A game of two halves

First impressions of Vigo are of a team that you should be turning over easily.

A mixture of old boys and 10 stone soaking wet youngsters.A mishmash of multi coloured shorts,socks and far too many bandages and supports.Yet they always defy these first impressions by living up to their club motto and giving the Gannets a hard fought,close game each and every time they meet.And this was certainly the case today as Gannets had all their own way in the first 40 yet found themselves on the end of a ferocious fightback in the second.

In fact,when Dean Barr took off along the touchline and touched down under the posts after a only a minute or so,Martin 'Zlatan' Taylor commented that it wasn't always a good thing to score so early...Mike Percival soon added to the tally after the Gannets pack turned over a Vigo scrum and then i'm reliably informed that Rich Mayhew touched down towards the end of the half after somehow catching a rebounding ball of the shoulder of Brian Williams.I say reliably informed as I was taking a 5 year old for a poo at the time.But rest assured,Mr Mayhem wouldn't let anyone forget that he scored and no doubt he'll be dining out on it for the rest of the season.

And boy,does he like to dine.

Apart from all three scores being converted by Perri Gallacher there wasn't really much else to say about the first period such was the Gannets control of the game.

So the second half was a shock to those watching as the Gannets capitulated to a revitalised Vigo 15.The big Jew mused at to what the home side had been drinking at half time whist others wondered if the Gannets had sipped some of the predators rohypnol.

Either way it wasn't long before the big Vigo 11 went over in the corner for a score which wouldn't have happened had the referee spotted his retaliatory kick to the head of Martin Welsh moments earlier.Insult was added to injury minutes later as the Gannets midfield parted like Dan Bromleys hair to allow said 11 to canter through under the posts and suddenly it was panic stations amongst the Gannets.Kicks were going astray,tackles were continually missed and even the pack which had been so dominant in the first half,found itself second best in both the scrums and at the breakdown.

A further try in the corner brought the score to 19-21 and the Gannets finally started playing the game in their opponents half.However,a turnover later and the visitors were once again defending their line and with only a couple of minutes left,it was breached for a score which Vigo thoroughly deserverved for their never say die attitude.

Believe it or not there were some positives to taken from the game.The return of Simon 'Susan' Saunders after a few years in exile in a place much posher than Gravesend (does such place exist??) Mayhems continued good form of actually managing to catch a few balls despite his badly taped arm and Ian Shuttlewood with a textbook re enactment of a turtle on its back (pictured).

Until next time...