Performance of the season sees Gannets home

The last time these two sides met back in October it resulted in a blowout win for the Old G's,with their youthfully exuberant team making the most of the wide open spaces on the Gees first team pitch against a much changed Gannets side.In fact the 50 plus point margin caused Ben to remark that they weren't a realistic opponent at this level.

However,with a one point win over Vigo and a lost to TJs last time out,the previously unbeaten Academy boys were suddenly looking vulnerable.With this in mind,a pretty much first choice Gannets side took to next doors version of the banana pitch with a gameplan very much in mind...

..although to witness their pre match warm up you wouldn't have known it.Arriving in dribs and drabs through the fence,a half arsed game of touch ensued and it was after only a couple of minutes when Mayhem collided with Ollie Karabardak thus damaging his wrist ligaments and ruling him out of the game.No doubt the onlooking Old G's players and coaches must have been rubbing their hands witnessing this disasterous display.However,an able replacement was on hand in the rather large shape of big Darius.With his fellow countryman Vid acting as interpreter,it was game on.

The opening kickoff was fielded by the home side and driven impressively back into Gannets territory by some 20 metres or so.No doubt this gave the OGs pack a measure of early confidence but the ensuing scrum saw that it would be short lived as the big Gees pack marshalled by Ralph Walpole,drove them back,thus setting the tone for the afternoon.

The Gees gameplan of moving the ball through the forwards and keeping it away from the OGs speedy backs was clearly paying dividends as they closed in on the home try line with some thumping runs and superb support in the rucks.However the home defence didn't wilt under the pressure and some excellent tackling kept the Gannets out and eventually forced the turnover.

The OGs tried to get their backs into the game but with the heavy,narrow pitch not allowing them as much room for manoeuvre as they would perhaps have liked combined with a stout Gannets defence meant there was nothing doing.

Further attacks on the OGs line ended in a dropped ball and a Robshaw-esque collision with the post before Ben elected to take the three points right in front of the sticks for the lead at half time.

The break in proceedings seem as good a point as any to mention the excellent support the Gees were receiving from the touchline in the shape of our well refreshed third team.Having had the OGs seconds pull out of their scheduled encounter rather than risk another 90 plus point humping,Mr Papworth and his merry men made their way through the fence to lend their support to the Gannets cause and to say they were the nineteenth man was an understatement.

The second period began,as expected with the home side looking to work their way back into the game as quick as possible but the Gees again,held firm,disrupting the OGs game with thumping tackles and the occasional steal and breakaway,with Paddy once again proving to be a thorn in the oppositions side,stealing the ball and making good ground.However as it turns out,you're not allowed to hurdle your opponent,NFL style.But it looked good.

The OGs try came from perhaps the only mistake of the day.A shanked clearance from inside the Gees try line fell straight to their big outside centre 10 metres out and he had the relatively simple task of beating a couple of shellshocked defenders to score under the posts for a converted try.The home team celebrated as if it were a last minute try in the world cup final but there was still 15 minutes left.
'they're getting tired' came the call from the sideline.Well yes,a large contingent of the Gannets team were old enough to be their fathers but with the support from the threes and each other the fatigue was swiftly put to one side and it was back to the business of winning this game.

An unfortunate head injury to Steve Wootton meant that Darius moved to the inside centre channel and he wasted no time in making huge inroads into the OGs defence,taking two or even three would be tacklers with him.By now the game was wide open with the Gees attacks coming thick and fast and the OGs resorting to kicking away possession to keep them at bay.An attacking lineout on the OGs 5 resulted in the Gannets being held up short of the line and penalised for holding on but a couple of minutes later they didn't make the same mistake again.Strong runs from Paddy and Archie took the ball down underneath the posts where Ben Baker picked the ball up and barged over for a well deserved score which he of course,converted.

All that remained was for the Gees to play sensible rugby and see the game out,but they just don't do that and it took a superb tackle from Vid to take down the OGs second row who looked certain to outpace the defence and score.All was well after that little squeaky bum moment and the Gannets steadily drove down the field for a well deserved victory.

Todays performance encapsulates perfectly the spirit not only within the Gannets pool of players,but within Gravesend Rugby Club itself.
Each and every player put his body in the way of an opposition player and the fact that the OGs only scored from a mistake and didn't bother the Gannets tryline apart from that,speaks volumes.Once again,the third team lads deserve a mention for their vociferous support.They could have gone home,they could have stayed in the club,but they chose to come out,stand in the cold drinking lager and supporting their clubmates.And they took their empties back with them.

Overall it was a hard fought,extremely physical game played in absolutely the right spirit and although the OGs are clearly the best team in this division,the team that wanted it more won today and that team was the Gannets.

Man of the match? That task fell to the third team panel of judges and they elected Paddy to stand on a chair and down his pint,although most of it appeared to end up in his beard.Maybe he was saving it for later.Ben Baker was duly elected dick of the day for scoring all 10 points and generally playing a blinder.Dick.

It's a couple of weeks off now for the housewives favourites so until next time...