Medway Dragons Under 16 v Rutlish Raiders – 18-40

The Dragons 16s travelled to Mitcham for the opening game of the season against Rutlish Raiders. The heavy rain had stopped by kick off time and has softened the pitch, the going was good to soft.

Playing with any recognised half backs again, the Dragons got off to a woeful start conceding two converted tries in the first five minutes and setting themselves up for a tough morning. Digging in, the youngsters quickly worked out that they needed to fix up the problem, gain possession and complete sets.

Arresting the slide quickly, the team worked hard, for each other, and gained the all-important position and began to put pressure on the lively Raiders. The middle of Sai Kama, Fili Laqaterabua and Josua Kelataona carried on where they left off last week and were dominating the middle.

This led to space being opened up through the middle for Owen Solly to bust the line, running a good angle and his electric pace was just too quick for the defence. Billy Gallagher converted to pull it back to 6-12.

Ned Conroy and john Gallagher began to move the team around the field, brining the edges into play who began to make large dents into the raiders defensive line. Riley Carpenter was in blockbusting form and, supported by strong carries from Leo Eversheds and Itayi Sengu, the momentum was swinging back towards the Dragons.

Both Kama and Carpenter crossed the line, carrying defenders with them and were unlucky to be deemed ‘held up’, having come very close to touching the ball down. Spurred on, the dragons used the emotional impact to build energy for the battle. A turnover early in a set, enabled the Raiders to breakout against then run of play and extend their lead. Quickly followed by another to push the Raiders out to 20.

Smart thinking and fast footwork from Billy Gallagher, led to a try. after strong carries from Carpenter and Kyron Fairclough, got The Dragons close to the line. Tacking on the extras, Gallagher brought it back to 12-22 at half time and belief.

Belief that they could win. The back three of Evan Baker, Ben Oke and Tom Lineham worked very hard in defence and ensured that bodies were put in front of the raiders outside backs as they shifted the ball wide to avoid the dominant Dragons middle, pulling off a series of great cover tackles to thwart the threat.

The Dragons were lifted by a great try from Riley Carpenter who was just too strong to be stopped and bust through the touch down. Gallagher goaled and the game was in the balance. Sensing the moment, The Dragons had a period of intense pressure on the Raiders line and looked to have pulled themselves back into the game when the ball came free and Billy Gallagher got to it first, only to be denied.

Despite the game going away from the Dragons towards the end a couple of breakaway tries, the team stuck to the task and fought to the final whistle

Dragons 16s head Coach Martin Coyd said afterwards. “I am very pleased with all of the lads today. After a poor start, they worked out for themselves what they needed to do. They stuck together and turned around the game quickly, completing sets and creating some quality in attack. No-one took a backward step and they overcame disappointments well. Considering we played with no half backs and no interchanges, I am really pleased with the effort and application’

‘We created some good field position and executed fairly well, had the times we got over the line been successful, it would have been much closer. That’s something we can work on. We have a tough game against London Skolars next week and Tuesday night is crucial’
‘It’s great to be back on the field and great to be working with these guys. We play with a smile, we play tough and we are close to pulling all the hard work into a great team’

321
1 – Itayi Sengu
2 – Sai Kama
3 - Billy Gallagher

Leo Evershed
Ben Olayiwola-Oke
Riley Carpenter
Itayi Sewngu
Evan Baker
Owen Solly
Ned Conroy
Fili Laqaterabua
Billy Gallagher
Sai Kama
Josua Kelataona
Kyronn Fairclough
John Gallagher

Interchange
Tommy Lineham