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Sat 21 Nov 2015 ·  National League 3
1st XVTonbridge Juddian
3
49
A long road to survival
Mike CUBITT21 Nov 2015 - 18:16
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In a game of two contrasting halves, the first where Gss showed why they should be in this league, the second how far out of their depth it can look.
Strange as it may seem, from the final score line, but Gss were taking the game to their opposition from the outset, and could consider themselves unlucky not to have had early points on the board.
Stout defending by the visitors, TJs, prevented Gravesend from crossing the whitewash, and the majority of their attacks were from break-outs after Gss lost the ball forward.
The indiscipline of the visitors saw them give penalty after penalty where there was a margin of 5-1 in the first forty minutes and a yellow card for Cole Campbell three minutes from the interval.
So tight was the game, that the first score didn't come until the thirty second minute, when the ball had been moved wide on TJs right, and poor tackling let the speedy wing through to touch down.
An excellent kick from the boot of full back Cooper added the two extras for 0-7.
Another purple period for Gss as they launched attack after attack inside the visitors twenty-two, but some robust tackling kept Gss out, sometimes being on the edge of legality.
Eventually the punishment came when the lock forward was shown the yellow card and Stephen McNamara put Gss on the board from the tee, 3-7.
The second half started much as the first ended, with the major struggle for possession in the forwards, and when TJs were back to a full compliment it was just minutes before a player wearing 19 on his back was sent off for dangerous play at a line-out.
The visitors fourteen upped their game and filled in for the missing man and as the game went in to the last quarter a penalty from the boot of Cooper edged the difference to 3-10.
TJ's exhibited greater flair when their backs had the ball, and their forwards were proving more than a handful as they rampaged forward with ball in hand.
Poor, and at times non-existent tackling from some of the home XV meant that every tackle was a two man event, leaving Gss exposed time and again in defence.
The penalty count this half was going in the opposite direction than in the first, with Gss count rising .
A try on sixty-six minutes eased the visitors onward, but no one could have expected what was to follow as TJs ran in a further six tries (yes 6), two of which were converted, for a final tally making the score 3-49.
Stout defending by the visitors, TJs, prevented Gravesend from crossing the whitewash, and the majority of their attacks were from break-outs after Gss lost the ball forward.
The indiscipline of the visitors saw them give penalty after penalty where there was a margin of 5-1 in the first forty minutes and a yellow card for Cole Campbell three minutes from the interval.
So tight was the game, that the first score didn't come until the thirty second minute, when the ball had been moved wide on TJs right, and poor tackling let the speedy wing through to touch down.
An excellent kick from the boot of full back Cooper added the two extras for 0-7.
Another purple period for Gss as they launched attack after attack inside the visitors twenty-two, but some robust tackling kept Gss out, sometimes being on the edge of legality.
Eventually the punishment came when the lock forward was shown the yellow card and Stephen McNamara put Gss on the board from the tee, 3-7.
The second half started much as the first ended, with the major struggle for possession in the forwards, and when TJs were back to a full compliment it was just minutes before a player wearing 19 on his back was sent off for dangerous play at a line-out.
The visitors fourteen upped their game and filled in for the missing man and as the game went in to the last quarter a penalty from the boot of Cooper edged the difference to 3-10.
TJ's exhibited greater flair when their backs had the ball, and their forwards were proving more than a handful as they rampaged forward with ball in hand.
Poor, and at times non-existent tackling from some of the home XV meant that every tackle was a two man event, leaving Gss exposed time and again in defence.
The penalty count this half was going in the opposite direction than in the first, with Gss count rising .
A try on sixty-six minutes eased the visitors onward, but no one could have expected what was to follow as TJs ran in a further six tries (yes 6), two of which were converted, for a final tally making the score 3-49.
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