Stocker buoyed by display against stand-out Medway

The Green and Whites put up a spirited fight away to the early London 2 South East leaders.
Medway were relegated from London 1 South over administration charges brought against them by the RFU last season – having finished third in the league. If that had not happened they could have found themselves playing National League rugby this year.
Combine that with the fact Horsham are facing a season of rebuilding, Stocker was pleased with their showing against the title favourites.
He said: “To be fair we started very well, but then gave them a bit too much respect. Medway are near enough a National 3 side that have been relegated for administration reasons.
We contested really, really well all-round but we did fall off a little and gave them a little bit too much space after a while.
They were rattled, absolutely rattled in the first 10 to 15 minutes, but we allowed them a little bit too much space and time and a side like theirs will score tries when you do that.
I spoke to their coaching staff that I have known from old, from coming up through our leagues and although it is no consolation, they said we are by far the strongest team they have played this year and that was through our play at the breakdown and things.
From my point of view it is a transitional year for us. You do not lose a lot of players and then have to change plays and the way you set up and not expect a few challenges. But when you come up against a strong side as well as that and do things well, it is a real mark of positivity.
There is plenty to take from it. The strength of their scrum on Saturday gives a reality of where we are there, but the line-out worked really, really well and tested a big strong defence.”
Horsham had the hosts on the rack early on as a great blind side attack was finished by George Palmer and converted by Tom Johnson after a minute.
Dan Harvey reduced the lead after six minutes with a penalty and shortly afterwards Medway took the lead via their first try when the same player made a clean break to set up Henry Hall for an easy run in.
The hosts added three more tries before half-time to secure a bonus point as Alfie Orris, Tom Beaumont and Harvey made a superb individual break to score the fourth.
Johnson pulled back a penalty for the visitors and Palmer broke over the line, but dropped the ball instead of grounding, leaving the scores at 27-10.
Medway enjoyed another good spell in the second half, scoring three tries in eight minutes through James Dance, Tom Sandison and Peter Walsh to increase the lead to 44-10.
Green and Whites winger Canice Gonzague, scored an interception try, which Johnson converted in the closing stages.
Stocker said: “They are beatable and we are absolutely looking forward to the return game. There were people there more experienced than me watching the game and said with a bit of improvement in terms of skill and no loss of focus, the game will be a lot closer.”
Horsham host Charlton Park on Saturday and will welcome back a number of fully fit-again players which missed out on Saturday. One player who will be missing is the influential Arun Thompson who has left to travel Latin America.

Report by Ollie Berry - WSCT