Beckenham 41 v 7 Gravesend

Pre-season friendly

BECKENHAM rugby club's pre-season preparations continued last week with a comprehensive win over London Three club Gravesend, writes Neil Millan.

Coach Sam Howard said: "I was happy with the game.

"I saw 26 players in action and I am beginning to get a better idea of the strengths of the players and the best combinations to play.

"We still have work to do but with four training sessions and a game next Saturday before our first league fixture our preparations are on track."

He added: "The commitment at training has been superb.

"We need to maintain it to build towards the league campaign and the Andover game."

The result does not do justice to Gravesend's determined performance.

In the first of three thirds of 30 minutes the visitors played with a resolution and commitment which rocked Beckenham.

Their forwards took the fight to the home side and demonstrated Beckenham's pack needs to work on subduing a gritty opposition.

Despite this and as the first period wore on Beckenham began to come out on top and the third finished off 7-0 in their favour.

The points came after the forwards completed a pushover try with the conversion drop kicked from out wide by Michael Fealey who had just replaced player coach Sam Howard making his first appearance in a Beckenham shirt.

In the second and final thirds of the 90-minute game Beckenham's play improved and they began to give away fewer penalties.

The first score of the second period came after a great run by new signing winger Dom Lespiere.

Fullback Andy Glason, playing his first full game since a knee injury in January, found himself on the end of a scoring pass from James Hixon who provided superb support to the new winger making the score 12-0.

Gravesend, stung into action, took play into Beckenham's half and from a lineout on the 5m line threw long for one of their forwards to catch and crash over.

This try, well converted by Gravesend's new coach Simon Jervis, made the score 12-7.

Lespiere then moved the score on to 17-12 himself with a try which demonstrated Beckenham have found a winger who knows his way to the line.

Back row Paul Romph added another five points after a period of intense pressure from the Beckenham forwards and finally as the forwards began to assert themselves hooker Eddie Redding added another try to leave the score at the end of the second third 29-7.

In the final third Beckenham, who had changed their line-up in each of the periods of play, began to dominate a tiring Gravesend.

Michael Fealey, who made a claim for the 10 shirt for the first league game, brought his backs into action more often.

Inside centre Kevin Wilson, playing at Balmoral Avenue for the first time, showed he possesses pace, power and an eye for a gap which will leave many a defender grasping at air over the course of the season.

Outside centre Alex Morrill showed his pace and the benefit of a good line and straight running in scoring the final try of the night, converted well by Michael Fealey.