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Sat 13 Dec 2014 · National League 3 London & SE
Amersham & Chiltern
1st XV
8
15
Tries: T OkenlaConversions: G GrayPenalties: G Montgomery
Gravesend's lost souls bring home a win
Mike CUBITT13 Dec 2014 - 22:29
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A win is a win in any language but the game deserved so much more and should have led to Gs first win bonus before the interval.
On their first visit to Amersham and Chiltern RFC, and on the back of one of the best backs' displays seen the previous week, so much was expected from Gs, but the performance, although producing a win, lacked the clinical finishing that so many of the teams on this league have shown this half of the season.
Amersham, like Gravesend, have suffered from their share of injuries this season and this was compounded when they lost their lose-head prop after just five minutes of play.
Two minutes on the clock and Gary Gray went wide from the tee from a more than kick-able position, and it is points from these early chances that help lift the team.
Gravesend were playing the more positive rugby and after some excellent hand to hand passing the ball reached Temi Okenla with space. A couple of side-steps later and a dash for the line and Gs had opened their account.
The unfortunate Gray saw his conversion attempt come back off the post, but Gs had the advantage at 0-5.
Before the first quarter was over, the scores were level as home wing-three-quarter Dom Jones touched down to end a scrappy phase of play, wide on the right.
The same player was not so fortunate as he watched his conversion fall short, in a game that Gravesend should already have scored a minimum of three tries.
More chances made by the visiting Gravesend XV than would seem possible, but the failure to add a finish to the hard won possession and field position, left many at the ground frustrated at their inability to cross the whitewash.
A great deal of praise must be placed on both defensive lines as little quarter was given to the ball carrier of either team, but Gravesend were the authors of their own undoing as time and again they failed to spread the ball to the known try scorers, the players with pace on the wings.
A penalty try, quite justifiable was awarded to Gs as the home blind-side flanker dived in to prevent a try when the home pack was being driven backwards.
Gray's conversion was the last notable action of the half before the players went in at the break.
At 5-12 to the good, Gravesend were playing the game in the Amersham half of the park, and it only looked to be a matter of time for them to produce their next score.
Fifty minutes played and the first of what was to be three Amersham players, Morgan Thompson, was sent to the sin-bin, for what looked to be a spear tackle.
The resulting penalty kick was sent past the uprights by George Montgomery, on for Scott Curley at the interval.
Three minutes later and a second binning for the home team as Rhys Keith was shown the yellow card.
At this time Gs play seemed to go to pieces, an erratic service from the base of the rucks , and some questionable choices of direction, when Gs often had a five to two advantage in the backs.
This wasn't helped by forwards languishing about in the loose and getting in the way when the ball needed to be moved out at pace.
Rather than Gravesend taking full advantage of the seven minutes of an EXTRA TWO men, it was Amersham that added three points from the boot of Dom Jones to narrow the scores to 8-12.
Perhaps too many individuals looking to get their name on the score-sheet, instead of playing what is a team game, is spoiling the numerous chances that are being produced but not finished.
When back to the full fifteen team. it was yet another tackle that was deemed to be late and dangerous that saw the home full-back, Chris Jack, shown the yellow card, with eight minutes playing time left on the clock.
George Montgomery took the chance to put three points on the board as he successfully converted the penalty.
Again it was a reduced opposition that were grabbing the initiative and putting Gravesend under pressure as they looked for the score to pull them level, but they found Gs defence a well organised and hard nut to crack.
Strangely the sin-binned player was allowed back on the park, and although more than ten minutes had passed on the watch, this was not "playing time", but included more stoppage time for penalties, explanations etc. luckily the score remained at 8-15 at the time the final whistle was blown and Gs had secured a much needed win.
It would be good to name the outstanding performances seen today, but those that stepped up to the mark know who they are, such as the back row, and those that didn't know likewise.
After today's performance, Gs remain the only team in the division not to have a try bonus point, and although some of the losing games could easily gone Gs way, they only have three losing bonus points for their efforts.
Ninth in the league table at the turn of the season, but any complacency could see any of those clubs sitting below them make inroads to the small points advantage that Gs enjoy.
Although it is good to see the young generation of referees coming through that enable the game to be played, and the second half of the season will see three officials allocated to each game in the league, it must also be incumbent on this new generation to learn that they have to look at play from both sides of the set pieces so as not to miss too many slipped binds, and to know that what may appear to be the fault in the front row from one side, is actually different from the other side, this combined with the occasional look over the shoulder to enable the "in front of the back foot" offences to be punished, while also helping to protect the half-backs, should lead to a more enjoyable and better spectator sport.
Strangely this game had one of the lowest penalty counts I have seen so far this season, but still led to three Amersham players sent to the sin-bin.
