From the first whistle it was clear that the much bigger and more experienced visitors were going to offer a very stern opposition. Medway combined power and good handling to put the home side immediately under pressure. Fine tackling and a solid defensive structure kept the visitors at bay. The Owls also demonstrated some attacking threat but found it difficult to break down the visitors defence. They finally succeeded when fly half Annalise Allan made a break through the opposing centres and passed to Kimberley Hutchins who sprinted in from the halfway line to score the first try under the posts. It was converted by Allan.

Harwich began to exert more pressure on Medway. They dominated in the scrums with Chloe Inglis hooking superbly and Sophia Tricker regularly stealing the lineout ball to give Harwich an advantage on which they failed to capitalise. A well worked series of phases of play by Medway to which Harwich were slow to react and the visitors were on the scoreboard with an unconverted try. Harwich responded well and another break by Allan led to the next try. Her pass was neatly juggled by full back Yas Amber before she left the visiting defence in her wake to score. Allan again converted. As halftime approached, a lapse in concentration by the home defence allowed Medway an overlap and their winger dived over for an unconverted try.

The Owls were put under a lot of pressure in the second half by a determined Medway side but defended stoutly. Strong runs from Naomi Dobner, Abi Cutts and Bear Haywood put Harwich back in the Medway half but some poor decision making at vital moments cost the home side the opportunities to extend their lead. The final few minutes saw Medway throw everything at the Harwich defence who, although it required a couple of booming tackles by Amber to keep the visitors out, remained resolute until the final whistle.

A hard fought victory by the Owls against a well organised team puts them in fourth place in the league and within shouting distance of the top. It could be an interesting few weeks for the Owls!

Report By Walter Blacker