Tring were in to their stride from the first whistle, and as Gravesend failed to secure the ball from the kick-off, turn-over ball was quickly fed to the alert scrum-half Samuel Clapham to touch-down wide out.

G’s were soon back on the offensive and a series of forward drives led to the first opportunity for Josh Smith to put points on the board but his kick went wide.

Much against the run of play, Tring were awarded a penalty in front of the posts as Gs were caught off-side, and this time Liam Chennels made no mistake from the tee to put the visitors 0-8 in front.

Gravesend’s forwards were dominating the play at the scrum, but the usually accurate line throwing was not always successful.

Good ball going forward and the Gravesend backs were enjoying possession that looked certain to lead to points.

When Gary Gray broke through from the centre after the ball had been recycled he had made thirty metres with the line just fifteen away.

A lack of confidence saw the fly half stop as the opposition cover raced across, and the opportunity was lost.

From the resulting ruck that followed, Gs won a penalty, and from a quick tap and go, Jon Clement was tackled early and a second penalty was awarded.

Several pick-up and drives later and skipper Jamie Forsyth forced the ball down for the try.

Josh Smith converted to narrow the gap to 7-8 after sixteen minutes.

Gravesend forwards, with Sox Stevens leading the way were keeping the visiting pack on their toes, and good second phase possession led to numerous opportunities for the backs.

It was again Chennells who put points on the board for Tring with another well struck kick.

Minutes later a break on the left as Adam Bishop’s well angled run joined Tom Goss on the opposite wing and with full-back Sam Hall racing in to take the final pass he outwitted the defence to touch-down.

Smith, adding the conversion, to put Gravesend in front, 14-11.

With fifteen minutes of the first half remaining, and Gs playing the best of the rugby in what was turning out to be a very entertaining game, more scores looked likely, but none came.

The second half was much of the same, Gravesend’s front five performing excellently in the tight as they drove the opposition backwards.

The Stevens brothers worked tirelessly along with Tomas Ford to stop and moves around the fringes, and secure turn-over ball.

Despite the plethora of possession, the home three-quarters could find no way through.

Tring’s opportunities were few, but when they did secure the ball their backs looked dangerous and only some strong tackling kept them out.

With most of the second half played in the Tring half, a dour struggle was on to keep Gravesend out.

What possession was going the visitors way, was coming from Gs mistakes. Failure to find touch from field penalty kicks, missing the jumper at the line-out, fed Tring the best of their ball, and helped ease the pressure on their line.

Deadlock ensued until an infringement by the visitors defence gave Smith the chance to put Gravesend further ahead on seventy-one minutes, but his kick from in front of the posts went wide, another opportunity  lost.

Still with the advantage on the board, and time running out, the points looked safe, but poor tackling from Gs allowed Tring to progress from the half-way line into the twenty-two before lock forward David Shotton stretch over for the final score.

Two minutes of play left and Gravesend found themselves the losers of a game they had dominated throughout, and a final score line of 14-16.

It is strange, that when Gravesend have in the team a player that dominated the kicking points table, just two seasons ago, he is seldom called on to put into practice what spectators know is one of his greatest strengths.

Next week Gravesend are away to Bracknell which concludes the first half of the season, needing a win to boost their confidence before they play the last home game of 2011 against a resurgent Westcliffe.

Gravesend: Sam Hall, Adam Bishop, Scott Curley, Josh Smith, Tom Goss, Gary Gray, Jon Clement, Jamie Forsyth, Warren McKee, Chris Anstey, Dave Irvine, Reuben Potaka, Tomas Ford, Ziggy Stevens, Sox Stevens. Rep: Phil Thompson, Nathan Lines, Jamie Gwynne.