Gss lose in twelve try spectacle

Tottonians were quick to settle and a questionable penalty, given within two seconds of a player hitting the ground from the tackle, enabled Robert Searle to put the home team on the board with the first of his seven successful kicks during the afternoon.
With their tails up, the home XV had extended this early lead to 15-0 after just ten minutes of play. A Searle try and conversion before wing three-quarter Nick Jones outpaced Gss defence to race in wide on the right.
A Dave Dorton penalty opened Gss account and just one minute later some enterprising play by the visitors saw Temi Okenla outwit the defence to finish off a well constructed move, Dorton added the conversion to close the scores to 15-10 before the end of the first quarter.
Many early, questionable refereeing decisions were having a big influence on the game, including many offside, and high tackles not penalised, but this did not effect the superior pace of the home backs that forced Gss to defend for much of the second quarter, with Michael and Robert Searle being the instruments of destruction in the middle of the park.
Gravesend's pack were more than holding their own, with the back three supported by the front five supply ample ball to get the backs away, but a slow service from the middle gave little time for the ball to get wide as the home threes were allowed to take that extra half metre in front of the back foot.
A pushover try following a five metre line-out saw Oliver Northover touch down to extend the home advantage which was reduced again as Rhys Betts slotted over a penalty for Gss, (Dorton carrying a thigh strain) but this was cancelled out when Searle pulled this back on the stroke of half time 23-13.
The ten point difference did not seem unsurmountable following Gss performance of the first forty minutes as they were playing some good running rugby, that was only not getting the rewards it deserved by a combination of a strong home defence and the man with the whistle.
Fifteen minutes after the restart, and an error strewn period for Gss, along with an outstanding display of opportunist fast running rugby by the Searle cousins along with Dylan Baptista who finished off what their team mates had started, saw Tottonians race ahead by another twenty-one points without reply for 44-13.
It wasn't that Gss were out of the game during this time, as they were forcing the home side to defend throughout, but passing without looking gave the ball away for fourteen of these points, and once on the front foot, the home backs were difficult to pull down.
Gss questionable kicking out of hand decisions which saw a flat ball charged down and the long ball straight to the hands of the home defence when space was available elsewhere, if only a better awareness of where the opposition players were.
A yellow card for lock Alistair Ramus for pulling down at the line-out, was quickly followed by the crossing of the line by Matt Hewitt, wide on the left, Betts conversion attempt drifted wide of the posts, 44-18.
Another goal for the home XV following more Gss errors as they were turned over in the backs gave the home side a 51-18 advantage, as they again capitalised on Gss mistakes.
It was not for a lack of effort, that Gss were behind, it was just application, and when their game came together the few travelling supporters were treated to some fine running rugby and support play that has been seen already this season.
Brad Smith had a ten minute spell in the sin-bin for taking out in the air but Gss did not hold back.
Just a minute after the last home score, and Temi Okenla finished of a great move that saw him score his second of the afternoon, and this was added to from the boot of Rhys Betts, on the com back? 51-25.
The spirit and continued efforts, with ball now sticking to hand, great running by Geoff Marshall Matt Hewitt and James Newman, supported by Glen Radman and the rest of the pack, kept the ball alive and Gravesend on the front foot with the home side now defending with earnest.
Concerted efforts around the home five metre line and Adam Kitt finished off by touching down the try near the corner flag 51-30.
Never giving up there continued attacking play, Gss were looking to capitalise on there own tighter play as they fought for more scores, and on seventy-seven minutes Rhys Betts finished off some great inter changes to score, the third try in seven minutes, the conversion again went astray but Gss were back to 51-35.
The last three minutes saw Gss continue to look for more points, but none came. This was a game that Gss could have won as much of the best phases of this game came from the play of Gravesend, but sadly so did the errors which Tottonians capitalised on by getting the ball to their speedy, talented three-quarters.
Great team atmosphere and support for each other, and the promise of much to come from this young squad of players once the errors are contained.
Next week Gss entertain the high flying Havant who have a plus 210 points from their 8 games while Gss sit with -1, with this also being captains day.