Brixton Bulls U16 10

Medway Dragons U16 54

DOUG Ebanks registered a hat-the trick, but tries came from all over the place as the Dragons ran riot.

They tore into the much bigger Brixton pack with pace and ferocity and rewards came quickly as captain for the day, Ben Shears, broke from out wide and blew the opposition away for pace to set the tone for a game of long range tries.

Joined by Jack Carlin and that Ebanks treble, the scoreboard kept moving.

The coaching team rang the changes at the interval and moved players around to unfamiliar positions, but even the disruption those tactics caused had no adverse effect.

Kishan Muthu showed well at full back and Nick Hardinges revelled in the space at half back where he was able to bag a pair of tries. Kieran Edmeades had probably his best game and the scoring was completed with a typical powerhouse effort from Neil Kemp, Fergus Stewart with a block busting run and great fringe play from Aaron Thompson which saw him over in the corner. Perhaps the best individual try came from Max Worrell who beat four defenders with fantastic footwork.

Said coach Martin Coyd afterwards: "I was particularly pleased with the spread of try scorers, the team all played the ball well and we showed great variety. We have made progress again."

Medway Dragons U14 24

Elmbridge Eagles U14 18

THE Dragons made a flying start and on the fifth tackle Luke Edwards produced a fantastic grubber which brought him a try under the posts. Ashley Banfield converted and the Medway team led 6-0 early doors.

Lawrence Chittil touched down after a superb run soon after and when Edwards again kicked the ball under the posts, Freddie Tolhurst caught and touched down behind the try line.

The whole team defended well and it was 18-0 in their favour at the interval.

Charlie Dalrymple got the second half under way with a stunning length-of-the-pitch try converted by Tom Coyd, but Elmbridge dominated the rest of the game.

They applied ferocious pressure and broke the defensive line four times. They were unable to convert more than one, however, and the feeling was Medway were good value for the result.

Brixton Bulls U12 20

Medway Dragons U14 16

BRIXTON joined forces with Croydon to form a powerful side for their clash with a Dragons team without two regulars.

Still, the visitors completed a full set of six tackles first, with some excellent driving play from props Harry Bell and Lewis Richards.

Still, they went behind 6-0 as Brixton scored from their first set of six.

Their try brought the Dragons to life and when Mitchell Stone and David Harris drove towards the Brixton line, a quick thinking scoot from dummy half Brandon Crane brought a score just wide of the posts to cut the deficit to two points.

Medway took the lead when powerful runs from Charlie Roberts and Ewan Rushworth gave Charlie Faux the chance to sprint for the line. Harry Bell converted for 10-6.

The Bulls came out with renewed energy and despite some fantastic try-saving tackles by Sam Pitcher and George Carlin they scored a great running try to regain the lead at 12-10. The lead swung back again a few minutes later when Faux again rounded the Bulls defence, and ran between the sticks following some great forward play. Roberts kicked the conversion and at 16-12 Medway were once more in the driving seat.

By this time, however, the valiant Dragons were starting to tire. The effect of having only one interchange meant that the combined Brixton / Croydon side could field some fresh legs late on and despite more superb tackling from Brandon Crane, George Carlin and Mitchell Stone they ran in two more tries in the last five minutes to nick the victory.

Medway Dragons U11 20

Brentwood Elvers U11 4

SOLID work from the forwards gained field position which allowed Oliver Bell, who impressed in his first run-out as stand off, to move the ball wide to a fast back line. Brentwood had no answer to this sustained assault and tries quickly came for Ed Holland, playing out of position at scrum half, and centre Josh Bruin soon after.

In the second half the older and more experienced players took over.

Perhaps thinking it would all be too easy, they were slow off the blocks and the Elvers quickly scored from virtually their first set of six.

This try stung the Dragons into action and they quickly got back into their stride. Playing a very different style to the first half they kept the ball close to the ruck and battered their way through the Elvers' defence.

Stand off Sam Sharpe bagged a double, while prop forward Frazer Symonds also touched down. Second row Robert Butler, playing in his first competitive rugby league match, was immense in defence through out the half and victory was in the end well deserved.

Medway Dragons U9 16

Brentwood Raiders U9 16

WITH seven of the 13 Dragons players making their rugby league debuts, it was to be expected they would take a little while to engage in the hostilities. Going 4-0 down inside a minute might not have been the best way to start, but last season's players stepped up to the plate thereafter. Lewis Hollidge showed desire and determination to equalise, Harry Meadows and Tom Narborough showed courage and tenacity in the tackle while Amun Bains, Joshua Lamb and Jack Bloomfield passed, received, and ran their socks off.

Their new teammates were learning fast, but not fast enough to stop them going 4-12 down, although hope arrived in the form of Lamb's 20 metre burst down the left-wing to make it 8-12 at half time.

The Dragons had tasted only one defeat last season, but with newcomers Isaac and William Milham, Richard Okolo, Oliver Faux, Liam May, Fred Ward and Joel warming to the cause they weren't going to be slain by the same foe twice.

They conceded one more try and following some great defending saved the day thanks to Bloomfield's scintillating last-minute run.