elliott Barnes increasing the lead to 12-5 to Medway. Medway kept their heads and showed great determination , competing well inall areas. Miles Huppatz wasthe final person to score from continued pressure on Old Elthamians line bringing the final score to 17-5 to Medway.

Medway showed great teamwork and commitment to the game this weekend and came away with two well deserved wins!! Well Done.

New Year Cup

6 Jamuary 2008

This weekend saw Medway under 12s visiting Beckenham for the annual New Year Cup competition against the hosts and Blackheath. This competition is always a close and competitive meeting and unfortunately for Medway under 12s, the scores didn't go their way in two out of the three games.

The first game saw the first defeat for Medway, with Blackheath A beating Medway A 1-0. The first half saw Blackheath in control most of the time and Medway having to play defensively. Good tackling by players such as Sean Marriott, Aaron Robertson, Jordan Attis and Miles Huppatz saw Blackheath being prevented from scoring in this half and Richard Harris was unlucky not to make it to the try line for Medway being tackled in to touch seconds before the whistle was blown. The second half was more evenly matched with a Medway side taking on the words of wisdom from the coaches at half time and playing more of the standard of rugby we have come to expect of this side. Elliott Barnes won the ball from a strong opposition forwards pack and the ball was passed along the backs to the wing but again Harris could not break through the strong Blackheath defence and Blackheath took advantage of a mistake by Medway to score the only try of the game after running half the length of the pitch to score.

The second game saw another loss for Medway, 2-0 to Beckenham. The first half saw a fast Beckenham player score the first try of the game after catching the boys unaware. Medway soon regrouped however, and the rest of this first half was more evenly matched but the strong forwards pack of Beckenham saw them score their next try after driving the ball over the line. The seond half saw Dominic Kempt nearly scoring but stopped by a high tackle from the opposition and Alex Saddington stopped Beckenham from scoring again when a fast player got away.

The third and final game saw Medway B up against Blackheath B and a win for Medway of 2-0. Cameron Thomas played well and Medway soon scored their first try thanks to Aaron Robertson. Sean Marriott was fired up and playing well as was Luke one of our newer players and Robertson soon scored again after Marriott took control and ran most of the pitch before passing to Robertson to score. The second half saw a switch of players and this half saw good end to end play. Kempt played well and Josh Rann did a great ackle to stop a Blackheath plyer at pace. Jordan Attis also nearly made it to the try line after a strong powerful run.

A mixed bag of results in games that generally are well matched and competitive but sadly for Medway the final scores did not go their way in this annual event. Better luck next year!!

Medway v Aylesford

Medway travelled to Aylesford this week looking forward to some hard rugby against good opposition and we were not disappointed.The theme off the morning was to play two matches an A team followed by the B team with some new players making their first real impact into the squad.The A team game was played on what must be the smallest pitch we shall ever encounter, however this did not stop medway producing some their best rugby of the season.From the start medway were dominant in all areas Ruck ,maul ,defence and their attacking play was a pleasure to watch.the first try was scored by Aaron Robertson from a great break in his own half beating a number of players scoring in the corner,this was quickly followed with a try from Elliot "tank" Barnes who stole the ball from a maul broke down the blindside and scored from twenty yards out.A penalty was given to medway twenty yards out the famous suicide move was called executed to perfection resulting in another try for Robertson.this was followed by a try from a storming run from Richard Harris. Some slick passing through the backs gave one of our newer boys his try with Niall scorning deep in the second half. Another slick passing move through the backs gave Richard Harris another try rounding the afternoon off for the A squad seven trys to nil (7-0).

The B squad was a mixture of very new players and some of the older heads! But what a great performance from the team, inspired from the A team performance the Bs came out all guns blazing and went at Aylesford putting them under pressure from the off.The first try was scored by "Tank" Barnes this was followed by a try from Aylesford then another from Barnes who was really encouraging and leading the new lads on.Phillip Coultrip worked very hard in the second row hitting rucks and mauls with real gust ow.A new player by the name of MAC scored his first try after stealing their lineout ball and charging over for a try.This was a very even game with Aylesford making a few changes to strengthen their team Fizzy Rand finished off the Medway scoring but it was not enough as we ran out 5-4 losers but in rugby terms we were winners in most departments, a great mornings Rugby was enjoyed by all after some poor weather and under performing displays this was a great morning to watch and coach , well done to all the lads.Tom Pete and Geoff

Medway v Old Colfeians and Sevenoaks

This Sunday saw two loses for Medway under 12s in strong winds and torrential rain at Old Colfeians ground. They played the hosts first and were unlucky to lose 3-2 after a last minute try from the opposition. The first half saw a try for Richard Harris after Aaron Robertson made good ground to set him up for the try. The second half saw a fired up Old Colfeians side and they soon scored two tries. Aaron Robertson then scored our second try of this match but Old Colfeians responded with another try on the full time whistle.

