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Sat 14 Jan 2017 ·  London 1 South
1st XVGosport & Fareham
Tries: T Goss, M Klus (2), T Okenla (2), D Dorton, W Meddings, B Smith, J Luck, Z LewisConversions: D Dorton (8)
66
8
Dominant Gravesend secure great win
Mike CUBITT16 Jan 2017 - 12:51
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Ten tries from a well orchestrated performance that involved all players in various combinations as they backed each other throughout the game.
It didn't start looking like the one sided contest that it turned into. Gosport and Fareham were first to register a score on the board when a well struck penalty from the boot of skipper Wes Dugan, went through the uprights, 0-3 after just six minutes.
Gravesend came straight back from the restart, and following a brief passage of inter-passing between forwards and backs, Tom Goss finished the move with a well taken try.
Dave Dorton stepped up to add the conversion to move the scores on to 7-3.
The visitors worked hard to keep the pressure on Gravesend, and for the next ten minutes the home defence had to withstand some close encounters around their five metre line. The defensive line was secure and no breaches in the solid wall, as yet another attacked was quelled, a break out on the left for Gss took the game to the G&F ten metre line.
Good phases and recycling from the breakdown, saw Marc Klus again in the thick of it to take the final pass to crash over.
From the restart, a good catch and drive followed by quick released ball and the play was back inside the visitors twenty-two. With players on the shoulder of the ball carrier, the forward momentum didn't stop and just three minutes after the last score, Temi Okenla, with ball in hand, outstepped the defence to touch down.
Much against his run of form, both of these tries went without the extra points as Dorton's boot failed on both occasions, but Gss had 17-3 on the board.
With the low winter sun shining down the length of the pitch, the visitors made the most of putting Gss under pressure from the high ball, but they were dealt with by some confident secure hands on the ground.
As the play moved into the last ten minutes of the half, Marc Klus scored his second try of the afternoon, securing the try bonus that can help keep a team in the league when the final analysis comes at the end of the season. Dorton added the extra points and Gss had moved forward to 24-3.
To their credit, G&F continued to search for the elusive try. One knock-on over the line saw one missed and the strong defence denied them other opportunities.
With time slipping past the forty minutes, another foray into Gss twenty two, paid off as a superbly placed cross field kick was gathered on the right by wing Alan Bodel, who beat his way through to score. The conversion went astray, but the visitors now had closed the gap to 24-8.
The advantage that the visitors had enjoyed in the first half had disappeared for Gravesend as the sun slipped below the horizon, but with their confidence at its peak, Gss ran in six more tries all the videos are available attached to this report on the website, and every one of these was added to from the boot of Dave Dorton, who scored the first of the second half touch downs.
The other five were all following impressive whole team moves. The second phase possession, the platform set by the front five at the set piece scrum, the backing up on the shoulder of the ball carrier. A final tally of 66-8.
Not just forwards getting to the breakdown, but interchange of responsibility for securing the ball was shared. Although everyone no doubt deserves a mention in what was ultimately a fine team performance, players that should not go without a mention are Jon Luck, at hooker, great work at the drives and second phase. Glen Rademan who seems to grow in stature with every game, Rhys Betts whos courage and bravery under the high ball with opposition bearing down on him.
The players from the bench, who's versatility and ability blends in with no detraction from the game on the park. The return from injury of players that have been off the park for more months than they could have wished for and the desire to get across the whitewash by all of the players, but still selfless enough to give the ball away for someone else to get the score.
A great overall performance, and a confidence builder for their encounter with Tunbridge Wells, lying third in the league, next week on the North Downs. Kick-off away will be 14.00, and there will be places on the coach for supporters.
Gravesend came straight back from the restart, and following a brief passage of inter-passing between forwards and backs, Tom Goss finished the move with a well taken try.
Dave Dorton stepped up to add the conversion to move the scores on to 7-3.
The visitors worked hard to keep the pressure on Gravesend, and for the next ten minutes the home defence had to withstand some close encounters around their five metre line. The defensive line was secure and no breaches in the solid wall, as yet another attacked was quelled, a break out on the left for Gss took the game to the G&F ten metre line.
Good phases and recycling from the breakdown, saw Marc Klus again in the thick of it to take the final pass to crash over.
From the restart, a good catch and drive followed by quick released ball and the play was back inside the visitors twenty-two. With players on the shoulder of the ball carrier, the forward momentum didn't stop and just three minutes after the last score, Temi Okenla, with ball in hand, outstepped the defence to touch down.
Much against his run of form, both of these tries went without the extra points as Dorton's boot failed on both occasions, but Gss had 17-3 on the board.
With the low winter sun shining down the length of the pitch, the visitors made the most of putting Gss under pressure from the high ball, but they were dealt with by some confident secure hands on the ground.
As the play moved into the last ten minutes of the half, Marc Klus scored his second try of the afternoon, securing the try bonus that can help keep a team in the league when the final analysis comes at the end of the season. Dorton added the extra points and Gss had moved forward to 24-3.
To their credit, G&F continued to search for the elusive try. One knock-on over the line saw one missed and the strong defence denied them other opportunities.
With time slipping past the forty minutes, another foray into Gss twenty two, paid off as a superbly placed cross field kick was gathered on the right by wing Alan Bodel, who beat his way through to score. The conversion went astray, but the visitors now had closed the gap to 24-8.
The advantage that the visitors had enjoyed in the first half had disappeared for Gravesend as the sun slipped below the horizon, but with their confidence at its peak, Gss ran in six more tries all the videos are available attached to this report on the website, and every one of these was added to from the boot of Dave Dorton, who scored the first of the second half touch downs.
The other five were all following impressive whole team moves. The second phase possession, the platform set by the front five at the set piece scrum, the backing up on the shoulder of the ball carrier. A final tally of 66-8.
Not just forwards getting to the breakdown, but interchange of responsibility for securing the ball was shared. Although everyone no doubt deserves a mention in what was ultimately a fine team performance, players that should not go without a mention are Jon Luck, at hooker, great work at the drives and second phase. Glen Rademan who seems to grow in stature with every game, Rhys Betts whos courage and bravery under the high ball with opposition bearing down on him.
The players from the bench, who's versatility and ability blends in with no detraction from the game on the park. The return from injury of players that have been off the park for more months than they could have wished for and the desire to get across the whitewash by all of the players, but still selfless enough to give the ball away for someone else to get the score.
A great overall performance, and a confidence builder for their encounter with Tunbridge Wells, lying third in the league, next week on the North Downs. Kick-off away will be 14.00, and there will be places on the coach for supporters.
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