No disgrace in loss to League favourites

Darts welcomed Medway who are looking likes favourites to win this tough league. Following last weeks opening win the team knew they were going to be in for a tough encounter and straight from the kick off pressure from the visitors forced a knock on which went unluckily into a Darts player in front of the ball and the Medway fly half stepped up and slotted the penalty from out wide . 0-3. Again pressure from Medway forced a mistake and from the scrum a good move in the backs saw the Darts backs into missed tackles and conceding a good try to give an early 0-8 lead. Medway looked very organised, strong in the contact area and very quick in both thought and deed. A great take by Joe Scott relieved the pressure temporarily and a great tackle from Dan Nukajam kept the visitors at bay but the sharpness and clinical play saw them create a great try by taking the ball in close and releasing their powerful winger who went over for their second try. 0-13. Medway were using the wind to keep the ball behind the darts defence but one kick went dead and from the resulting scrum Darts moved the ball out to Dasn Nukajam who went through a gap and Launched Darts first attack and Briggo kicked into the corner and forced a 5 metre line out. Darts were starting to get into the match after their nervous start and were putting some good phases together. After forcing a penalty from the resulting lineout Darts set up a driving maul and it was Sam Cooksley who went over to close the gap to 5-13. Good phase play kept Darts in control of the ball for a period of time but small errors were stopping them getting real control of the game and good line speed from Medway stopped any real penetration. Darts were trying to pressure whenever Medway hadd the ball but on occasions were a bit too fast of the mark and were giving away penalties and from one medway extended their lead to 5-16. Again it was the powerful play from the visiting forwards taking the ball in the narrow channel before quickly releasing the ball wide to another well executed try. 5-23. Darts have in recent years shown great character when under pressure and today was no different forcing their way back into the Medway half and their pressure drew a penalty which was converted by Joe Scott to take the score at halftime to 8-23.
Medway were down to 14 men due to a yellow prior to halftime but their experience at this level was clearly in evidence as they kept good control of the ball and making few mistakes which frustrated Darts who were giving away too many cheap penalties which allowed Medway the opportunity to make ground without too much effort. Darts were defending stoutly but when they broke out a poor kick was charged down and slightly against the run of play at that time saw Medway race clear and score a converted try. 8-30. Darts were not deterred and came straight back at the visitors and moved into the opposing 22. A 5 metre scrum was won well and a break from Danny Taylor, playing his 250th game in the first team, took him close to the line and from the recycle it was Alex Vousden who went over for the second try. Mike Briggs converted. 15-30. Darts were in the game now and looking pretty confident in taking the ball at the visitors and just when they looked like they could move back deep into the Medway half but again a small error saw an interception from which Darts never recovered from and Medway scored their final try. 15-35. Darts kept battling and despite losing Gregor Westphal with a dislocated shoulder kept working to the end and it looked like they would score another try but a yard from the linee they were penalised and the game was over. A really good match and Darts now know what awaits them for the remainder of the season. The scrum and lineout were good throughout the game and following a poor start Darts performed well against a very strong and accomplished side.