Gannets (finally) hit their straps

For those of you that keep an eye on Gravesend's fourth team,you'll know that the housewives faves seem to some sort of psychological barrier whenever they hit the 20 point or so barrier.Although they may dominate games possession and territory wise,try as they might they cannot pile on the points.

That particular monkey was ejected from their back in spectacular fashion today against their neighbours with a 10 try and 9 conversion performance.To be fair to the Old boys they were shorn of their powerhouse second row due to first team shortages and their teammates put in a valiant effort in their absence but their hosts were also missing big players in the form of Jamie Feighery and Mayhem.Junior.

A rather sexy if I do so say so myself,pack took the field with Mike Woodbine especially keen to resume bants with not particularly chirpy Scouser Mike Murray with Carl Blake-Morris and Sam 'knackered' Holden stepping into the second row.Danny O make a rare appearance in the back row with the always tenacious like D Sam Taylor and Gary Curran who had accepted Oirelands fate against the All Blacks with good grace.

A 6 try blitz was what happened in the opening 25 minutes or so with Danny O bagging the first 2 followed by the standard score from Paddy,Joe Cross back with the team that he started with,the increasingly impressive Alfie Smith and Steve Wootton following excellent approach play from Luke Titmuss and Alfie.

All of these scores were converted by Ben Baker who was on fire like his ginger skin in Tenerife with only factor 8 to protect him for 2 weeks.

I'm told that his atrocious kick for touch that fortuitously bounced just shy and fell into the arms of Alfie to score under the sticks was entirely intended...and who am I to argue?

42-0 to the good the Gannets either took their foot off the gas or the Old boys started to play.I'm inclined to believe the latter as they pinned the Gees back inside their own 5 for the last period of the half with aggressive defence,especially from their midfield units forcing errors from their hosts...but Carl Blake-Morris's attempted kick to touch to end the half was a joy to behold!

All this goalkicking had taken it's toll on Ben Baker's poor old hammies (yoga,Ben,yoga) and he went off to be replaced by Joe Cross.According to BB this was the reason why the Gannets struggled to get going for the first period of the second half,but when they did it was business as usual.

Paddy took it in from the half way line or so via a quick tap penalty,Joe Cross went down the wing to touch down,Steve Wootton scored a carbon copy of Joe's try albeit older,greyer and Welshier and Danny O got his third via the same route.

All of these were dotted down under the sticks in order to assist new kicker Joe Cross and his unique 'spooning the ball over' kicking action.

Peckett bagged the final score in the corner and there was no way that was ever going to get converted so the score remained at 68-0 which was pretty much fair based on the balance of play.

Credit must go to the Old boys for hanging on until the end especially with a number of injuries occurring during the game.They could easily have taken the option of uncontested scrums but no,Elvis took his hands off of his hips and took his Woodbine flavoured medicine like a big boy and for this he must be commended!

Next up it's a trip to Vigo and that 'slope'...meaning today's result means absolutely nothing without a similar one next week.

Maybe next time Paddy won't deliberately avoid scoring a hat trick for jug avoidance purposes although this week he can cite the mental anguish of Ireland being humped as a reason...or maybe he's really Scottish...

Until next time ....