Good chances created in defeat

The visit to the Hazelwood Centre was never going to be an easy passage against LI Wild Geese, but Gss, from being 19-0 down in as many minutes, fought back hard to push for the points and perhaps a win.
Gravesend’s pack established a strong platform for most of this game, and it was only injury changes late on that led to some instability, but overall a performance that must reap it rewards against lesser opposition.
London Irish showed why they are pressing for promotion with the pace in their three-quarter line that was immediate and their ability to change the direction of the game that kept Gss guesing of where they would be coming from next.
Gravesend’s defence that showed a definite weakness earlier in the season was much tighter and tackling much stronger, showing a continuation from the game against G Force in the last fixture of 2015.
Ball carrying by Gravesend’s big props, Jamie Forsyth and Tom Shields as they attacked around the breakdown was impressive, although at times the back-up could have been a little closer to gain the benefits from this.
Debutante fly-half, Jason Thomasen-Hicks, showed a self confidence that helped pull the backs together, and should prove to be an asset over the coming weeks.
Not more than a handful of penalties, from either XV, during the entire eighty minutes and these were all technical offences.
Nineteen points adrift in the first quarter, but Wild Geese were not having it all their own way. Against a strong wind and sheeting rain, Gss were competing well and taking the game to their opposition.
Several occasions saw the ball carried to within metres of the try line only for the strong defenders to scupper Gss progress, and a series of five metre scrums looked certain to lead to a score but it was not to come.
Chances missed, but they were being made by a lively Gravesend pack, and they were winning plenty of possession for half-backs Bradley Smith and Jason Thomasen-Hicks to get the three going forward.
The driven line, although always starting slowly, eventually paid off when Forsyth at the tail, went over to touch down. The successful conversion from Thomasen-Hicks reduce the deficit to 19-7 at the break.
Much of the second half was played in Irish territory, good possession for Gss, but a steadfast defective line kept them out.
The home side always looked dangerous on the counter attack but with the improvement of Gss tackling, they also could find no way though.
Perhaps some of the better chances were being created by the visiting forwards, but it was just the finishing that let the home XV off the hook.
A late try lifted the final score to 24-7, but this in no way reflected the closeness that this contest had been.
For Gravesend this was a performance from a squad of players that have not yet shown their potential, but it looks certain to come together before to long.