Gs clash with Gs at Saints Hill

A short run round the M25 and A22, to the heart of East Sussex, for the clash of two teams, who both are affectionately known as by their supporters “The Gs”. Both were getting the full force of fans during this fixture.

Gravesend were caught dreaming during the first few minutes of this fixture and following a superb driving maul by the home pack, open-side flanker Mike Denbee forced his way down for the opening score.

Three minutes on the clock and fly-half Scott Meakin had added the extra points for an early 7-0 advantage.

Before Gravesend had pulled themselves together, a switch move that saw the ball spin wide on the left and taken forward by skipper Adam Clayton who made the ground and space for full back Matt Betty to take the scoring pass to extend the lead to 12-0.

The penalty count was going against the home XV as they were being penalised for offside and entering the ruck from the side, but it was seventeen minutes in before Gs benefited from yet another transgression as they were awarded a penalty try which George Montgomery kicked the conversion.

The referee, Mr Ben Davis, who had travelled from Liverpool for this game, kept a tight reign of the game throughout the afternoon and after eight weeks of reporting I can say is by far the best seen on the park for any of Gs fixtures to date this season.

Although no one walked off from the penalty try, it wasn’t long before Mike Denbee was sent to the sin bin as the offences accumulated. George Montgomery kicke the penalty to narrow the difference to 12-10.

Gravesend’s forwards were enjoying being on the ascendance over their Sussex rivals, but the home backs were showing the way with ball in hand.

Fly-half Meakin, full-back Betty and wing Colin Dickson were prominent in the many attacks that the home backs launched.

A Penalty kick from Meakin after twenty-eight minutes edged the home XV ahead 15-10, but they were by no means having everything their own way, as Gs forwards secured ample ball for the visitors.

It was a failure, by Gs, to build on the hard won possession that kept the home side in front and as Gravesend looked for that elusive break through, it was again Betty joining the line that made the extra man to run in and touch down.

Meakin’s conversion widened the difference at the break to 22-10.

Five minutes into the second half and G-force lost their tight head within just five minutes of the re-start as he interfered with the ball at the break-down, and one minute later a driving maul from a lineout say Sox Stevens put the ball down over the whitewash.

The conversion well struck from wide on the left sailed between the uprights as Montgomery pulled Gs close at 22-17.

Some good phases of play from both teams kept the spectators entertained, especially from a game that was being played in a good spirit.

Gravesend were now enjoying a purple patch as their forwards made the most of the man advantage, but it was not until Steve Taylor had returned to the field that Jamie Forsyth, who had been the driving force behind Gs revival, crashed over to put Gs in level for the first time.

George Montgomery added the points from the tee to edge Gs in front 22-24.

Five minutes later and a re-occurrence of a ham-string injury force Forsyth to leave the field.

With seventeen minutes of the game to be played, the home XV were again penalised for their infringements, and after being moved back ten metres for not retiring, they lost their scrum half, Ollie Frost, to the sin bin for an off the ball incident.

With Frost back on the park, Gravesend had been unable to capitalise on the man advantage, but with four minutes to play they lost Geoff Marshall to the bin, and Comfort off injured, bringing back Dave Irvine.

Missing the stability of Forsyth in the last few minutes saw then succumb to a final effort from G-force, and had to watch as replacement Teo Fudakowski was forced over for the winning score and 27-24.

Gravesend must take great comfort although not winning this close fixture they showed a belief and depth of character that brought them to the edge of what would have been a great win.

More belief in their own ability, especially in the three-quarter line, will bring its rewards as the season progresses.