Gravesend 24-18 Luton.

In front of nearly 300 spectators, many at the club for Annual Captain’s Day Lunch, Gravesend came in with a win and a try bonus point that should consolidate their sixth place in the division.

Luton will gain a losing bonus as they finished just six points adrift at the final whistle.

The day started with lunch for about one hundred and eighty for the lunch, and before the games started all home and visiting XVs along with the spectators observed a minutes silence in memory of stalwart supporter, vice-president and long serving member, Howard Baker who sadly passed away recently.

With the wind in their favour, Luton kept Gravesend pinned in their own half in the early exchanges and after 25 minutes had two Aidan Kenny penalties 0-6 on the board as Gs transgressed in defending their line.

Gravesend’s back-row worked tirelessly to keep the visitors out and it was well into the second quarter before Gs made any progress to get them into the game.

It wasn’t that Gravesend lacked possession, as Thompson, Stevens and Potaka, dominated the line-out, throughout the game, it was a matter of retaining it, and this they found difficult, for the whole eighty minutes.

The breakthrough came following quick recycling of the ball by Clement to Harman, and as the young flanker broke away, sending the visitors defence in disarray, he made twenty metres into the twenty-two before passing out to Reuben Potaka to cross in the corner.

Sam Hall, successful from the tee put Gravesend in front 7-6 on thirty minutes.

With control of the game switching to the home side, albeit from some scrappy play from both XVs, Gs were pressing within seven metres with the overlap, only to see the final pass intercepted.

The long run in with Tom Goss in pursuit ended with Jake Hobbs touching down between the posts. Aidan Kenny’s third successful kick, between the posts, regained the lead, for Luton before half-time 7-13.

More determined Gs that took to the park in the second half, and after just six minutes, a penalty kick rebound was gathered by Josh Smith and quick thinking sent Potaka in for his second try of the afternoon.

Gravesend’s forwards worked hard to set the platform to enable a supply to the backs but the visitors pack did their best to spoil this.

Gary Gray joined the line from full-back and his pace and ability to change direction, created the space, outside, for Tom Goss, to cross close to the corner, putting Gravesend back in front at 17-13.

Missed kicking opportunities for both XVs as the penalty count rose for persistent offences at the break-down.

As the game entered the last quarter it was still the home side that were in the ascendance and following a period of pressure on the visitor’s five metre line, scrum-half Jon Clement eluded the attention of the defence to touch-down.

Sam Hall who had not had a good day with the boot, was successful this time to stretch Gs advantage to 24-13.

Far from rolling over, the last ten minutes saw a strong resurgence from the Luton pack. Gravesend found themselves on the back foot inside their own twenty-two and having to defend their line.

Time and again the visitors recycled to press the line only for some stout defending from the whole Gs XV, and when the chance came to clear their line, failure to find touch added further attacks, which eventually paid dividends as Alexander Southerland found his way through for a try 24-18.

It was Gravesend that found themselves defending as the whistle blew for full time and a home victory following two defeats in the previous weeks.

Next week Gs travel to North West London where they face stiff opposition in CS Rugby 1863.

Gravesend: Gary Gray,Tony Whitehead, Scott Curley, Josh Smith, Tom Goss, Sam Hall, Jon Clement, Nathan Lines, Warren McKee, Jamie Forsyth, Reuben Potaka, Phil Thomson, Ian Harman, Ziggy Stevens, Sox Stevens. Rep: Jamie Freeman, Tomas Ford, Jamie Gwynne.