Gsss keep supporters on the edge

Forced into several changes from the squad that played at Chichester the previous Saturday, and with the disappointment of that defeat still fresh in their minds, Gravesend showed a maturity and determination to put that game aside and put them back in the driving seat for league victory.

Taking the first two scrums against the head, driving their opposition off the ball, it was just two minutes before Marc Klus touched down for the first score. Miki Zanirato slotted over from the tee for 7-0.

Such was the drive from Gravesend that those on terraces were anticipating more of the same, but far from rolling over the Blues regrouped and joined in to make the game more contested than the first few minutes indicated.

Good ball being won off the top of the line-outs by Tom Bird and James Newman, fed Forsyth, Klus Cuttings and Stevens to launch the attacks from the line, and with Zanirato in fine form, good distribution from the second phase.

Brighton’s defence was a known quantity and could not have disappointed the band of followers who had made the trip up the town club, as they closed down many potentially scoring break outs in the home line.

Zanirato had added a penalty to extend Gsss advantage, but as the game went through the first quarter, it was Brighton’s Ben Henderson who found his way over the whitewash.

Alex Finch stepped up to add the extras from the tee to close the gap to 10-7 and put the Blues back in contention.

In many peoples’ opinion, man of the match, Adam Aigbokhae got his name on the score sheet yet again for another week to put a little air between the teams, but Finch, for the sea-siders put over a successful penalty kick to bring the half-time score to 15-10.

Too many infringements at the break-down was letting the visitors down and Zanirato, the league’s leading points kicker stepped up to punish two of these penalties to lift Gsss away to 21-10.

As in the first half, Brighton continued to move the ball and create space out wide, and it was possibly some weak response at the tackle that let the speedy Finch in at the corner. His conversion attempt went wide, but there was now only six points separating the teams at 21-15.

Last week there were so many opportunities created, without the reward they deserved, and it appeared this could turn out the same as Brighton closed ranks and the spaces to frustrate the Gsss attacks.

The bonus point try looked to be eluding the players yet again, but the score board was kept ticking over as Zanirato converted two more penalty attempts and Gsss looked to be in their comfort zone with the score line at 27-15.

Time appeared to be running out for the try bonus, but constant pressure earned Gsss a penalty try as deliberate moves to prevent a pushover were employed by the Blues.

Eighty minutes on the clock a series of transgressions by the visitors and time for last year’s top try scorer, Jamie Forsyth, to force his way over the line to touch down.

Zanirato capped another superb individual performance with the last kick of the game, bringing his personal tally to twenty-one points in the 41-15 victory.

While Gravesend moved back to the top of the table, Brighton consolidated their deserved third place, behind the losers at Wimbledon today, Chichester.

So close have been some of the results in the league this season, that even next week’s opposition, Hove, have their win record in double figures and have a respectable 54 points from their games this season.

Coach Malcolm Moaby said after the game “It was good to see the team come out today and put a full-blooded performance in after the disappointment of last week”. With one more bonus win to ensure league championship, he went on to say “We then have to prepare for what is going to be the toughest fixture of the season that of the Kent Cup final on 27 April”.