Good opening result for Gsss

Our condolences go out to the Steven's family at the loss of a family elder, far away in Fiji.
With Colchester bringing an unbeaten record from last season with them, and Gravesend missing several regular team players due to injuries and the forced absence of Sox and Ziggy, this was not a game to be confident of predicting the result.
As it was, the good crowd of spectators were treated to some fine flowing and ambitious running rugby, and were entertained with a total of seven tries, but this could have been more if the ambition had been better rewarded.
A charge down, of a poor clearance kick, saw the lively home hooker, Dan Brennan chase in the ball for the touch-down. David Higgins went wide with the conversion but Colchester had first blood of the new season.
Perhaps a lighter pack that had taken the field for Gravesend for some time, were initially on the back foot but that was short lived as they found their grip and stability, to produce some good balls to set up the backs to take the game forward.
Good possession, but again an error let Colchester through and in for their second try, and this time Higgins was on target to ease the home side away to 12-0 by the end of the first quarter.
Following some concerted driving in the forwards, the ball was made available for a strong running Cameron Barbour to force his way through to put the ball down over the whitewash. Jacob Berthelsen confidently slotted over his first opportunity to reduce the arrears to 12-7.
Great entertaining play was being produced by both sets of backs as they shared an equal supply of ball. Often starved of possession on the wing last season, Temi Okenla made sure of his chance as he ran in Gravesend' second try of the half but with a missed conversion and a couple of well struck penalties from home fly-half Higgins, Gravesend went in at the break 18-12 behind.
Gsss were on the front foot from the restart for the second half, and with the help of the breeze kept Colchester inside their own territory in the early exchanges, and never one to miss an opportunity, Tom Goss seized the chance to touch down Gsss third try of the afternoon, Berthelsen added the extras to put the visitors in front for the first time.
Several changes of players from both squads took place before the end of the third quarter, and this was also the time in which Colchester re-gained the advantage as full-back Brett Cutbush came through for a well taken try. conversion missed but back into the lead in front of their home crowd.
As the last quarter was entered it was apparent that despite the changes of personnel, Gsss had the greater experience to put in a team performance that saw them run in two more converted tries in the last ten minutes, through Geoff Marshall and Cameron Barbour capped off his first appearance in the black and white hoops with his second of the afternoon, as he beat a fumbling defence to the ball in their goal area, both converted by the surefooted Jacob Berthelsen.
A fine bonus point win from the opening game of the season, but Gss can't be complacent as they have a tough month ahead with three home games on the trot as they face East Grinstead, London Irish Wild Geese, and local rivals Westcombe Park.