Head coach Chris Wilkins commented after the game: “ It was good to see the team gain a hard fought win and this was mainly due to our set piece and breakdown work giving us the platform to build pressure and create chances . When we were under pressure the defence was solid , which is encouraging for the future . To win away from home was a great effort , but there is plenty we need to keep working on to develop as a squad, such as our finishing , so that we can turn pressure into points , but with good numbers at training and the excellent attitude of everyone, I feel we have the potential to push on and continue to improve during the second half of the season !"
Amersham, like Gravesend, have suffered from their share of injuries this season and this was compounded when they lost their lose-head prop after just five minutes of play.
Two minutes on the clock and Gary Gray went wide from the tee from a more than kick-able position, and it is points from these early chances that help lift the team.
Gravesend were playing the more positive rugby and after some excellent hand to hand passing the ball reached Temi Okenla with space. A couple of side-steps later and a dash for the line and Gs had opened their account.
The unfortunate Gray saw his conversion attempt come back off the post, but Gs had the advantage at 0-5.
Before the first quarter was over, the scores were level as home wing-three-quarter Dom Jones touched down to end a scrappy phase of play, wide on the right.
The same player was not so fortunate as he watched his conversion fall short, in a game that Gravesend should already have scored a minimum of three tries.
More chances made by the visiting Gravesend XV than would seem possible, but the failure to add a finish to the hard won possession and field position, left many at the ground frustrated at their inability to cross the whitewash.
A great deal of praise must be placed on both defensive lines as little quarter was given to the ball carrier of either team, but Gravesend were the authors of their own undoing as time and again they failed to spread the ball to the known try scorers, the players with pace on the wings.
A penalty try, quite justifiable was awarded to Gs as the home blind-side flanker dived in to prevent a try when the home pack was being driven backwards.
Gray's conversion was the last notable action of the half before the players went in at the break.
At 5-12 to the good, Gravesend were playing the game in the Amersham half of the park, and it only looked to be a matter of time for them to produce their next score.
Fifty minutes played and the first of what was to be three Amersham players, Morgan Thompson, was sent to the sin-bin, for what looked to be a spear tackle.
The resulting penalty kick was sent past the uprights by George Montgomery, on for Scott Curley at the interval.
Three minutes later and a second binning for the home team as Rhys Keith was shown the yellow card.
At this time Gs play seemed to go to pieces, an erratic service from the base of the rucks , and some questionable choices of direction, when Gs often had a five to two advantage in the backs.
This wasn't helped by forwards languishing about in the loose and getting in the way when the ball needed to be moved out at pace.
Rather than Gravesend taking full advantage of the seven minutes of an EXTRA TWO men, it was Amersham that added three points from the boot of Dom Jones to narrow the scores to 8-12.
Perhaps too many individuals looking to get their name on the score-sheet, instead of playing what is a team game, is spoiling the numerous chances that are being produced but not finished.
When back to the full fifteen team. it was yet another tackle that was deemed to be late and dangerous that saw the home full-back, Chris Jack, shown the yellow card, with eight minutes playing time left on the clock.
George Montgomery took the chance to put three points on the board as he successfully converted the penalty.
Again it was a reduced opposition that were grabbing the initiative and putting Gravesend under pressure as they looked for the score to pull them level, but they found Gs defence a well organised and hard nut to crack.
Strangely the sin-binned player was allowed back on the park, and although more than ten minutes had passed on the watch, this was not "playing time", but included more stoppage time for penalties, explanations etc. luckily the score remained at 8-15 at the time the final whistle was blown and Gs had secured a much needed win.
It would be good to name the outstanding performances seen today, but those that stepped up to the mark know who they are, such as the back row, and those that didn't know likewise.
After today's performance, Gs remain the only team in the division not to have a try bonus point, and although some of the losing games could easily gone Gs way, they only have three losing bonus points for their efforts.
Ninth in the league table at the turn of the season, but any complacency could see any of those clubs sitting below them make inroads to the small points advantage that Gs enjoy.
Although it is good to see the young generation of referees coming through that enable the game to be played, and the second half of the season will see three officials allocated to each game in the league, it must also be incumbent on this new generation to learn that they have to look at play from both sides of the set pieces so as not to miss too many slipped binds, and to know that what may appear to be the fault in the front row from one side, is actually different from the other side, this combined with the occasional look over the shoulder to enable the "in front of the back foot" offences to be punished, while also helping to protect the half-backs, should lead to a more enjoyable and better spectator sport.
Strangely this game had one of the lowest penalty counts I have seen so far this season, but still led to three Amersham players sent to the sin-bin.
Head coach Chris Wilkins commented after the game: “ It was good to see the team gain a hard fought win and this was mainly due to our set piece and breakdown work giving us the platform to build pressure and create chances . When we were under pressure the defence was solid , which is encouraging for the future . To win away from home was a great effort , but there is plenty we need to keep working on to develop as a squad, such as our finishing , so that we can turn pressure into points , but with good numbers at training and the excellent attitude of everyone, I feel we have the potential to push on and continue to improve during the second half of the season !"
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