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Sat 17 Jan 2015 ·  National League 3 London & SE
Guernsey
1st XV
10
18
Tries: G Montgomery, J ForsythConversions: G MontgomeryPenalties: G Montgomery (2)Yellow Carded: J Forsyth
Islanders take a back seat as Gs grind out the win
Sue Barnes17 Jan 2015 - 19:03
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Despite the absence on the park of skipper Marc Klus and high scoring number 8 Geoff Marshall, both unfit through injury, Gs brought home the bacon.
Gravesend took control of what they knew would be a tightly fought, hard fixture after the mornings down pour, and despite a couple of reversals, stayed in control throughout, such was the packs dominance in the last twenty minutes that the home XV were forced into giving away penalties that Montgomery punished from the tee.
Spurred on by the noisy band of some sixty travelling supporters, Gs found they were behind from a third minute penalty strike from the boot of fly half Glen Waters.
Some questionable field kicking by Gs fed the home backs some of the best possession they had all afternoon, but the black and white defence held fast to keep the Islanders at bay.
Good rucked ball reached the hands of Gary Gray and with George Montgomery alongside he made the break and drew the home last line of defence away to make the room for Monty to outwit the defence and chase in for the touch down, before the latter slotted over the conversion to put Gs in front at 3-7.
Great forward play with every member of the pack involved, saw the ball moved towards the home line at a steady but patient pace, until the time was right for big Jamie Forsyth to be driven over.
Unfortunately the conversion attempt was sent just wide of the upright, but one could feel the confidence of the visitors from the seats of the stand.
With the weather taking a turn for the worse, it was just the respite the home XV needed to take the momentum away from their visitors when the whistle sounded for the break with Gs 3-12 to the good.
Continued downpour greeted the players back on to the park, and in such conditions one could see it was going to be a slog for points.
Guernsey didn't have to wait long for their first points as Forsyth was caught playing the ball on the ground preventing a probable try and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the home side a penalty try, and showing the yellow card for the offence.
Walters then stepped up to put his second attempt between the posts to narrow the gap to 10-12.
Gs played on with their skipper in the bin and there were times when both Tom Goss and Temi Okenla looked dangerous enough to get through the home line, but it held firm. In fact the man short was hardly noticeable as the pack were still able to control procedures.
The first scummage saw Gs forced to make changes as Ziggy Stevens went to the hooker position, Will Meddings made way for Remus Necular to fill the lock spot, with Sox Stevens moving to tight-head and Jimmy Green moving across to loose-head.
Although down to fourteen players, Gravesend continued to take the game to their opposition, some charging runs with ball in hand by the Stevens brothers took its toll on the home defence and while still a man short, Gs added yet another three points from the boot of Montgomery, for 10-15.
Perhaps the unluckiest player of the afternoon was Okenla. After the forwards had secured the ball and worked it through several phases it reached the backs who launched their attack, all worked hard to move the ball wide and when Temi saw the line, he raced forward only to find that his dive under the outstretched defence land him short of the line, and his foot then slid into touch.
Great pressure at the line-out and the ensuing maul earned Gravesend the penalty. After what seemed an age, to treat an injury, Montgomery was given the opportunity to put Gs eight points ahead with four minutes left on the clock, he duly obliged and the score moved safely to 10-18.
When Gravesend rung the changes, Chris Meddings made a welcome return following several weeks side-lined through injury and he made some noticeable impact runs through the centre.
Much of the credit for this win must go to the pack, who with Jamie Forsyth driving them and encouraging the play, and himself leading from the front, ensured that the great band of supporters from the "homeland" along with the home club's guests enjoyed a great afternoon of rugby.
In the club house after the match, Guernsey announced their man of the match as Eli Atkins, this was also the same out come as Gravesend's man of the match as they also announced theirs to be Eli Atkins, and there is no doubt this would have been echoed by the many Gs followers at the game.
A blank date for the ones, then their next league game is 31 January when they play host to TJ's, after the Annual Mayor of Gravesham's TRUSS lunch.
Spurred on by the noisy band of some sixty travelling supporters, Gs found they were behind from a third minute penalty strike from the boot of fly half Glen Waters.
Some questionable field kicking by Gs fed the home backs some of the best possession they had all afternoon, but the black and white defence held fast to keep the Islanders at bay.
Good rucked ball reached the hands of Gary Gray and with George Montgomery alongside he made the break and drew the home last line of defence away to make the room for Monty to outwit the defence and chase in for the touch down, before the latter slotted over the conversion to put Gs in front at 3-7.
Great forward play with every member of the pack involved, saw the ball moved towards the home line at a steady but patient pace, until the time was right for big Jamie Forsyth to be driven over.
Unfortunately the conversion attempt was sent just wide of the upright, but one could feel the confidence of the visitors from the seats of the stand.
With the weather taking a turn for the worse, it was just the respite the home XV needed to take the momentum away from their visitors when the whistle sounded for the break with Gs 3-12 to the good.
Continued downpour greeted the players back on to the park, and in such conditions one could see it was going to be a slog for points.
Guernsey didn't have to wait long for their first points as Forsyth was caught playing the ball on the ground preventing a probable try and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the home side a penalty try, and showing the yellow card for the offence.
Walters then stepped up to put his second attempt between the posts to narrow the gap to 10-12.
Gs played on with their skipper in the bin and there were times when both Tom Goss and Temi Okenla looked dangerous enough to get through the home line, but it held firm. In fact the man short was hardly noticeable as the pack were still able to control procedures.
The first scummage saw Gs forced to make changes as Ziggy Stevens went to the hooker position, Will Meddings made way for Remus Necular to fill the lock spot, with Sox Stevens moving to tight-head and Jimmy Green moving across to loose-head.
Although down to fourteen players, Gravesend continued to take the game to their opposition, some charging runs with ball in hand by the Stevens brothers took its toll on the home defence and while still a man short, Gs added yet another three points from the boot of Montgomery, for 10-15.
Perhaps the unluckiest player of the afternoon was Okenla. After the forwards had secured the ball and worked it through several phases it reached the backs who launched their attack, all worked hard to move the ball wide and when Temi saw the line, he raced forward only to find that his dive under the outstretched defence land him short of the line, and his foot then slid into touch.
Great pressure at the line-out and the ensuing maul earned Gravesend the penalty. After what seemed an age, to treat an injury, Montgomery was given the opportunity to put Gs eight points ahead with four minutes left on the clock, he duly obliged and the score moved safely to 10-18.
When Gravesend rung the changes, Chris Meddings made a welcome return following several weeks side-lined through injury and he made some noticeable impact runs through the centre.
Much of the credit for this win must go to the pack, who with Jamie Forsyth driving them and encouraging the play, and himself leading from the front, ensured that the great band of supporters from the "homeland" along with the home club's guests enjoyed a great afternoon of rugby.
In the club house after the match, Guernsey announced their man of the match as Eli Atkins, this was also the same out come as Gravesend's man of the match as they also announced theirs to be Eli Atkins, and there is no doubt this would have been echoed by the many Gs followers at the game.
A blank date for the ones, then their next league game is 31 January when they play host to TJ's, after the Annual Mayor of Gravesham's TRUSS lunch.
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