Despite recent weather the 1st XV Pitch at Park Lane remains in perfect condition and credit to the grounds staff. Reigatians made a typical start played with pace and showing great ball retention and handling in the greasy conditions. Ryan Taylor-Travers made a powerful break from the back of a ruck and scrum half Alex Skinner moved the ball quickly to the left hand side of the pitch where Full Back Conor Woods was faced with two defenders working hard to get across to cover the threat of Finn Coyle on the Wing Woods intelligently cut inside the cover defence to score the first try of the afternoon. The home side were ahead 5-0 after ten minutes.
The crowd didn’t have to wait long for the next try sixteen minutes into play Medway’s strong running Full Back made a powerful break down the right wing the ball was recycled moved to the Left Wing where the home sides defence had become to narrow and a floated pass over the last defender gave the Medway Winger a free run to the try line to even the scores 5-5.
Reigatian worked their way up field through multiple phases with Hooker Ciaran Nestor gaining good ground with each carry. Finally the moved to Flyhalf and Captain Lucas Overtoom who clipped over the on rushing defenders. He chased his own kick and arrived the same time as a Medway defender. The ball became loose and Taylor -Travers showed great skill to collect the ball and set up a ruck Nestor showed strength to drive himself over the gain line quick ball was produced Skinner feed to Gareth Stephens who got his body passed the defender to offload to Finn Coyle who stepped the last defender to score the home side’s second try. Overtoom converted to make the score 12-5.
Medway once again came back at the Reigate team and were awarded a Penalty certainly in kickable range which the Medway kicker failed to convert. Medway continued to hold good field position and as the ball was moved from the left wing across the park the home defence showed good pressure to force a handling error midfield. Reigatian centre Tom Allen was quick to regain the ball he feed the ball to Nestor who passed to Conor Woods. Woods spotted the space behind the defensive line and chipped ahead. With a fumble from a Medway player a ruck was formed and OR’s won the ball back and moved quickly to the right this time it was Medway whose defence was to narrow and a long pass found Overtoom out wide on the Wing to score. Overtoom converted his own try from the touchline and the home team were moving away with the score at 19-5.
With the first half drawing to a close Medway were attacking just inside the Reigatian half when a ruck was formed. The Reigatian forwards managed to overturn the ball Skinner quickly feed the ball to Lock Dan Grant waiting on the blind side he made some ground before feeding back inside to Skinner again who the found Sam Turner out on the Wing who raced down the touchline to score. Again Overtoom added the conversion to make the score at Half Time 26-5. A try scoring bonus point secured.
Bizarrely the second half became a half of strong defence and good discipline without either team worrying the scoreboard.
1.Ethan Monk. 2. Ciaran Nestor 3. Toby Collister 4. Ed Cox 5. Dan Grant 6. Sam Foreman 7. Jack Baart 8. Ryan Taylor Travers 9. Alex Skinner 10. Lucas Overtoom 11. Finn Coyle 12. Tom Allen 13. Gareth Stephens 14. Sam Turner 15. Conor Woods
16. Ciaran Lee 17. Oli Brooks 18. Aran Courtney Walker
