Gees survive major scare

GRAVESEND'S promotion drive is still on after Saturday's victory at Aylesford, but only after they survived a torrid second half to snatch a winning score in the final minutes of a bruising encounter.

Bulls started the game with a very strong wind advantage and immediately showed their intention of playing the game through their heavier pack of forwards.

In the opening exchanges, Gees showed some enterprising rugby with Scott Nash in particular succeeding in opening up the home defence.

One break should have provided the opening score, but a poor final pass saw the movement break down.

Aylesford fly half Norton made good use of the possession his forwards were providing by sending his kicks long distances down field.

Gees' efforts were not helped by ill discipline at the rucks and Norton capitalised by converting two of the penalties to give Bulls a six point lead.

The visitors continued to move the ball through the hands with the Stevens duo very much to the fore, but any turn overs saw the Bulls sending Gees back to their own half with some lengthy kicks.

With the first quarter coming to a close, Nash suffered a nasty injury which meant play was suspended for a considerable time.

Within minutes of the restart, Gees went further behind when Pat Nortron kicked yet another penalty.

Bulls' power pack was certainly making life difficult for Gees in the scrums and their aggression at the break down areas continually put Gravesend on the backfoot.

It was fortunate for Gees Thompson and Abbey matched the home team in the lineouts.

With the game entering the final minutes of the first half, Gees stunned the home team with a splendid try by winger Tony Nolan.

After a series of inter passing, Gees won a line out near the Bulls try line.

A good lineout take saw the forwards set up a driving maul and a switch of play by Jon Clement saw Nolan cross over in the corner.

Gary Gray added the conversion with a superb kick from the touch line.

With half-time approaching, and Gees playing good constructive rugby, ill discipline again at the ruck allowed the Bulls to extend their lead when Norton kicked yet another penalty.

At the start of the second half and with Gravesend's supporters quietly confident the five point deficit would be quickly overturned, Bulls scored a try.

The score came through their forwards driving upfield with an impressive play of inter-passing and off loading at the tackle.

Their final drive to the try line just blew the Gees defence away, but the conversion attempt failed.

At this stage Gravesend were having limited possession but continued to play expansive rugby.

Their efforts were rewarded when, after a good phase of inter-passing, lock forward Dan Abbey's final pass sent skipper Wilkinson in for a try in the corner.

Aylesford's reply to this setback was to take play to the Gravesend 22m area and subject Gees' defence to a torrid spell.

Only great tackling and desperate scrambling defence kept the Bulls forwards out.

On one break out, Gees should have scored when substitute fly half Will Ballard sent an accurate cross field kick only for centre Ashley Moorey to drop the ball with the try line at his mercy.

Despite this setback, Gees continued to attack through their back line with fly half Will Ballard proving to be an able substitute for the injured Nash.

With the game entering its final minutes, Gees launched a great counter-attack with the ball being switched between forwards and backs.

Centre Matt Weigham went close to scoring, but managed to off load when tackled and Ashley Moorey sliced through the defence to run round behind the posts to make a winning conversion a greater possibility.

It fell to Ashley to kick the winning conversion and maintain Gravesend's top-of-the-table position.

This was a victory well deserved, if only for Gravesend's tenacious defending and team spirit.

Gravesend's next game is at home to Tonbridge Juddian on March 29.