Despite late call ups and a long list of injuries and unavailability, this left the AXV side filled with mainly forwards but despite this, the warm up was energetic and the buzz was all around the side again which had been lacking over the past few weeks. We knew that Medway would be bringing a physical challenge and would have to start fast.
In the first half Beckenham pinned Medway in their own half putting pressure on their back line with good line speed which created a lot of handling errors and knock on’s.

Scrums were order of the day during this game but Medway had the ascendancy in this area putting pressure on the Beckenham scrum and Eaton at 8 did well to pick and go with the scrum going in the wrong direction. Beckenham took the lead with a penalty to go 3-0 up from Garry Thomson (who maintained 100% from the tee all day). Beckenham continued to pressure Medway at both the breakdown and in the backline and due to this pressure, Medway’s 10 went off injured with a chest injury from a tackle. Beckenham were in Medway’s half for some sustained pressure and after about 6 phases, Parr, making his debut for Beckenham dived over in the corner to take the score to 10-0 within the first 10 minutes. Medway tried to hit back from kick off but from a knock on in Beckenham 22, Beckenham were able to get quick ball and get it to Butt on the wing who handed off his opponent to run in 65 metres unopposed to go under the posts, 17-0 up. We knew Medway would not turn over and die and they didn’t disappoint and from a sustained period of pressure of their own, they scored, 17-5. Beckenham then went back and managed to get another 3 points from a penalty and were taking the points when they were on offer. The rest of the half belonged to Medway who built pressure and from this pressure, Petty was yellow carded due to the warnings given from the ref as a team warning and Medway scored a further 2 tries.

Half Time – Beckenham 20 -15 Medway

Into the 2nd half and 3 changes were made when Pike came into the back row and Beesley into the 2nd row and Berkeley in at 13 – Everyone seemed calm and understood we needed to play in the right areas to build pressure and take the points when we could. The side didn’t disappoint, Beckenham were creating quick ball and from this Parr went down the blindside and passed to Butt who again, handed off their 6, to go into the corner to get the first score on the board which rattled Medway. We knew the next score would be telling and again in this half scrums were taking up a lot of the game and Beckenham seemed to find some parity in the coalface with some very strong scrummaging from Denton, Soffe and Henry and from a solid scrum in front of the clubhouse, Garry Thomson completed a cross field kick to be caught by full back Shaw, who popped off to Butt in one movement and Butt went in for his 3rd of the day. Medway to their credit come back once again and scored after a knock on from Beckenham direct from kick off gave them a 5 metre scrum which they took full advantage of and scored a try of their own. Beckenham didn’t seem phased by this and continued to pressure Medway in the backline and from this Medway’s 10 chose to begin kicking the ball to try and make some yardage but from this kicking, Shaw collected a ball on the half way line and with a mazy run managed to break the line of Medway, pop the ball off to Eaton who was able to make good yards with a couple of tacklers hanging on to him and then pop off to Redmond on his shoulder as a good open side should be to go in under the posts. Again Medway would not go away nor give up and from pressure built with some strong carriers of their own went in for their 5 try of the day. The game then finished with the customary collection of scrums and a last few penalties going Beckenham’s way to finish the game

Full Time – Beckenham 41 – 25 Medway
A big well done to all the players that pulled on the shirt today from 1 to 18 and having 4 props on the pitch with no recognised 2nd rows during the whole game, goes to show with the right attitude and game heads on from minute 1, we can get the results we deserve.

(Steve Beesley)