Medway 13 Old Alleynians 29: Regional 2 South East match report

Medway couldn’t deny Old Alleynians the Regional 2 South East title after a 29-13 defeat in their final league game of the season.

The hosts were under the cosh from the off, the Old Boys attacking with purpose to lead after five minutes with a good overlap move.

Medway hit back, though, captain Antony Clement, Max Bullock and Connor Chalmers combining before the latter played in Jack Johnson who raced to the posts against the run of play. Owen Church-Mills added the extras.

Old Alleynians retook the lead with a simple try out wide - but again failed to top up their score - while home scrum-half Sean Marriott denied the visitors on at least three occasions. However they increased the gap by another seven points on the stroke of half-time, despite the best efforts of Medway winger John Sipawa.

Half-time changes saw Mac Perry and Sam York join the fray but a frustrating spell followed with Old Alleynians upping their intensity and dominating the scrum. After 20 minutes and with no real territory gained, Medway became frustrated with a yellow card for Deji Oyesola.

The hosts stayed solid during his spell in the sin-bin and, buoyed by the crowd, Medway won a penalty converted by Church-Mills. Oyesola’s return coincided with a second Medway yellow, though, and they played the last nine minutes a man down.

From a power scrum Jonah Hyde preverted a pushover try, but the visitors made no mistake at the next scrum to touch down for 22-10. They scored again to crown their title triumph, with Church-Mills adding another penalty in between.

Medway end the season third in the standings and turn their attention to the Papa Johns Community Cup, which begins at home to Old Colfeians on Saturday (3pm).