Sat 6 Jan 2024, 14:30
Aylesford Bulls started the year with a nervy win away at Medway.
A Chester Clough masterclass in the final moments would snatch victory for Bulls after a scrappy back and forth at a boggy Priestfields.
The last time the sides met Bulls ran out comprehensive victors but off the back of the Christmas break and a week of training interrupted by the weather, which saw the team running drills in a car park on Thursday night, nothing was assured.
Bulls started at a frenetic pace with back row Matt Hill first finishing a silky move out wide and moments later producing a near identical score to put the visitors 0-12 up.
But within 20 minutes Medway IIs had pulled level.
Fly half Paul Cooper then nudged Bulls one point in front from the penalty spot. Medway hit back with a converted score before Clough wrestled the lead back for Bulls to send them into half time 21-22 up.
Moments into the second half Medway pulled in front again thanks to a converted try. A Ben Pass score from the back of a driving maul then went unconverted. 28-27.
Medway added another seven leaving Bulls with a mountain to climb going into the final quarter.
Clough’s boot came to the rescue. He first pulled off a pin point cross field kick to send Addison Geer over and then a stellar conversion from the sideline to put Bulls a point adrift with time running out.
The penalty count had been ticking up steadily for both teams across the course of the afternoon and the final five minutes were no different.
Ultimately it would be Medway who would fall foul of the referee in the final moments, penalised at a ruck for back chat with Clough stepping up to slot the subsequent penalty and snatch victory for Bulls. 35-37.
Bulls welcome Dartford Valley to the Jack Williams Ground on Saturday.
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