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1st XV
Matches
Sat 08 Mar 2014  ·  London 2 South East
Warlingham RFC
1st XV
27
28
Medway
Cruel penalty deprives Warl of points

Cruel penalty deprives Warl of points

Peter Upton10 Mar 2014 - 20:46

Warlingham 27pts -v- Medway 28pts


Medway came to Hamsey Green as promotion hopefuls sitting second in the league with Warlingham
languishing very close to the relegation zone. But reputations counted for nothing as the home side
playing in front of a crowd of over 200 former players and were keen to impress. The annual Golden Oldies
lunch had attracted the crowd who were lusty in voice at kick off time. Warlingham were also boosted by the
appearance of the Street brothers for the first time in the season so, together with captain Zack King, the
Warlingham pick and drive was fearsome. The return of veteran prop Alex Nunn also gave the Warlingham scrum
a wise head in the loose.

Right from the kick off Warlingham pressed and from a five metre scrum No 8 Tom Street barreled over for the
first try. Full back Joe McEvoy converted from wide out and the omens looked good, especially when McEvoy slotted
a penalty. However, after Warlingham fumbled in the midfield a kick and chase by the Medway back line gave them
a converted try. A second foray by the Medway backs was thwarted when McEvoy saved a testing kick ahead and
he counter attacked with aplomb. when Medway came for a third time a speculative pass was intercepted by young
winger Adam Downie-Keene and he sprinted the length of the pitch for the second try converted again by McEvoy.
Some indiscipline from Warlingham gave Medway the opportunity to reduce the lead with two penalties and the teams
turned round with Warlingham a mere four points to the good.

Medway then took the game by the scruff of the neck and were determined to gain the lead. However when their scrum deep in
the Warlingham half gave them possession they butchered a certain try with a knock on in the tackle. Warlingham exhibited
some fiery defence and fly half James Agate relieved the pressure with some clinical kicking. Scrum half Stephen Murtagh,
nipped through the traffic at a ruck and a deft pass to Belgian prop Yassine Boufaied gave the home side their third converted try.
With the clock ticking an historic victory seemed possible, even when a penalty apiece failed to reduce the eleven point deficit.
But Medway are not promotion contenders for nothing and a quickly taken penalty gave them their second unconverted try. With
the difference a mere five points it was nail-biting time on the touchline but the unlikely win still seemed on the cards.
However, a contentious penalty decision against King close to the Warlingham twenty-two gave the spritely Medway scrum
half caught Warlingham napping and he dashed over the line untouched. It was ironic that in the international the following day,
England scrum half did the same to Wales. The Medway conversion, probably the most important of the season for Warlingham,
sailed between the sticks and Medway scraped the points and put Warlingham deep in the relegation zone.

Warlingham away match on Saturday against the much improving Lewes who sit one point below in the league. The winner of that
clincher may be saved relegation, the loser probably doomed. After the game, Chairman Peter Wrightson said, "Next week is probably
the most important game for the club for some time and if we play as good as today then we are in with a shout. Lewes have improved
since we beat them early in the season so it'll be tough."

Warlingham: McEvoy, Skinner, Saffery, Downie-Keene, Atkinson, Agate, Murtagh, Scutt, Abou-Zeid, Nunn, Boufaeid, Robson,Dowling, King,
T. Street, D. Street, Osborne, Hemsley

Match details

Match date

Sat 08 Mar 2014

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

London 2 South East
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Minis Section Sponsor - Hawke Financial Services
WRFC Club Supporter - M S Webb Baliffs