​Medway 61

Whitstable 6

STEVE Young, Roger Rhynheart, Monish Shome and top try scorer Rob Ellis were all unavailable, but it didn’t make a lot of difference to Meds, who followed up last week’s superb victory against London South East Division 3 leaders Heathfield & Waldron by thumping Whitstable.

The visitors started well enough and were soon 6-0 up with two penalties from their stand out player Jim Birnage, but Meds got back into their stride with a fine solo effort from the ever-improving Luke Burns.

Glen Wadsworth added the extras for the home side to take a lead 7-6 they never looked like relinquishing.

The home side took the game to their visitors and by half time had established a 26-6 lead. It was not easy, but Colin Chapman, Malcolm Graves and Owen Jones were dominant in the loose and they provided the platform for victory.

Tries came at regular intervals, Colin Chapman recording a hat trick and Green, Burns and Glen Wadsworth adding to the tally.

Solid performances from Billy Humphrey and Scott Clark in the lineout together with the fresh legs of Danny Williams, David Gwilliam and Paul Morrant ensured Medway continued to play at a high tempo.

The improving and dangerous Crowborough are Medway’s opponents on Saturday. They will provide a tough test.

Sheppey III 0

Medway Development 17

THE Development XV returned to winning ways with an impressive performance against Sheppey thirds who were bolstered by a number of second string players.

Despite giving away a significant amount of weight in the pack and playing against the slope, Meds spent the majority of the first period in Sheppey’s half of the pitch.

They attempted to move the ball wide when the opportunity arose to take advantage of their youth and pace, but were unable to break through until the 31st minute when Simon Rumsey put a well placed kick into touch inside Sheppey’s 22. From the lineout James Avery fed Matt Tonkin and looped around the outside to make the extra man. Taking the return pass from Tonkin he drove over in the corner.

Medway started to fall foul of the referee by encroaching offside at the back of the ruck during the second period, but even though the penalty count mounted they kept their composure and some 20 minutes in challenged the Sheppey line. A couple of strong forward drives later and, Rumsey drew the blind side defence before delivering a perfectly timed pass for Tonkin to run in unopposed.

Medway’s defence was magnificent, thwarting each attack even when a man short until Dean Avery drove the Sheppey No. 8 back a full 10 metres to take the game back into the Sheppey half.

Once they were back to full strength they regained command and settled it on the final play when Matt Wadhams took the attack to the blind side, fed Peter Cole and he drove over for a try which Rumsey converted.