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Sat 19 Mar 2016 ·  National League 3
Tonbridge Juddian
1st XV
72
8
Humiliating defeat at Tonbridge
Mike CUBITT21 Mar 2016 - 10:16
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Team changes and the promotion to 1st XV duty of young players is no excuse for a lack of defensive structure.
Gravesend 1st XV once renowned for their defencive abilities have slipped backwards over the last two seasons and there has been no greater evidence of this than the display and lack of structure in the team on their visit to TJs last Saturday.
The relegation battle has been lost and a season or more in London One South is on the cards for the future, but if they can hold on to key players and add the youngsters coming through, along with some new blood, then there could be entertaining rugby returning to Rectory Field before too long.
The result was never in doubt and Gss found themselves up against a class act, with so much speed on the flanks and running strength down the middle of the park, but at thirty minutes the score stood at 15-3, and if the ball had been retained a little better Gss could have had a try of their own. As it was they managed to commit the offence when camped on TJs line and lose possession.
Four tries in the last nine minutes of the half added to their earlier scores took the total to 41-3 at the Interval.
Gravesend's young debutantes equited themselves well Rhys Betts starting on the wing and moving to full back during the second half. Joe Tomlin starting on the bench but on the field from the off as Gss lost Curley in the pre-match warm-up, and flanker Matt Hewitt being introduced to the wing when Temi Okenla limped off early in the second half.
Not the best game to be called upon to make a debut, but they can know that they did not let the team down on their first appearances. Perhaps Gss were fortunate to have the likes of Gary Gray on the park marshaling the guys and adding encouragement, along with the driving force of the experienced Jamie Forsyth in the pack.
Gss inability to finish off what starts as a promising move was evident yet again, and at times when they took the game to the opposition there was promise, that was never fulfilled.
Some good rucking and driving mauls from ball taken off the top of the line-out, got them so close and deserved reward, but these chances have to be taken.
Two more tries in the first twenty minutes from the break, was answered by one for Gss but the scoreline already stood at 51-8 and the last quarter of the game saw TJs run in three more, all converted to lift the final score to 72-8.
A break in procedures until until April 2 when Gss entertain Bracknell before they fly out to Guernsey for the April 9.
The relegation battle has been lost and a season or more in London One South is on the cards for the future, but if they can hold on to key players and add the youngsters coming through, along with some new blood, then there could be entertaining rugby returning to Rectory Field before too long.
The result was never in doubt and Gss found themselves up against a class act, with so much speed on the flanks and running strength down the middle of the park, but at thirty minutes the score stood at 15-3, and if the ball had been retained a little better Gss could have had a try of their own. As it was they managed to commit the offence when camped on TJs line and lose possession.
Four tries in the last nine minutes of the half added to their earlier scores took the total to 41-3 at the Interval.
Gravesend's young debutantes equited themselves well Rhys Betts starting on the wing and moving to full back during the second half. Joe Tomlin starting on the bench but on the field from the off as Gss lost Curley in the pre-match warm-up, and flanker Matt Hewitt being introduced to the wing when Temi Okenla limped off early in the second half.
Not the best game to be called upon to make a debut, but they can know that they did not let the team down on their first appearances. Perhaps Gss were fortunate to have the likes of Gary Gray on the park marshaling the guys and adding encouragement, along with the driving force of the experienced Jamie Forsyth in the pack.
Gss inability to finish off what starts as a promising move was evident yet again, and at times when they took the game to the opposition there was promise, that was never fulfilled.
Some good rucking and driving mauls from ball taken off the top of the line-out, got them so close and deserved reward, but these chances have to be taken.
Two more tries in the first twenty minutes from the break, was answered by one for Gss but the scoreline already stood at 51-8 and the last quarter of the game saw TJs run in three more, all converted to lift the final score to 72-8.
A break in procedures until until April 2 when Gss entertain Bracknell before they fly out to Guernsey for the April 9.
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