Gsss’ half-backs control game

Having a week-end off, following a Kent Cup success at Canterbury the previous Wednesday, it was a rusty Gravesend that took to the park to face what was to be a well organised and disciplined Sutton & Epsom XV who had won ten of their games this season and were sitting a comfortable twenty-three points above the drop zone.

A slow start from Gsss allowed the home side to dominate the early exchanges, and Sutton were showing that they were more than able to take the Gravesend ball at the line-out, and at the first Gravesend Scrummage.

As has been so often the case, Gsss frustration led to a rising penalty count, and on ten minutes Sam Hurley added his first of the day to his previous 134 points from the boot in the league this season.

Gravesend did get a reasonable share of the ball, but a tight home defence was not about to leave any gaps for their visitors to exploit, this and some poor handling errors kept Gsss at bay.

With the penalty count justifiably rising to a difference of 1-3 in the home sides favour, it was again Hurley that put his boot to the ball for a second penalty on twenty-one minutes for a 6-0 advantage.

Forced to defend for what seemed long periods, it was inevitable that a yellow would come Gsss way, and it was flanker Adam Aigbokhae that found himself in the sin-bin.

The usually reliable Hurley slipped to miss what should have been an easy three points, and at this time Tom Goss game on for the injured Junior Rocket,

Ten minutes left to play and Gsss were getting a grip on the game, and when Temi Okenla burst through avoiding the close attentions of the home defence, a lack of confidence saw him pass the ball to Chris Meddings to his left, only to see the centre hauled down short of the line, when he should have trusted his own ability to get through.

A deliberate one handed intervention when Gsss had an overlap inexplicably was signalled to be played on, with no advantage being played, and another Gsss attack was foiled.

As the half was coming to a close, a poorly positioned official found himself in the way of play, and strangely thought he had been deliberately run into, another yellow card and penalty chance for the home XV.

Justice was seen to be done as Hurley again miscued his kick for the ball to sail past the posts, bringing the half to a close with a 6-0 home advantage.

The second half started in similar vein to the first, but this time a penalty chance for Gsss was taken advantage of as Miki Zanirato put Gravesend on the board with a well struck kick from the tee for 6-3.

Gravesend’s act was starting to come together, at Matt Bressons and Zanirato took control of the play, but still there was no really flowing rugby for the discerning spectators to enjoy.

Lots of static play, broken by the occasional break out by both XVs, all seemingly covered by the defences, until a blistering turn of pace by the “poacher”, Tony Nolan, saw the speedy wing outwit his opposite number to chase in and score.

Ten minutes into the second half and Gsss were now in front 6-10 as Zanirato added the extras.

Fifty-five minutes on the board and it was a mesmerised home defence, that had been strong all afternoon, that watched Bressons first make, then take, the space to run in for Gsss second try.

Zanirato’s conversion was followed a few minutes later by yet another missed opportunity from the boot of Hurley.

Sutton’s James Caddy along with Shawn Renwick were ensuring the home backs plenty of ball but what looked like a couple of lively wing-three-quarters, in Oduyemi and Ghumra, were not receiving the ball as the visiting Gsss back line were quick to close down the play in the centre.

Adam Aigbokhae was again the liveliest forward on the park, and it was no accident that he crossed for the third try of the afternoon as his ever present backing up saw the flanker cross the line for the score.

Zanirato was on target again for comfortable 6-24.

Six minutes of the game to play and a home front row sin-binned, and the scrummage went uncontested, to no-ones advantage, but Gsss were still short of the bonus point.

By now all of the Gravesend replacements had been rolled on, and it didn't stop the visiting forwards from taking the game to the home side.

Ross Comfort, only on for a couple of minutes and he added his name to the score sheet, for Miki to add the extras.

With the clock going red and the game into overtime, Aigbokhae, ever aware of a half-chance, crossed for his second of the day for a final tally of 6-36.

Next week Gravesend travel to the Sussex coast for the top of the table clash with close rivals Chichester.