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Sat 03 Oct 2015 ·  National League 3
Chichester
1st XV
19
11
Tries: T OkenlaPenalties: S Curley (2)
Where to next?
Mike CUBITT3 Oct 2015 - 18:17
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One can't deny the commitment from the Gravesend players, but at National 3 level, surely players should not be learning the game, but have experience
The fact that Chichester had to defend like lions would argue that Gravesend were dangerous going forward but, on this performance, that would not be the case.
Gravesend once again showed that they have continued to be the "one trick pony" that they were last season, with the ball being recycled to go forward a metre or two at the most, before often losing possession.
Chichester have now played Gss five times and won four of these losing the other 23-24, and they have faced a "team" if one could call today's fifteen players that with little flair or alternative play making to stretch their opposition.
A pushover try and three penalties from the front row was indicative of where the Gs game was already failing in the first ten minutes, players out of position, when others may well have had greater impact and usefulness on the park.
It was evident throughout the game that the defence in the centre of the park was sadly lacking, and had it not been for the back-row, with huge performances from Thomas Bird and Geoff Marshall the margin of defeat could well have been greater.
Time and again missed or weak tackles left Gss showing a frailty that a better team would have taken advantage of.
Error strewn performances, but still ample possession, that died in the middle of the park, or, when there were options outside, was kicked into the open arms of the grateful Chi three-quarters, who were more than able to counter attack with some penetration.
7-0 behind from an early try and conversion, but a penalty from Scott Curley reduced this by three.
Chichester's recycling was superior and their backing up with all their players getting around the field with numerical superiority at every phase.
A penalty from the boot of fly-half Danny Gray to add to his earlier conversion put the scores at 10-3 at the end of the first quarter, but it was the inability of Gravesend to make the most of their presence inside the home twenty-two that let Chi off the hook.
Several times the strong running backs had taken Gss to within touching distance of the Chi try line, but they could not convert this pressure into points, and there could have been and should have been several.
At 10-3 Chichester must have been happy as their defence showed determination and resolve to keep their line secure.
Just one minute after the restart and Scott Curley put over his second kick to close the gap 10-6, but that was about where it stayed for thirty minutes of the second half.
The game was being played out in the middle of the park with neither side being able to get the momentum needed for a break through. Huge struggles to secure possession although fairly even, it was Chi that had the ambition to go forward, off-loading as they went.
Three times a home XV incursion into the visitors territory, and three kickable penalties which Danny Gray slotted between the posts, and these all came before the end of the third quarter, for 19-6.
There was some brightness in the Gss play when they managed to move the ball wide, but often the feed going to Gary Gray, who was another that made a good showing in defence and going forward, with the slow arriving ball but the close attention of the Chi back row left him little time to use the it.
Steve McNamara made a good debut at full-back and and it was noticeable when Harley Skidmore came on for the last five minutes, the earlier inability of Gss to take the pressure at the scrum was steadied.
Seven lost/overthrown balls at the line-out with Gss in attacking positions, gave Chi another area to attack from that had to be quelled, and give Gravesend their just praise, they didn't allow Chi to add to their first half try.
A scoring chance was denied Gss, when just a metre short of the line, the illegal intervention of Chi's captain, Chris Johnson, saw the player sent to the sin bin to sit out the remainder of the game
Several more chances were created but not finished as Gss fought their way forward, through Gray, McNamara, Will Meddings and Tom Goss went unfinished, or the final pass did not reach the player in space.
Eventually, on eighty minutes, another spark of brightness lit the Gss sky as Temi Okenla was at last given the room to force his way through the defence to score Gss try, a successful conversion would have give Gss the all important losing bonus point, but as in the previous games, the boot let them down, and they left Chichester with nothing but their wounds to lick.
Gravesend once again showed that they have continued to be the "one trick pony" that they were last season, with the ball being recycled to go forward a metre or two at the most, before often losing possession.
Chichester have now played Gss five times and won four of these losing the other 23-24, and they have faced a "team" if one could call today's fifteen players that with little flair or alternative play making to stretch their opposition.
A pushover try and three penalties from the front row was indicative of where the Gs game was already failing in the first ten minutes, players out of position, when others may well have had greater impact and usefulness on the park.
It was evident throughout the game that the defence in the centre of the park was sadly lacking, and had it not been for the back-row, with huge performances from Thomas Bird and Geoff Marshall the margin of defeat could well have been greater.
Time and again missed or weak tackles left Gss showing a frailty that a better team would have taken advantage of.
Error strewn performances, but still ample possession, that died in the middle of the park, or, when there were options outside, was kicked into the open arms of the grateful Chi three-quarters, who were more than able to counter attack with some penetration.
7-0 behind from an early try and conversion, but a penalty from Scott Curley reduced this by three.
Chichester's recycling was superior and their backing up with all their players getting around the field with numerical superiority at every phase.
A penalty from the boot of fly-half Danny Gray to add to his earlier conversion put the scores at 10-3 at the end of the first quarter, but it was the inability of Gravesend to make the most of their presence inside the home twenty-two that let Chi off the hook.
Several times the strong running backs had taken Gss to within touching distance of the Chi try line, but they could not convert this pressure into points, and there could have been and should have been several.
At 10-3 Chichester must have been happy as their defence showed determination and resolve to keep their line secure.
Just one minute after the restart and Scott Curley put over his second kick to close the gap 10-6, but that was about where it stayed for thirty minutes of the second half.
The game was being played out in the middle of the park with neither side being able to get the momentum needed for a break through. Huge struggles to secure possession although fairly even, it was Chi that had the ambition to go forward, off-loading as they went.
Three times a home XV incursion into the visitors territory, and three kickable penalties which Danny Gray slotted between the posts, and these all came before the end of the third quarter, for 19-6.
There was some brightness in the Gss play when they managed to move the ball wide, but often the feed going to Gary Gray, who was another that made a good showing in defence and going forward, with the slow arriving ball but the close attention of the Chi back row left him little time to use the it.
Steve McNamara made a good debut at full-back and and it was noticeable when Harley Skidmore came on for the last five minutes, the earlier inability of Gss to take the pressure at the scrum was steadied.
Seven lost/overthrown balls at the line-out with Gss in attacking positions, gave Chi another area to attack from that had to be quelled, and give Gravesend their just praise, they didn't allow Chi to add to their first half try.
A scoring chance was denied Gss, when just a metre short of the line, the illegal intervention of Chi's captain, Chris Johnson, saw the player sent to the sin bin to sit out the remainder of the game
Several more chances were created but not finished as Gss fought their way forward, through Gray, McNamara, Will Meddings and Tom Goss went unfinished, or the final pass did not reach the player in space.
Eventually, on eighty minutes, another spark of brightness lit the Gss sky as Temi Okenla was at last given the room to force his way through the defence to score Gss try, a successful conversion would have give Gss the all important losing bonus point, but as in the previous games, the boot let them down, and they left Chichester with nothing but their wounds to lick.
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