Gannets enjoy hastily arranged run out away to Charlton Park

Following a late fixture request received on Thursday afternoon from the opposition captain, a select few Gannets made the short trip up the A2 to play a pre-season match against Charlton Park. Given the late notice of the fixture and various excuses the 4s turned up with 10 players brought together from those expecting 15-20 minutes off the bench for the Swans and a handful of regulars. After adding Mark Armitage and Jamie Rayner who had turned up for the Trumpets on the other pitch Gravesend had matched the 12 players assembled by the home team and were ready to get the match underway.
Gravesend recovered the ball quickly from their kick off and managed to build a few phases within the opposition half before Mark Armitage stormed over from 40 metres for the first try of the match. He followed this shortly after with another try. Gravesend continued to attack in numbers and with strong purpose to ensure that the home side saw little of the ball in the opening exchanges. When they did, good pressure from the Gs defence ensured that there were plenty of opportunities for the Gravesend side to extend their lead.
A good line from Jamie Rayner off the back of a scrum gave Ben Baker the chance to drive over under the posts for the third try before a couple of long distance breaks from prop Craig Duvana saw him add two further tries. Looks to be another player from the John Sargeant school of propping who couples work in the scrum with the occasional 50 metre burst to the tryline!
Pete Stone then scored in the corner before his opposite wing scored a self made try with a great chip and chase score in the corner.
At half time Gravesend were leading 39-0.
At this point Gravesend traded two try Mark Armitage for Martin Riley with the third team next door.
At the start of the second half Gravesend continued to enjoy good possession, but had lost some of the control from the opening 40 minutes and allowed the opposition back into the game. Charlton Park scored a good try which was converted, helping them cut the deficit by 7 points.
In the second half Gravesend took a couple of knocks with Garrick Smith taking a couple of knocks and Ben Baker taking one of Martin Rileys studs to the eye, but both players were able to carry on.
Charlton Park scored a second try shortly after these incidents, created by an 80 metre break from their scrum half, arguably their best player on the day (despite being well marshalled by his opposite number Martin Taylor), before he was tackled just short of the line by Ben Baker. From the subsequent clearance Charlton Park were able to work the ball wide to score in the opposite corner.
This second conceded score seemed to work Gravesend back into life, and good ball carrying from the front row trio of Craig Duvana, Luke Voce and Mitchell Dorsett, supported by Sam Holden and Garrick Smith made the space for 4 further scores split between Vidmantus Petrauskas (x2), Martin Riley and Stephen Wootton.
Overall Gravesend can be pleased that they made better use of the space afforded by removing three players from each side and can look forward to building on the positive points shown during this match. Thanks must also go to Charlton Park, and their captain, for being willing to ensure that we had a match to play when numbers were looking short throughout Friday.