Reporter Simon Sear

On a bitterly cold December afternoon, with frozen fingers in the stands and a stiff wind sweeping across the pitch, BASSDARTS U18s delivered a commanding performance away at Medway to secure another emphatic victory.

Medway had spoken pre-match of “revenge” following the earlier friendly between the sides, but any hopes of an early statement were extinguished almost immediately. From the opening whistle, BASSDARTS struck decisively, crossing for the first try inside the opening minute and setting the tone for the afternoon. The conversion followed, and before Medway could settle, a second try and conversion quickly stretched the lead.

Although much of the early territorial battle took place in the BASSDARTS half, the defensive effort remained disciplined and composed. When opportunities arose, the visitors broke with pace and purpose. A sweeping move across the pitch ended with a well-finished try out wide, and despite the wind making kicking conditions difficult, the scoreboard continued to tick over.

The pressure told as BASSDARTS ran in a succession of tries, mixing direct running with width and clever support play. Even as Medway enjoyed brief spells inside the BASSDARTS 22, strong defence and timely clearances ensured the line remained intact. Another score just before the interval took the visitors into half-time with a commanding 48–0 lead, the gusting wind denying further conversions.

The second half saw no drop in intensity. BASSDARTS restarted with intent and added another try soon after the break to push the score beyond fifty. While conditions and fatigue made the latter stages scrappier, the outcome was never in doubt. Medway continued to compete with determination, but the BASSDARTS defence stood firm until the final whistle.

The referee’s signal brought the contest to an end and confirmed another convincing win for BASSDARTS. It may not have been flawless, but it was effective, disciplined, and full of energy — a strong way to close out the year.

With spirits high and Christmas just around the corner, the squad can head into the festive break pleased with their progress, knowing there is still more to come when the new year arrives.