Warlingham shaded in 81 point thriller

Despite being three scores adrift early in the second half they battled back to give their hosts a fright, and, but for a couple of unforced errors, could have nicked the result.

Warlingham started brightly with prop Kieran Scutt driving forward and fly half Oli Doe, delicately chipped into space to put pressure on Medway. A penalty at the lineout gave centre Mark Kozminski a difficult second shot at goal which he converted. Medway swept back up field from the kick off and a huge pass to their left winger gave him room to accelerate. Warlingham's Alex Skinner was equal to the task and brought him down five metres shot of the try line. However, swift recycling gave the Medway centre acres of space in the midfield and a converted try resulted.

Warlingham's captain Zac King led his troops from the front with aggressive run deep into the home side territory but, with insufficient
support his drives were snuffed out. Medway scored a second try from a deft inside pass which wrong footed the Warlingham defence and the second conversion added to the misery. Lock Ollie Dodwell received the ball midfield and, uncharacteristically, booted the ball ahead for an inch perfect lineout on the Medway five metre line. From the ensuing rucks scrum half Steven Murtagh, did his familiar mole impression by burrowing through the bodies to cross the line out wide. Kozminski was successful with the conversion.

Medway's well drilled backs looked ever dangerous and made ground until Dodwell targeted his man and stopped him dead with a perfectly executed enveloping tackle which drew breath from the player and spectators alike. Prop Antony Abou-Zeid was harshly yellow-card for slowing the ball and Medway unleashed their deadly backs for a third converted try. Warlingham were not to be outside and when lock Luke Delderfield booted the ball into the Medway twenty two, the chase up was effective and quick ball to Kozminski gave him a gap to exploit. He converted his own try to bring the first half to a close with the game delicately poised.

The second half saw a revitalized home side score two unanswered converted tries and Warlingham looked to be done for. But they raised the intensity of their game and, when centre Brad Saffery gathered the ball in broken play he shouldered through the defence for Warlingham's third try. When Medway boomed a huge kick to full back Jack Atkinson he turned on the gas and scythed through the Medway players, released the ball to Scutt and winger Jon Osborne got possession on the halfway line and outstripped his opposite number, and the covering defenders to score the fourth, bonus point try. With just one score separating the sides the game became frenetic and Medway inched further ahead when
their fly half split to uprights with a drop goal. When Warlingham dithered near their line Medway pounced and got their sixth try. Warlingham were to have the last score when King kicked ahead and a determined Brad Saffery chased up for the fifth Warlingham try which Kozminski converted from the tramlines. Despite battling ferociously in the last few minutes Warlingham were unable to gain a second bonus point for being within seven points of their victors but their performance was markedly improved and shows much promise for the rest of the season.

Warlingham: Abou-Zeid, J Delderfield, Scutt, Dodwell, L Delderfield, J Dowling, Z King (capt), Fair, Murtagh, Doe, Saffery, Kozminski, Skinner,
Osborne, McEvoy, Ray, Smyth, Atkinson

Next Saturday Warlingham are at home to bottom-of-the-table Thanet Wanderers.