What do you get when you cross a Gannet with a Swan? A win!

Now this was most unexpected.A Gannets team bolstered by a large helping of Swans players taking part in an 11 try thriller against an extremely youthful and exuberant Cliffe side,on a pitch set up for their expansive running game.

And not only that,but winning.Especially after two below par performances in their previous games.

In terms of the Gannets/Swans ratio it was pretty much 50/50 with the visitors front row consisting of Messrs Woodbine,Elvis and Du Toit.What their combined age is anyones guess,but i'm guessing it's more than most of the Cliffe team.Welshy rocked up too along with Swanley at 9,mild mannered Posty,not so mild mannered house salesman Velcro and of course,the one the only LEGEND that is Lloydy.

The first period saw the Gannets race into an early and uncharacteristic 21-0 advantage courtesy of scores from Swanley,Jamie Feighery and Dan Grant,leading the author of this piece to comment to himself that it was 'men against boys'.However the boys soon got their act together and did what they did best by pressuring the Gannets into errors and turnovers which they capitalised on to narrow the arrears to 15-21 at the interval.

With the Gees seemingly set to self destruct after their early dominance,they took the opportunity for three points from the boot of Swanley to calm the nerves.Notice that Swanley took the kick and not Dan Grant....however,the hosts were having none of it and spurred on by their vocal home support soon had the Gannets on the back foot with a great run from their centre,cutting across the face of the defence unchallenged (let's face it,neither Dan nor Shutts were going to catch him) to create the overlap and the score under the posts to level proceedings.

In hindsight,this is probably the best thing that could have happened to the Gannets.It gave them focus,the kick up the arse that they needed and the reason for them to get back to the gameplan that gave them their early lead.And what came was some of the best rugby they've played in a while.Tries from Jamie Feighery,Vid and Mayhem Jr were all total team tries built on relentlessly hard hitting forward play,drawing in the defence allowing the backs to move the ball out wide for three startlingly similar tries and,say it quietly but Ian Shuttlewoods handling and timing of the pass was exemplary in all three cases.

The Gannets final score of the day was as much down to Jetski refusing to accept the tackle,moving some 15 metres carrying would be tacklers,as it was the strong ball carrying of Jamie and Pierre,allowing Dan Grant a one on one a couple of metres out.

Cliffe weren't done however and they had the final say,much to the delight of the home crowd with their backs outpacing the understandably tired Gannets backs for a score from their 13 who had bravely returned to the fray after an early neck injury.

So...some points of order from todays game.

Dan Grants early penalty attempt.Dogshit.Video to follow.
Pez ditching us for the 2s as soon as they show him a bit of leg and bat their eyelids.But….
...In his place was Vid,Lithuanias greatest rugby player currently living in Gravesend.Superb 'kick ball chase' skills which always had Cliffe under pressure and of course his cover tackling,gleefully gobbling off,i mean up any man in his path.He even at one point put in a monster hit that will be felt in the morning.
Mayhem Sr. Looks like Cliffe had done their homework by kicking to him.Once he attempted some sort of trap thing and once he headed it on to Pierre.Not sure what that was all about.
Jamie Feighery.With the absence of the talis-maniac Gary Curran,he was free to return to his favoured position at 8 and what a game he had.Two tries,too many line breaks to mention and numerous bodies knocked over.He was surely the Gannets MOM.
By the way,Paddy is now 'proper f*cked' he informs us.Not sure what he's on about when he mentioned Snatch jokes but he does live in a caravan on a pikey site.
Cliffe.Some of these lads have been playing for less than two years and with no preseason and with only one game behind them,gave the Gannets all they could handle for the middle third of the game.They're only going to improve and will surely win more than they'll lose this season.
The look of horror on Lloydy's face when Vid passed him the ball with the try line beckoning.Yes he dropped it.
The Swans that stepped up and made this game/win possible.We salute you and leave the final say to Mr Woodbine and I quote:

A beautifully hard and physical game of rugby today.The very essence of rugby was on display,a group of men coming together,the odds seemingly stacked against them. #oneclub,a group of men became a team,our club and badge pulling us together.Our captain told us what was expected,no backward steps,a tight forwards pick and go game.Physicality and control are key.
Well done guys,loved it,so proud to be proud of GRFC! #oneclub

I'm off for a cry.

Until next time...