Gravesend get their just reward at Tring

Tring's high points scoring Tom Newton was on target from his five attempts at goal in the first half, adding fourteen to his personal tally for the season, but at the final whistle this was little compensation for a second forty minutes that saw Gsss keep a clean sheet.
Cow Lane has never been a happy hunting ground for Gravesend, and it was here that their loss of 2012/13 season that pushed them out of National 3.
There was an exchange of penalties from the respective fly-halves before a break out wide on the right, saw Temi Okenla exchange passes with Scott Curley before sending lock Remus Necula on a fifteen metre dash to touch down between the uprights.
Young Jacob Bethelson added the conversion to his earlier penalty to edge Gsss in front 3-10.
Gravesend were getting on the wrong side of the penalty count and within four minutes of going in front, the indiscipline had allowed Tom Newton to cut the deficit to a single point, 9-10.
A missed chance from the boot of Bethelson at the end of the first quarter was countered when full-back Richard Richards came forward to be in position to drop a well timed goal, to put "Tring Boys" in front at 12-10.
Tring three-quarters had been enjoying their runs at the Gravesend line, but had found some resolute defending hard to break through, until the speedy strong running wing, Liam Chennells found the gap he needed to break the deadlock and touch down.
Needless to say it was Newton that that added the conversion to stretch away to 19-10.
Gravesend were never out of the game, but were just not creating the space for the backs to exploit but the potential could be seen if only they could get the flow going.
Another penalty for each, Newton and Bethelson, brought the half to a close with the score-line showing 22-13 in favour of Tring, and Gsss with lots to make up after the interval.
One minute in and forward pressure forced the penalty at the break down, and Bethelson cut the lead to 22-16.
Gravesend were beginning to create the space to enable the backs to get some pace into their attacks, good looping runs and Temi Okenla was on his way evading the tackles before getting the ball down over the whitewash. Bethelson's conversion put Gsss in front by a single point at 22-23.
Both team's forwards were putting in a full shift, with little quarter being given, both winning a fair share of the ball for their backs to play with.
The Gravesend pack continued to dominate the set pieces and this pressure was causing Tring to concede penalties which added even more pressure as Gsss chose the line-out option on a number of occasions, with the jumpers securing their ball.
A couple of strange decisions that denied Gsss a try, only to see them awarded a penalty, Bethelson slotted his one chance between the posts after sixty-three minutes, to move the score on to 22-26.
Tring were well in the game, with Newton, Chennells and Jarvis were all making inroads in to the Gravesend territory, but with resolute defending in the centre from Moorey, Skinner, accompanied by the back row of Marshall, Atkins and Stevens they found no way through.
George Montgomery came on for the injured Okenla, and with a reshuffle, added a different dimension to the play, with Gsss backs taking the game into the home territory time and time again, only to be thwarted by stout defending from Tring.
Gsss made the territory and had possession inside the opposition twenty-two, but could not get through, although some of the defensive tactics begged the question as to the legality.
Reward finally came for the pack as a rolling maul went ten metres before the arm of Jamie Forsyth was seen to stretch out to score.
The last kick of the game was from the boot of Jacob Bethelson as he added the conversion taking the final score to 22-33 and his personal tally to 18 points, and Gravesend with a clean sheet for the second half.