No one-point win this time for Chichester - this time it's even closer

After a quality contest, Blues were deservedly 22-17 in the lead with five minutes to go. Medway then launched a ferocious attack to try to snatch victory.

Chi were penalised 5m out and scrum penalties against them and three yellow cards followed in ten minutes of added time as they heroically repulsed the Kent battering.

They finally ran out of men and a try was scored halfway to the left touchline. It was 22-22 but the conversion kick struck the near post and bounced out.

Chi scored four tries to three but only one was converted. They had also declined two kickable penalties to go for corner lineouts which were resisted.

Once again though, Chi showed good form against a leading team. Only Westcombe Park of the top four have beaten them at Oaklands Park. Blues collected three points for the draw and the tries.

The weather cleared with the sun making a brief appearance and the pitch was surprisingly firm underfoot.

Martin O’Callaghan, Zac Conoly and Chris Johnson came into the pack, Josh Goodwin, Cam Hopkins and Toby Golds returned in the backs with Sam Drayson and Ryan Spriggs on the bench.

Chichester kicked off up the slope with the wind behind them. Great work from Chris Johnson secured the ball and a drive from Martin O’Callaghan moved the ball deep into Medway territory. From the ruck Josh Goodwin fed Rhys Thompson, running a diagonal line through the opposition defence, and his pass to Tyrese Makasi beat the last defender allowing the young hooker to dive over in Vulture’s Corner. Conversion misse

Medway responded with their large and experienced pack dominating the breakdown and scrum and had scored two converted tries with 15 minutes gone.

On 23 minutes Blues advanced to the opposition 5m line. An infringement in the breakdown led to a yellow card and reduced Medway to 14 men.

Blues kicked for the corner, and from the lineout moved the ball towards the try line with a series of pick and goes. Medway were penalised for two further infringements and it was third time lucky for Chichester when the maul crossed the line and Charlie Wallace dotted down - 10-14.

Three minutes later a long kick from Thompson to the Medway try line, was chased down by Cam Hopkins and the pressured clearance kick went straight to Tom Blewitt, who set off on a run. His offload found Martin O’Callaghan who charged over the line, close to the posts, for a try on his 100th appearance for the first X. Converted by Blewitt, 17-14.

Soon a Goodwin interception and another O’Callaghan drive, supported by Joe Woods, saw Nick Blount cross the line but the referee penalised Blues for an infringement.

Straight after the restart Medway drew level with a long-range, wind-assisted penalty kick after a Chichester infringement.

The referee produced a yellow card on 57 minutes and the opposition were again reduced to 14 but Chichester couldn’t exploit the advantage.

left Toby Golds kicked the ball down the pitch and ran through to collect it. The ball was worked back across the pitch through the hands of Harry Seaman, Thompson and Liam Rowland to Sam Drayson who made 20m before being brought down by two defenders.

Golds received the offload and dived over in the corner for Chichester’s fourth try and a bonus point. Conversion missed, 22-17. Going behind seemed to spur Medway on and Blues spent the rest of the match defending. On 85 minutes, and with three Chichester players in the sin-bin, Medway breached the Blues’ defence and crossed the whitewash. The conversion struck the post and the match ended in a draw.

Blues are unbeaten at home in nearly five months.

MoM: Ben Deavall.

Chichester: Deavall, Makasi, Woods, O’Callaghan, Blount, Conoly, Wallace (capt.), Johnson, Goodwin, Thompson, Hopkins, Seaman, Blewitt, Rowland, Golds, Drayson, Magda, Spriggs.

Chichester travel to Kent to play Dartfordians this Saturday (2.30pm).