Beckenham headed away to Medway after a hard fought Friday night lights victory the week prior. The physicality of the game proven by the number of injury changes the league leaders were forced to make. With Medway’s improved performances since the start of the season and results last time the sides met in seasons past the broncos knew this was going to be a challenge.

To add to the occasion, the Kennedy Cup was on the line for the first time in four years. The hand cut Waterford crystal trophy was presented to Beckenham RFC by the Kennedy family in memory of Jim Kennedy- a great clubman and supporter of Medway. The cup is played for between the Men's 1st XV teams, home and away, with Medway having retained the trophy since the teams last met.

With the skipper unavailable due to family commitments and the both VCs out with injury it was unsurprising that captaincy was appointed back to Andrew Knowles given an outstanding win ratio at level 6 with 2 wins in 26 games and no away victories.

There was an excitement that filled the boys in blue and gold. Rimarni Richards had made the meet time with seconds to spare and after all players had listened to the 18 individual voice notes they had received from their captain the night before (which had left the majority wondering what he did in his day job) they hit road down to Priestfields.

Unfortunately the excitement did not carry into the start of the game. Under pressure immediately from a poorly field kick receipt put Beckenham under some early pressure. That along with a slow fold left defenders isolated which Medway duly spotted and crossed for their first try of the game. Minutes later and after some ball retention and field position for the Blue and Gold inaccuracy at the breakdown, resulting in a penalty, gave Medway the upper hand. Quick thinking from the scrumhalf had the defence back pedalling as he cut through untouched before being chased down, lifting the ball to his support and giving the home side the next score. 14-0 down after 10 minutes not the start the Beckenham boys had been looking for.

With the restart and some better defence Beckenham regained the ball, after some sustained pressure that resulted in a penalty the decision was made to go to the corner. An excellent throw by Lamar Sinclair set the platform for a big driving maul, the bang that Darragh Moran had been brought in for had paid off with the pack working their way towards the line being dragged down metres short. Some patience and excellent ball handling unsurprisingly put Dan Hamilton in the corner with the bookies no longer paying out on him crossing the white wash.
Extras missed, it was Medway who got back on the front foot and after a dubious scrum penalty they were in the corner. The Beckenham pack held the maul out and came away with the ball unable to clear their lines however resulted in defending the Medway onslaught. At the next breakdown poor discipline saw Andrew Knowles sent to the bin, with a sense of Deja Vu from 4 years prior. At the next catch and drive Beckenham defending with seven found themselves another score down and with the extras converted saw them head into half time 21-5 down. Ben Murphy receiving treatment it looked to be a tall task and a tough forty ahead of them.

A clear message from the coaches on the changes we needed to make. Overseas star Geordie Boyce had one final message to his bronco teammates it’s alright lads we’ve got 30 points in us. With that ringing their ears (and still a number of boys trying to get through the final minutes of Laud-Anderson’s voice notes) they set out with confidence.

Beckenham still with 14 weathered the start of the second half, then with back to back monster hits from Man of the Match Tane Feldhaus-Davies brought the spark that lifted the Beckenham side. Returning to full strength with a scrum inside the 22 the blue and gold pack went back to work, Winning the first of a number of scrum penalties. From the following lineout the pressure built a kick for territory from Murphy followed by a loose kick from Medway kept the Beckenham side on the front foot. Soft hands from Josh Hiscott released Hamilton for a strong and powerful run, being brought down short and the attack looked to have been halted until a late change of direction from Feldhaus-Davies and an incredible offload out the back of the hand from Hamilton put Feldhaus-Davies over the first try of the second half. Extras missed the broncos were growing further in belief.

The Blue and Gold looking to play from all areas which is now becoming expectation, Medway brought men forward to fill the line a monster boot from the one legged Murphy and an energised kick chase built the pressure. A scrum 10metres out the broncos were surprisingly forced to use the ball, a well worked strike play with a late read by Feldhaus-Davies put Fran Pennancchia over and with Boyce finding his boot put the blue and gold within a score. 21-17.

From the kick off Medway regained possession and at the first opportunity after indiscipline took a shot at the points. Successfully completed took them to 24-17 lead.

From the kick off a hard chase from Pennancchia resulting in a charge down gave Boyce the opportunity to dot down metres out from the line to everyone’s shock he failed to gather the ball. Never the less all pressure was back on the home side. Unable to clear their lines pressure increased, well worked plays stretched the opposition east to west and opened the door for replacement hooker Rob BD Willden to get into the corner, already chalking one to his tally and relieving his run in against Old Colfeians earlier in the season, but he left the ball behind leaving the away team missing another opportunity to close the gap. Failing to exit their 22 again and indiscipline in a number of areas saw Medway drop to 14 for ten minutes. With the man advantage and the already dominance at the set piece the decision for a scrum 15m out was an easy one. The drive from the pack was monumental and despite Murphy trying his best to get the ball out off there. Knowles picked the ball up 0m out from the line and dotted down for his first. Extras converted the broncos were back level. Looking to go on the attack again, before another Murphy boomer landing the ball a metre from the Medway line married with the chase by replacement winger Thomas Bateman who almost got over put Beckenham where they wanted to be.

Time slipping away and both teams looking to take the victory Medway tried to play from the half but when the ball was turned over a patient attack built from Beckenham. Murphy spotted the space into the backfield and not knowing it was the final play dinked an outside of the boot box kick into the back field. The referee, not knowing Knowles personally, had reason to believe he had the pace to collect the ball from an onside position. Spotting Hamilton free released the stallion believing he would coast into the line. This wasn’t to be the case however he still had the experience and skill set to lift a ball over the heads of the covering defenders into the arms of a labouring Knowles who had continued his run down the middle of the field. Crossing for his second of the day. Boyce gathered the extras to ring up the 30 points for the afternoon as the ref blew the final whistle.

A never say die attitude and effort from the broncos (which is becoming an expectation from this side) saw the blue and gold taking the lead for the first time in the game coming out on top and with the Kennedy cup 24-31.

Mentions must go to Murphy and Hamilton who continued to put their bodies on their line for the 80 despite suffering knocks. Man of the match was awarded to Tane Feldhaus-Davies as a result a strong display both sides of the ball helping to gain momentum in the game.

Match report by Andrew Knowles (Game day skipper and No8)