Defeated but certainly not disgraced

So after the game was postponed,rearranged,postponed and then reinstated,the Gannets made the trip down to Tonbridge buoyed by recent results and performances.However,with this game now being played on what was originally a free weekend,many players were AWOL.No doubt the free weekend was duly noted by 'er indoors and trips to Bluewater etc had been arranged and couldn't possibly be unarranged.Or if you're Mayhem,you've arranged a game for the pink and black prison guards.But never fear,the Gannets have a large 'talent' pool and it was game on.

Well I say game on.5 minutes from kick off the Gees were informed that the ref was 'on his way' (from Barbados) and would be 15 minutes late.Captain Ben,unable to play due to drinking commitments graciously agreed to step in and ref until he arrived.All this despite having to google the rul..laws and having no whistle.

The game got underway and the Gannets quickly found out the size of the task before them.As ascertained before kickoff these weren't the same bunch of lads we played back in October.The ball was being moved quickly through the hands of both forwards and backs and despite solid tackling from the Gees defence,the ball always seemed to find its way to another TJ in the offload.Two quick tries and a conversion followed and the Gannets legendary slow start was in full effect.But this wasn't down to any lack of effort on their part,the oppo were just too quick and well drilled.

A further TJ try followed and the Gees finally began to get a foothold in the game with the excellent scrum providing the platform.Unfortunately they were dragged into trying to play the Judds at their own game in kicking for territory resulting in wave after wave of attacks on the visitors goal line.The defence held firm though with Vid proving himself outstanding at full back once again,preventing at least two certain tries.

The whistle blew for the interval at 17-0 and Ben was off on the lash but not before bringing on 17 year old Will Garland for his first senior game.

The low sun was in Gees eyes as they started the second half with a quiet belief that they could actually get something from this game.That belief was short lived however as the TJs having made 3 half time subs cut through the Gannets half with speed and precision to add a further score 5 minutes into the period.Again,it was the offloads that were proving deadly and the visitors simply had no answer to them.

It wasn't until they were nearly 40 points down that the Gannets finally decided to start playing the way they should have done from the start by taking the game to the home side,knocking people over (or sitting them down as Dan Grant calls it) recycling the ball and repeating.The ball was taken into the 22 by the centres,quickly recycled and found its way through the forwards to Jamie Rayner on the wing who crashed over in the corner for a well taken and ultimately well deserved try.

A final try followed for TJs with the outside centre outpacing a tired (old) Gees centre to score under the sticks for a final of 46-5.

At first glance at the score it would seem that this was a one sided hammering but the Judds definitely knew they'd been in a physical contest as their 4 man injury list would confirm.The Gees tackled hard and defended like Beavers (unbelievable,Jeff!) today and as stated before,it was the sheer speed,youth,fitness and all round excellent play in the offload and ruck that saw them off.

Stand out players were,as usual,Vid who seemed to be everywhere on the field today and never dropped one of the many long kicks that were launched in his direction today,Ralph for dominating his opposite number and Will Garland certainly wasn't shy about getting his head down and putting older,more experienced players on their arses.

I'm off for a lie down so until next time...