More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Medway's perfect start to the London 1 South season ended at fellow high-fliers London Welsh.
With first playing second more than 600 supporters were in attendance and they saw Medway off the mark first when Welsh's loose head was adjudged to be scrummaging illegally and Dan Harvey converted from the tee.
However five minutes later London opened their account. Medway conceded a penalty at the breakdown and after a number of pick and goes and short target drives the hosts scored a converted try to lead 7-3.
The gap widened to 11 points on 23 minutes when London's winger exposed a gap in the Medway inside defence to scamper over under the posts. They added their third try, this time unconverted, when a loose Medway clearance allowed the home full-back to create space for their No.8 to run in from the 22m line unopposed.
The visitors started the second half on the offensive and good early pressure in the set-piece and strong runs from Henry Kenny and Mo Pangarker gave Medway two kickable opportunities. Harvey was successful with the second to reduce the arrears by three points.
London replied with their first second-half foray into the Medway 22. Despite winning good ball from a scrum, the visitors failed to find touch and the home full-back combined with their right-winger to beat the Medway kick chase and score a converted try to make it 26-6.
Medway never gave up and Sam Garofalo, Dan Harvey and Owen Church-Mills combined to send Alfie Orris clear for a fine unconverted try.
But hopes of a comeback were dashed on 63 minutes. A lineout deep in the their half saw London Welsh attack with phase after phase of forwards carrying. Eventually the away defence was narrowed and the ball fed wide for the home side's right-winger to add another try to his tally. The try was converted for 33-11.
To their credit Medway battled on. They won back-to-back penalties and opted to take scrums, given the scoreline, and were rewarded when scrum-half Sam Garofalo dived over.
