Early positional play put Gravesend in the home twenty-two, but missed tackles as ‘Stoke broke out of defence, saw Gs behind to two converted tries as first Simon Appleby brushed off the tacklers to touch down, then Rhydian Slade-Jones raced in for a second.

Both converted from the boot of centre, Andrew Humberstone for 14-0 after just seven minutes.

From the drop out Gravesend were again pressing inside the home twenty-two and as the forwards, ably led by skipper Jamie Forsyth, recycled the ball, a move out wide on the right saw Ziggy Stevens in support to open Gs account. Dave Dorton narrowly missed from the touch line.

Penalty misses from both Humberstone and Dorton kept the score to 14-5 by the end of the first quarter, but this didn’t reflect the territorial superiority of the visitors from Kent.

Time and again Gs had their opposition under pressure only to see the ball lost forward, or killed on the ground. Basingstoke were feeding on scraps, and managing to keep their line secure, but with few excursions into Gs half.

Twenty-nine minutes and Humberstone increased the home lead with a penalty kick, only to see this countered three minutes later as Dorton put over from the tee for 17-8.

An Injury to inside centre, Matt Guilfoyle, brought the stocky Tala Petolo on just before the break. With just one minute left on the clock, and Gravesend keeping the ball live, several rolling drives took the game back where it had been for most of the first half, and as room was made by the forwards, Adam Bishop found space to run in to touch –down.

With the last kick of the half, Dorton narrowed the scores to 17-15, which was no more than Gs deserved from the possession and territorial superiority they had enjoyed throughout the half.

Three minutes from the re-start and it was the ever reliable boot of Dorton that edged Gs in front for the first time, 17-18.

Such was the pressure from the Gravesend front row that ‘Stoke were forced to make a change at prop, as Graeme Harvey made way for Steve Collins. Gs stilled managed to push the home back off the ball, and at times turn them round to gain the put-in.

Two more penalties from Dorton, as the home xv were caught off-side in front of the back foot, gave Gs a cushion at 17-24, but dour defending by the home back-row kept the line intact.

Both scum-halves were replaced after seventy minutes, Jamie Gwynne coming on for Jon Clement and Ben Hall replacing James Platt for ‘Stoke.

More good work from Gravesend’s forwards, with Forsyth, Stevens and Terry Papworth spinning away from the close attention from the home defence, ensured plenty of ball supply.

Gravesend’s backs had their chances, which were quickly closed down, in the final quarter, but it was again the boot of Dorton that moved Gs away as he struck with another big penalty for 17-27.

More good passing moves went wasted, before some fine exchanges released Bishop on the wing. As he looked certain of winning the race to the line, a dangerously high tackle brought him down less than a metre short.

Referee Andrea Ttofa, who had allowed the game to flow throughout the afternoon, had the courage to award a penalty try, which Dorton duly converted for a final tally of 17-34.

Gravesend kept a clean sheet for the second half and move further clear from the base of National 3 London & South East.

Next week, Captain’s Day, they entertain Barnes, currently unbeaten in second place by a single point.

Gravesend: Dorton, Bishop, Moorey, Turagaiviu, Goss, Gray, Clements, Lines, Papworth, Forsyth, Mewett, Irvine, Stevens, Clement, Stevens. Rep: Warner, Harman, Gwynne