Medway Dragons U11 40 Brentwood Elvers 20

PLENTY of positives for the Dragons after their first match of the season, but they were pushed all the way by a brave and determined Brentwood Elvers side.

It all looked so good at the start, with the Dragons stifling the opposition attack and the first try came almost from the Dragons' first set, all the team involved before Ed Holland crossed the line.

The conversion was missed and, perhaps thinking it would be too easy, the Dragons went to sleep. The Elvers came back strongly and soon reversed the position by going ahead themselves.

The young Dragons' heads didn't drop, but they did panic.

The "beautiful" rugby seen at training games disappeared as the team appeared to lose faith in their talented backs and constantly gave the ball to their bigger players. One out rugby didn't work and the more they tried to force the score the more the Elvers defence held firm, helped by a number of handling errors.

Holland eventually went over again to ease the pressure, the faith came back and the tries started to flow. Holland crossed again for his hat-trick, before Josh Bruin and Billy Young both got on the scoresheet. Bruin converted his own try, with William Vodo also adding two points from a conversion.

Special mention must be made of Adam Clark, Danny Moore and James Hudson who played their first ever rugby league match and were immense. Vodo, Aaron Mathe, Amun Bain, Sam Crean and Reuben Murdoch North stuck to their roles with great determination and Vodo and Crean were unlucky to not to score themselves as half-time came and went with the score 24-10.

The second half was a much closer affair.

The Dragons were able to launch eight fresh players into the game, but appeared to lack the cutting edge they may have had in the first half. Two Elvers' players caused real problems in attack and the panic of the first half looked to be returning before stand off Oliver Bell stamped his authority on the game and crossed over to calm the nerves. He converted his own try.

Brentwood never, ever, give up and they constantly threatened the Dragons line. But they were beginning to tire and handling errors allowed the home side to push forward.

Alex Russell powered over and with the result pretty much settled the Dragons relaxed and started to enjoy the game.

Ewan Kersey and Harry Meadows were unlucky not to score after huge defensive efforts, whilst Harry Bloomfield made his customary charges up "route one" with half a dozen players trying to stop him!

The final try came from Holland, who had replaced a battle weary Josh Bruin for the last quarter, but while it was a decent enough start there is room for improvement before the Dragons travel to the Elmbridge Eagles Mini Festival next weekend (March 27).

Medway Dragons Under-7 12 Brentwood Elvers 8

THE smallest and newest Dragons team outnumbered the Elvers two to one and so were able to make rolling substitutions, but even with an average age still measured in months and although some have never played any form of competitive sport they slew older, bigger and more experienced oppos.

On a day of many firsts (it was the first time they'd tagged an opposition player, produced their first ever pass and/or first run in the right direction), most of them managed to line up for the right team without being told! Not only that, but almost all of them managed to stay and play on the pitch. Needless to say the coaches are doing a grand job.

They drew first blood and stayed ahead by at least a couple of tries throughout the game. The few pros (from last season) did a great job lining up the debutants defensively and led by example with some good hands and great feet.

Some weaving runs, some great straight strong running and some sheer fleet of foot may have led to the ball being grounded for the tries, but it was the fact that they kept the ball and managed to complete more sets (of six tags/tackles) than the Elvers that was particularly impressive. And when having to defend, if they went for a tag they (nearly) always got their man.

A glorious start to the season, then, from Solomon Murdoch-North, Mason Meadows, Harry Dalrymple, Harry Daniels, Thomas Barnett, Taylor Brown, Kian Thornhill, Austin and Rory Youngs, Finley Mathe, Ben Nayler, Crawford Middlemiss and Lewis Hitchen.

Medway Dragons U9 v Brentwood Elvers

TWO tremendous matches to kick off the Under-9s campaign! With only two out of eight seasoned contact players and three playing competitive rugby for the first time the matches were a bit of a baptism of fire for the home side.

Their enthusiasm was never in doubt, though, and they produced a string of gang tackles involving three, four and five players at a time. Brentwood took this in their stride, taking advantage of the spaces to run in three unanswered tries.

Undeterred, the Dragons continued to make ground led by forwards Thomas Grange, Isaac Milham and Oliver Faux.

After a few exchanges of possession Alfie Leggett sprayed the ball out to Milham, who looked destined to score but took a blow to the cheek during a clash of heads and had to come off.

The Medway players found strength as they looked to avenge their fallen comrade and two plays later Bailey Blythe passed out to new boy Ronnie Philips, who jinked his way through to score. Some frantic defending followed, but as time ran out Brentwood managed to restore their three try lead and win the match 16-4.

The second game brought a huge improvement in the Dragons' defensive discipline.

Holding the line well while they took it in turns to make the tackles, Daniel Clark and Rhys Price both came up with some crucial stops.

On the third set Faux broke the Brentwood line and dashed through for the opening score.

Brentwood responded almost immediately, through a mazy solo run, but on the next possession, Medway's Grange started his now trademark trundle upfield, with three Brentwood players hanging off him. Further runs from the backs enabled Clark to break through and score.

Brentwood again responded with a score of their own, but with the scores level time ran out with the Dragons agonisingly a few yards short of the winning score.

Elmbridge Eagles 10 Medway Dragons U12 20

THE home side won the toss and decided to play uphill, but the Dragons didn't take long to reclaim the ball and with some good passing from Amrik Bains, Jack Halstead and Robert Butler a great pass by Ted Grant was well finished by Bains.

Good tackling from David Harris and Cameron Clarke led to a scrum from which Joe Coyd received the ball and set Matthew Davolls in motion on the wing. Only a strong tackle stopped him just short and strong defence from Mitchell Dowsett and Steven Davolls keeps the scores even going into half time.

Medway started the second half similarly and a great run by David Harris led to Mitchell Stone going over for the second try. Joe Hawkridge brilliantly converted before another outstanding run led to a Dan O'Brien try which Ted Grant converting.

Stone ended the game with his second try and it didn't matter that the conversion was missed. By then the result was under wraps.