Gravesend put together what could be described as one of their poorest team performances of the season, but still managed to run away with the game, as they contrived to score seven tries.

With Dave Dorton adding six conversions to his early first half opening try for a personal tally of seventeen points.

A brace each for Ziggy Stevens and Scott Curley, and one a-piece for Jon Clement and Keepa Mewett ensured that Gravesend would earn a try bonus point from Saturday’s game.

With other results going in Gs favour, the town side move back to seventh place in the league, with the same points as Bishops Stortford, and a better points difference.

A first half that was littered with errors, as the visitors played a spoiling game, that coupled with some poor handling from the home XV allowed little flowing rugby.

Promising runs out wide as Harris linked with the marauding lose forwards, and breaks down the centre led by fly-half Gray, came to little as Diss played to smother the ball.

Fortunately for Gravesend, their opposition showed why they are struggling at the foot of the table, as they were found wanting when the ball did come their way.

Gs first try came after just five minutes, following a break by Gray which sent Harris away on the left, and as the wing ran in to his opposite number, Dave Dorton was on hand to take the pass which gave him the room to chase in.

From the tee, Dorton added the conversion for an early 7-0.

Having spurned several early opportunities to put points on the board from penalty chances, it was again the fly-half that set up a move that took him to near the line.

As Gray looked to be over, he came up short and Jon Clement backing-up, forced his way down for the score. Dorton added the kick for 14-0 by the end of the first quarter.

So many chances went begging as failure to control the ball, or over-zealous individual play led to lost possession and position.

With both Harris and Curley looking for the ball on the overlap, only to be disappointed as play broke-down time and again.

Reward came to Curley as the wing back-up a run from Keepa Mewett, to touch down wide out and stretch Gs lead to 19-0.

As the first half was nearing the close, Ziggy Stevens finished off some driving forwards play for Gs fourth try and a bonus point. Dave Dorton slotted over for 26-0 at the interval.

Gs were in complete control of the game, only for some complacency at a break-down just outside the visitors twenty-two, and as Will Farrer seized on the loose ball, and out strip the best of Gravesend’s defence to score.

Chris Beaird stepped up from full-back to add the extras for 26-7, and the first score of the second half.

A superb individual try from Keepa Mewett after the lively lock forward turned his way out of several tackles to stretch over after making twenty metres.

Further tries for Ziggy Stevens and Scott Curley wrapped up the game for Gravesend, with Dorton adding the extras for all three and a final score-line 0f 47-7.

Next week Bracknell at Home, KO 14.30.

Gravesend: Dorton, Curley, Bishop A, Gwynne, Harris, Clement, Gray, Lines, Papworth, Forsyth, Mewett, Irvine, Thompson, Clement, Stevens. Rep: Baqawa, Whitehead, Warner.