Tunnel vision as Gss take loss

Despite topping the league coming into this game, and remaining there after the final whistle, it is unlikely that we saw a team that will be competing for league honours at the end of the season, as Tunbridge Wells were flattered by their win at Gravesend on Saturday.
The closeness of the result came from some dour defensive struggles by both teams on the park, but rather than a losing bonus point gained, this must be looked at as a four point loss for Gss, as their overall performance was deserved of more.
The chance for first blood went to TWells full back Hayden Hope as he attempted a kick from the half-way line that went past the uprights, but it wasn't until twenty seven minutes had passed before Dave Dorton secured the first points for Gravesend with his usual accurate boot, 3-0.
The first points coming from good forward pressure around the opposition twenty-two but the second score came from a superb individual gather and run by Geoff Marshall. Taking a loose ball at the back of a line-out on the ten metre line, Marshall set off for the line, chased by Wells forwards, his pace took him past the central defence and despite close attendance of a last ditch tackle he forced his way over for the try. 8-0 and the kick looked on target, until the strong breeze forced it wide at the last seconds.
Gss front row ensured dominance at the set piece, while once they had settled, the line-out variations work extremely well, along with the front five, the back row put in huge performances throughout the game.
The half backs gelled well, with good service from the huge supply of ball, but the sticking down the middle just didn't pay off, but did make more work for the forwards to recover.
With the game seemingly under control, Gss had a lapse of attention at a maul near their ten metre line, and Well's Jake Thompson emerged with ball in hand to chase in unopposed to cross between the posts. Fly-half Frank Reynolds added the extras to close the gap to 8-7.
Gss ability to recycle the ball from the breakdown, at times works well, and with Dave Dorton setting Tom Bird free, the supporting Matt Hewitt took the final pass to race in for the try. The respectable score of 13-7 was how it stood at the interval.
One can't help thinking that with so many opportunities to make use of the pace out wide, especially when the opposition defence was missing, ignored, for the sake of the crash ball down the middle, that Gravesend could have been a dozen or more points clear by this time.
The second half saw the visitors come out with a more positive approach, and their backs always looked more dangerous with the ball in their hands, but fortunately the Gss defence was a match for this.
The tunnel vision of Gss continued as they played their narrow game, relying on second and third phase possession, crashing down the centre, seemingly not wanting to use the talented wing-three quarters.
This renewed approach saw the visitors take the initiative and pressure around Gss five metre line culminated in Hayden Pengelly outwitting the Gss defence to go over the whitewash, narrowing the difference to 13-12, whith the conversion missed.
The decisions not to change the pattern of play allows the opposition to read the moves before they happen, while the decision not to pass the ball out of the centre must be seen as a weakness in the Gss attack, that has now been apparent for three seasons, including this one.
How many more chances have to be spurned before Gss go on the park with more than one game plan and the knowledge of when to change their approach to keep the opposition guessing.
Good individual performances by many of the Gss XV, but no real overall team cohesion, but this said, some of the decisions and constant offside that was allowed to spoil the game, didn't help.
So much more was deserved from these individual displays, but until Gss learn to cross the line when the chances are there, there could be more of this to come.
After a chase and tackle close to the line, Temi Okenla was adjudged to have not released the player and getting up before trying to release the held ball, and received a yellow card.
Down to fourteen players for the last ten minutes of the game Gss were forced to defend their line, and it was again controversial decisions that allowed Nick Blacklock to force his way down for the crucial score to put the visitors in front for the first time, 13-17 with just four minute remaining.
Gss were quick to get back into TWells territory, and a penalty chance was sent to the line to look for the winning score. The line out won, Gss usual secure momentum was held up, and having taken the ball into the maul, the failure to go to ground gave the visitors the scrum, which ended the come back that Gss hoped for. The final score 13-17 was very flattering for Tunbridge Wells, and very disappointing for Gss who had controlled the game for most of the eighty minutes.
Next week away at Maidstone, the first clash of 1st XVs since the injury to Clarence Harding on 17 January 2010.