Jack Cohen had a debut to remember as Medway passed their first test of the new Regional 1 South East season with a dramatic 20-15 win over Hertford.

Having never played at this level before, Taff Gwilliam's side hit the ground running thanks to a late try from Cohen - his second of the game.

Alfie Orris also went over, while Cohen added to his points tally with a penalty and conversion.

Gwilliam said: “This victory was built on the back of a solid set piece and a never-say-die attitude.

"Hertford are a very good side so we are delighted with the victory but there are still lessons to be learned from this and we must heed those lessons quickly.”

The away side almost scored in the fourth minute but Cohen and Cullen Daly combined to prevent the try. However in doing so Daly was, rightly, adjudged to have killed the ruck and received an instant yellow card.

The visitors did lead when they regained possession from a lineout and broke through the middle of the home defence. Good handling saw them go over in the corner for an unconverted try.

For the next 30 minutes Hertford, with the wind at their backs, dominated field position, but Medway’s defence held firm. Good scrummaging from the front row of Dan Huntley, in his first league start at tighthead, Bill Sandison, leading the side for the first time in the absence of captain Tom Beaumont, and Jack Nickalls, at loose head, consistently put their opposite numbers under pressure disrupting the first-phase ball.

However on 34 minutes Medway were taught a finishing lesson.

Having got into the Hertford half through good work from the returning Daly, Medway conceded a penalty just outside Hertford’s 22. The home side turned their backs, the visitors ran the ball and got behind Medway's defence with their right-winger on hand to finish a clinical execution of a tap penalty. The try was converted.

Medway stayed patient and good ball retention was rewarded with a penalty for not rolling away in front of the Hertford posts. Cohen kicked it to reduce the deficit to nine and the hosts struck the first points of the second half.

Good work at a lineout ensured quality ball for the backs, and they executed a set-piece strike with excellent handling for Orris to scamper over out wide.

On 53 minutes Medway took the lead. Winning a penalty at the scrum, Daly went quickly and good work from Mo Pangarker ensured Medway retained possession and eventually, after a couple of phases and good hands, the ball found Cohen out wide and he went over. Cohen's conversion made it 15-12.

It was all-square when Hertford converted a penalty in front of the posts, and Medway were reduced to 14 men again when Dan Huntley saw yellow on 63 minutes for a breakdown infringement.

Just as they were about to return to their full complement Henry Kenny was adjudged to have tackled a Hertford player without the ball and he saw yellow, leaving the hosts a man short for the last 20 minutes.

With just two minutes left on the clock Hertford once again had possession and were attacking when Medway forced the ball loose at the breakdown and regathered. A couple of phases saw the visitors' defence out of position and Cohen streaked away to score the winning try.

Medway travel to CS Stags 1863 this weekend.