What the dickens went wrong at Barnes

A super day for rugby, before the onslaught of winter, Barnes were quickly into their stride before Gravesend had rubbed the sleep from their eyes.

Three minutes in and the lively home pack had forced the ball down from a rolling maul the Gs had no answer to, and a happy Jim Remfry come up with the ball.

Tom O'Toole missed the conversion from near the touch-line.

Before Gs had entered into their opponents territory, they were stripped of the ball and Fergus Jones had crossed to double their advantage, before O'Toole slotted over the extras for 12-0.

As often happens, following a score the opposition strike back, and for once it was Gravesend that took advantage of the situation.

Ball won out left, saw the direction change and several pairs of hands later, Temi Okenla outpaced the home defence to touch-down. Unfortunately the conversion from George Montgomery was just pushed wide.

A penalty from O'Toole on twenty-four minutes was matched by one from Montgomery three minutes later that kept Gs in touch at 15-8 when the whistle went for the break.

It wasn't that Gs were not getting a decent share of the possession, it was the lack of variation in their play that made it predictable and easy for Barnes to defend against.

That coupled with the unnecessary kicking straight down the throats of the talented home backs that put pressure on Gs defence.

Being just a score away at the interval, and the slope now in Gravesend's favour, it was expected that they would now up the tempo and get their game on the front foot.

With the forwards going to ground as they drove forward with the ball, and a failure to move the ball along a line that was constantly set for defending, meant there was no depth to any of the Gravesend attacks, which were constantly snubbed out by the home defence.

Ten minutes into the third period and the home forwards had crossed the line again and before the quarter was over, another was added by wing-three-quarter David Riley as Gs were pulled in to make the overlap.

O'Toole added both conversions and Barnes had already secured a sixth try bonus point for the season.

Success can only come from the players on the park, and one can't criticise the work rate and effort of the players, one must wonder as to the direction and application of basic skills, given the possession that was hard won, little or no inspiration was present in their play.

Failure is also the prerogative of the players and if Gs are to move away from the danger zone and secure their position at National 3 level they need to take a fresh look at themselves, and put some depth into their line and maybe stay on their feet and offload to supporting players as they take the game to their opponents.

Seventy-two minutes on the clock and a try from Jacob Bacon, who had a good game throughout, was quickly converted by Montgomery for 29-15.

Seven minutes to pull something out of the game, and a little more urgency was coming into the Gravesend game.

This was helped when Grant Robertson was shown a straight red card after he aimed a punch through at a Gravesend player.

Lots of pressure now coming on the home line, but option choices were not always the best as Gs could not find their way to the whitewash.

Last play of the game, and a penalty on the five metre line for Gs. With both the home second-row forwards off the park, one injured the other sent off, one may have thought a scrummage would have been called, but no, the line-out option was taken and the ball lost, game over.
Next week Gs are at home to fellow strugglers, Tring, who are starting to have their usual post harvest revival. What will we get from this encounter?