Tries: Williams. Anderson

Conversions:

Pens: Neville (4)

Drop Goals:

Having watched the 2nd and 3rd XV win against their respective Imperial College counterparts at Harlington earlier in the day, the 1st XV travelled to Richmond knowing they had to hold up their end of the bargain and maintain the club's 100% winning record in the fixture. To this end, injured skipper Cameron Sullivan stuck with much of the same side that helped the Medicals to their Great Escape from relegation a week ago against Oxford University Greyhounds. This meant that the Medicals' 22 man squad conatined six freshers with Ed Pickles, Craig Nightingale and James Sharples all in the starting XV.

After the formalities were completed the game kicked off under the bright lights on a clear, still night in south west London. As ever, the opening minutes proved to be a frantic affair as both sides came out fired up, however, neither team was able to gain the upper hand. The Medicals' were afforded the first opportunity to open the scoring but fly-half Dan Neville's penalty went wide of the left upright. The IC kicker Alexander Johnstone, who unusually was also their hooker, was also to miss his first effort at goal as the game remained scoreless early on.

Indeed, the majority of the first half was to be an atritional affair with both sides competing well at the set piece and the Medicals enjoying slight dominance in the tight. However, the College side showed a great deal of imagination and endeavour looking to speed up the game at every opportunity, a ploy which began to drag the Medicals into the open flowing game which bypassed the power of their pack. Despite this, the Medicals were able to repel the IC attacks as flankers Anakan Navaratnam and Craig Nightingale, ably assisted by their back-line putting in numerous telling tackles. It was, therefore, left to the two kickers, who with two penalties a piece, scored all the points of a hostile first half.

Knowing they had rather got away with a below par first half performance coach Keith Green told his players to forget the previous forty minutes and concentrate on implementing their game plan in the second period. Seconds after the resumption of play the Medicals scheme suffered a setback as No.3 Xander Ancock was forced off with a rib injury he sustained at the end of the first half. The final-year prop was replaced by No.20 Jeremy Bartosiak-Jentys who added extra bulk to the Medicals' front row.

The change helped the Medicals gain dominance in the set piece which allowed the dangerous backline to take the ball on the front foot. Both centres James Sharples and Ben Davies carried well and ran hard lines at the IC defence which gave wingers Harry Thompson and Kevin Ilo space out wide. The Medicals' pressure was to tell as quick ball on the right wing was passed along the line to Huw Williams who entered the line from full-back. Ignoring the unmarked Harry Thompson outside him Williams went for the line and was able to dive over and touch down despite the close attention of the IC cover tacklers. Neville was unable to add the conversion from near the left touchline.

The teams were to exchange further penalties as the game rather drifted throughout long periods of the second half as neither side was able to exercise full control over the game. Enjoying a 5 point lead going into the final twenty minutes the Medicals were to be on the receiving end of two IC tries. First the scores were brought level after a well worked move released the IC wing to score in the corner. The try was unconverted but then, with only four minutes remaining, the Medicals were to suffer rotten luck that could have cost them the game. Covering a high ball deep in his own twenty-two Huw Williams was unable to take the difficult catch, spilling the ball over the Medicals' line in the process. This allowed the on rushing wing to touchdown the loose ball.

The conversion was unsuccessful meaning that a convetred try could still win the game for the Medicals but first they had to regain the ball. Showing complete disregard for his own safety fresher Matt Sarvesvaran launched himself at the restart and came down clutching the ball. As the pack rumbled towards the line led by the indefatigable James Saffin, who carried magnificently all day, the holes began to appear around the ruck. Spotting one such opportunity Rob Anderson picked up at the back of the ruck and powered his way towards the line. With the touchline rapidly approaching Anderson was able to wriggle over the tryline to score in the left corner. Dan Neville had the conversion to win the game but was unable to dissect the posts meaning the game entered extra-time for the first time in its history.

Before the start of extra time Johnny Fisher-Black replaced Ruairidh Crawford at hooker and Rory Hutchinson came onto the wing in the place of Kevin Ilo. The Medicals were to start the additional period in the best possible way as Dan Neville slotted a fine kick under pressure. The remainder of extra time saw the Medicals finally play to their game plan as Dan Neville and captain Tom Maynard pushed IC deep into their own territory. Putting pressure on the IC lineout the Medicals were able to peg back their opponents until time expired.

At the final whistle the disparity between the Medicals joy and IC's despair could not be greater after both sides put their all into a closely contested fixture. As Tom Maynard collected the the JPR Williams Cup from the man after whom it is named the the verses of Mary's man rang out arund the ground as the fantastic Medicals support celebrated a sixth successive victory with the players.

Jez