The second game saw even more of a disappointment for Medway with a loss of 3-0 to Sevevoaks, a well drilled keen side. Medway were under pressure from the start of this match and were not strong enough defensively today to stop Sevenoaks scoring two tries in the first half. The second half saw another try for Sevenoaks despite Medway playing much better in defence, but Medway could not crack Sevenoaks and finished with another game lost.

Medway v Old Alleynians and Blackheath, 4 November 2007

Medway under 12s travelled away this weekend to play games against Blackheath and Old Alleynians. They played four games, winning three of them, against two sides that are known for their high standards of rugby, so to win three matches against such well drilled and disciplined sides shows how Medway are growing from strength to strength at the moment.

The first game played, saw Medway play Old Alleynians A team and a win for Medway of 2-0. As expected this was a hard fought and well matched game. Medway kept their cool and their determination to win showed in all members of the team. The first half saw great tackling from Josh Rann and Miles Huppatz and Elliott Barnes nearly made it to the line but was tackled. However Alex Saddington took his chance to score after a great pass from Barnes to put Medway 1-0 up just before half time. The second half saw good tackling by the likes of Elliott Barnes, James Evans and Niall Coyle with Richard Harris scoring the second try after a powerful kick from Aaron Robertson saw Elliott Barnes chase the ball and pass to Harris to score. Old Alleynians never gave up and were unfortunate to have a try disallowed after being held up but Medway kept their heads and strong defensive play saw this fantastic result for Medway.

The second game saw a Medway side consisting mainly of new players and some long standing members against Blackheath B, and a win of 3-0 to Medway. Mitchell Wray was the first to score and with good tackling from Oliver Brooks and lots of effort by players such as Cameron Underwood together with good kicking by Will Munday, Medway stayed in control for much of the first half. The second half saw a disappointed Josh Rann, after having a try disallowed but Medway kept their heads and Miles Huppatz scored the next try followed by a try for Aaron Robertson after a pass from Dominic Kempt.

The next game saw Medway facing Blackheath A and winning 1-0 in, as expected, a very close and hard fought game. Both sides showed fantastic teamwork with their passing and Medway nearly scored after a powerful forwards drive towards the line but were held back. They regrouped however, and skillful passing along the backs saw Kempt scoring the only try of this game out on the wing. Sean Marriott put in some crunching tackles on an unsuspecting scrum half as did James Evans, to try and prevent the opponents from scoring. The second half saw a fired up Blackheath side who nearly scored in the opening minutes of this half but were tackled into touch. This half was even closer in terms of control but good kicking by Robertson and relentless tackling by Marriott saw Medway maintain the score of 1-0 by the time the final whistle blew.

The final game of the morning saw our Medway mixed side against Old Alleynians B and our only loss of the day, 2-0 to the opposition. The first half saw a 0-0 scoreline thanks in part to great defensive play by Rann, Evans, Phillip Coultrip and a new player Mack Halmkan. Lauren Wenbourne was unlucky not to score in this half after being tackled close to the try line as was James Evans. The second half saw a stronger Old Alleynians side and they quickly scored their first try but Medway never gave up and strong tackling by Niall Coyle and Marriott saw the opponents scoring only one more try in this half. Will Munday kicked well under pressure and Rann and Kempt also worked hard to keep control and prevent any more tries being scored.

This Sunday was a highly entertaining morning of rugby with all teams showing great maturity in their playing. Determination and outstanding teamwork against two disciplined and strong sides saw another exciting morning of rugby for Medway and proud parents yet again!!!

Gravesend v Medway, 28 October 2007

This Sunday saw a local fixture for Medway against Gravesend. Medway played two games against the opposition and won both games.

The first game saw a 2-0 win for Medway. Gravesend played well, with a very strong forwards pack initially, and the first half saw no scores but some excellent play by Richard Harris kept Medway in control. Both Philip Coultrip and Miles Huppatz were key players in this half. A good kick by Aaron Robertson and a keen Jordan Attis saw Medway keeping their heads and defending well but unable to score in this half. The second half saw both sides keen to score and with determination Aaron Robertson scored the first try in this half and with great tackling by Sean Marriott and Robertson, Medway were able to score again thanks to Sean Marriott.

The second game saw a fired up Gravesend and from the start of the first half Medway were put under pressure with Gravesend being the first to score. Medway did not score in the first half but by the end of the match were winners by a close 2-1 result. After some words of wisdom from the coaches Medway came out much stronger and intent on scoringin the second half. Marriott put massive pressure on the opposition's scrum half at put ins and Medway had control most of this half. It was thanks to a great run, half the length of the pitch, by Robertson to get the scoring going and Niall Coyle, a new player, scored soon after. Despite some more strong play by Gravesend, Medway kept their heads and the final score was 2-1 in Medway's favour.

The weekend saw several new players welcomed to the team and some established players absent but Medway's teamwork and encouragement of one another saw a great morning's rugby and two more wins under their belts. Well Done.

Upminster Festival, 14 October 2007

This Sunday saw Medway RFC visiting Upminster in Essex for their annual Minis Festival. As expected from Essex teams, Medway played five very physical and tough games against some very strong sides. They performed fantastically well, going through to the final for the cup but sadly coming up against a team that appeared to be full of energy and enthusiasm when the Medway team were flagging! The final result being 3-0 to the opposition, Colchester.

