Closer than the score suggests

Fifteen minutes of strong forward struggles, with Gss dominant at the scrummage while Cobham were looking impressive at the line-out, but the first chance fell to the visitors, and Dave Dorton secured the first points from the tee for 0-3.
The speed of the of passing along the line, combined with the pace of Matt Goddard in the centre and Alex Aves on the wide right left Gss struggling to cope and when the pair came together at the end of the first quarter, the latter strolled in for the try.
Ollie Weir added the conversion put the home side ahead 7-3.
Gss are at times guilty of leaving gaps in their defence line, and there can be few better than the Cobham backs in exploiting this and the sharp Robbie Kennard was quick to seize his opportunity to cross the line after a series of pick and rolls in the five metre area.
The extras were missed by Weir, but at 12-3, Cobham were in command.
Gss as always, took the game forward at every opportunity, but could find no way through the tight home defensive line, and it was yet another Dave Dorton successful kick that kept them in the hunt as the scores closed to 12-6.
Much of the play was taking place in Cobham territory, where a fierce battle was taking place for possession in the forwards. Although getting the better of most of this, Gss could not cope with the speed of the break outs, and it was again a swift passing combination that led to the extremely speedy Goddard running in to touch down between the posts.
Weir added the conversion before stretching the home advantage to 22-6 with a penalty.
Again the play was taken back into the home twenty two and after a forward drive at a line out, several recycled balls later, the alert Geoff Marshall, came out on the blind side to chase through to touch down. Dorton's conversion attempt went past the upright, but on the wrong side, and as the break came the scores stood at 22-11.
Fifteen minutes after the interval, and Gss were looking strong with the ball in hand, Bird, Hewitt, Barbour et al, with strong carries.
When Temi Okenla broke through the middle, he had passed two defenders with two more to negotiate, have stepped past one of these, before he was brought down with a high and dangerous tackle by home number eight.
The player was shown the yellow card for his misdemeanour, and Dave Dorton slotted over the resulting penalty, (should this not have been a penalty try and a red card shown as the player was the last player in defence?).
With the extra man, in the pack, Gss were continuing to drive the home pack backwards at the set piece scrummage, and had the play camped around the opposition twenty-two metre line.
Nothing more came of points during the ten minutes advantage, but with Cobham back to full strength and defending, good recycling of the ball, and the combining of backs and forwards eventually got the rewards it deserved as Temi Okenla took the pass that led him to run round for the well deserved try. Dave Dorton added the conversion and a scoreline of 22-21, the game now on a knife edge.
From the following drop out from the half way line, two players jumped high for the ball, neither successful, but hitting into each other in the air, resulting in both on the floor. Inexplicably, although both jumping for the ball, and neither player tackling the other, what was expected to be a scum to the attacking side, ended with a yellow for Gravesend's Glen Rademan, who had to sit out ten of the last eleven minutes of the game (perhaps a little unjust). This decision played a major influence in the final outcome of this finely balanced contest.
The penalty kick was sent to the corner, where the Cobham line-out had been superb all afternoon, as they were quick to drive their own ball. Gss defence held them out, and after several concerted efforts that were frustrated, the ball was released to the backs, where Goddard accepted another chance to put his name on the score sheet.
The conversion was missed on this occasion, but making the most of the man advantage, and Gss missing their big man Rademan,
Cobham's loose-head, Richard Phillip picked up at the back of the breakdown inside Gss twenty-two and ran in for a flattering fifth try for the home side, with the conversion moving the difference to 34-21.
Although Cobham deserved their win, as their overall performance was just ahead of that of Gravesend, the hard working Gss would have been deserving of a losing bonus point for all their efforts.
Next week Gss entertain Sidcup in the first game of the second half of the season.