Medway RFC Development Squad start season with a win

The Medway Rugby Club Development Squad has enjoyed success over the last two seasons, winning their league convincingly last season. But promotion will bring tougher, bigger, fitter and younger opposition this term and with a number of changes in key positions, the young Medway side face a tough season.

The first "friendly" of the season saw the squad travel for what has become a traditional fixture against the Dover RFC development squad. It was a chance to blood half a dozen new players who have moved up from last year's U17s. The match was divided into four quarters of 20 minutes each so that the coaches could take stock and make regular changes.

Medway won each quarter, although the game was tougher than that sounds. Medway scored their tries at regular intervals, and defended well when they needed to. Only a ten minute period in the third quarter, when Dover introduced an experienced member of their First XV at inside centre, saw the boat seriosuly rocked, and Dover scored two quick tries to draw level at 15 - 15. 

After that Medway took complete control, and it was glorious to see stalwart prop Big Al Waterman crash over under the posts to start the recovery and eventually Medway took complete control and finished the stronger side.

Although showing some signs of summer rust, this was a valuable learning experience for the younger players, and a chance to get blow away some cobwebs for the "older hands" if you can call under-21s that. A victory never does any harm either.

Pictures: http://www.alanbournephotography.co.uk/dover_dxv