The first game against Westcliff saw our first win of 2-1. Elliott Barnes was first to score after charging down a kick from Westcliff and then diving on the ball to score a try. Josh Rann made some good tackles but at half time the game could have gone either way, despite Medway putting up a strong fight against a team that played a very physical game. The second half saw Medway under pressure from the outset and despite some good defending Westcliff were the next to score. Medway fought back using their passing along the line that they now do so well and it wasn't long before Richard Harris was able to score the second try after Medway's famous suicide move was executed, giving Medway the first win of the day.

The second game saw an even closer result of 1-0 to Medway against Chelmsford. Another tough start saw an unlucky fumble by a Chelmsford player, which was seized upon by Barnes to steal the ball and pass to Harris to score. Chelmsford nearly scored in this first half but our powerful forwards pack pushed the opposition back. The second half saw much of the same hard work and defending for Medway to stop this strong side from scoring, but stop them they did resulting in another win for Medway.
The third game saw a slightly easier game for Medway with a 4-0 result to Medway against Westcombe Park. Harris was unlucky to have his try disallowed in the opening seconds when he touched down from the initial kick-off but Medway quickly regrouped and Aaron Robertson scored, Miles Huppatz was next to score after a strong drive to take the ball over the line. The second half saw Harris score another try and Robertson scored a second also after running most of the length of the pitch.

The final pool game saw Medway up against the hosts Upminster and a draw at 0-0. A well drilled Medway side used their teamwork to try an score but despite some great play by forwards such as Alfie James, Medway went into half time with a score of 0-0. The second half saw a fired up Upminster side and Medway were constantly under pressure but they never gave up the fight and played well defensively, stopping the opponents from scoring.

The pool game results saw Medway go into the cup final match as winners of their group, but disappointingly, losing 3-0 to Colchester. From the start Colchester were a team to be reckoned with and in spite of good tackling by Barnes and Saddington, Colchester soon broke through our defence to score. Hadley O'Connor made a great catch under pressure but it was not long before Colchester scored their second try. Sean Marriott made some cracking tackles but Medway found themselves mainly playing a defensive game. The second half saw Colchester score very early on and three of our players, Harris, Robertson and Rann injured and unable to finish the game. Medway however, kept their heads and the final score stayed at 3-0 to Colchester.

Although Medway were again unlucky not to win the final game they all put in maximum effort to get to this stage against some very well drilled and physically strong players. Well Done!!!

Medway Festival 7 October 2007

This Sunday saw a cracking start to this years rugby for the under 12s. They scored 24 tries over the day and conceded only one, disappointingly the only try being conceded in the final against Sevenoaks, giving the opposition claim to the the winning cup.

From the outset Medway meant business and their hard work training paid off with a 9-0 win over Upminster B. Good teamwork saw tries for Richard Harris, Alex Saddington (2), Dominic Kempt, Aaron Robertson (2), Sean Marriott and James Evans and Elliott Barnes.

The second pool game saw them play against another Essex side, Barking and a result of 6-0 to Medway. Tries were scored by Sean Marriott, James Evans, Miles Dupatz, Elliott Barnes, Aaron Robertson and Richard Harris.

The third game saw a fired up opponent in Old Gravesendians and even though Medway won 4-0 this was not without a very physical game of rugby. A strong scrum saw Alex Saddington score first and our strong forwards saw Medway keep control of the ball. Richard Harris was unlucky not to score in this half but just before half time, Saddington scored again. The second half saw an Old Gravesendians side that clearly wanted to score some tries back, but great kicking by Aaron Robertson saw the opponents pushed back into their own half. James Evans was next to score after strong accurate passing from Robertson to Barnes to Evans and Aaron Robertson scored the final try of this game sprinting from the half way line to touch down.

The three clear wins saw Medway go through to the semi final stage as winners of their group and playing Upminster A. The score for this game resulting in 5-0 to Medway. Robertson scored the first try after a crafty dummy move and this was followed with a try for Dominic Kempt. Alfie James and Barnes were strong players in this game as was James Evans who was tackling well, and Harris finished off the scoring in the first half with another try. The second half saw more of the same from Medway and Richard Harris scored as did Aaron Robertson after a stylish chip run and catch the ball again to score.

This win saw Medway up against one of the best teams they get to play during the rugby season in the final for the winners cup and as always, a close and hard fought game with a close result, 1-0 to Sevenoaks. Medway made a slow start and were caught off guard by a fast Sevenoaks player who scored the only try of the game very early on in the first half. A try being disallowed for Elliott Barnes and Richard Harris being unfortunate to be tackled into touch inches before the line saw a disappointed Medway side at half time, but they battled through the second half and did not concede any more tries but sadly could not break through Sevenoaks strong defence to score.

Although a disappointing end to the day all Medway players should be proud of their achievements on Sunday and this fantastic display of rugby again shows what a strong and disciplined side Medway are!

Well done, we are all proud of you.