Gravesend rediscover winning feeling

4:55pm Tuesday 7th October 2008

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Thanet Wanderers 8-21 Gravesend

GRAVESEND travelled to Thanet hoping to register their first away win and get their season back on track.

They certainly achieved their target with a magnificent defensive effort during the last quarter of the game.

From the start, Gravesend went on the offensive and within minutes the home side had conceded two penalties.

With a strong wind behind them, Gs failed to establish an initial advantage and it was the Wanderers who opened the scoring.

The home team. through good inter-passing and moving the ball away from the tackle, put Gs under pressure.

Gravesend conceded a penalty close to their line and Richard Eldridge made no mistake with his kick to give the Wanderers an early lead.

From the restart, Gravesend's scrum half Jon Clement tested the Wanderers defence with his trade mark runs.

Gravesend's forwards, keeping the ball close, put the opposition under pressure but failed to establish any lasting superiority.

The opening quarter was marked by a succession of penalties with the home team's Brad Teall spending time in the sin bin.

Gary Gray was unable to put Gs on equal terms when he failed to convert a penalty after 20 minutes of play.

But Gs were not to be denied.

Centre Austin Saunders made a huge dent in the Wanderers defence and went close with Matt Clement in close support.

Wanderers were penalised after this movement.

Jon Clement quickly took the penalty and passed to Ashley Moorey, who crashed over near the uprights for Gray to add the extra points.

Gravesend were now very much in the ascendency and increased their lead within minutes when after another Jon Clement break, lock Dan Abbey made good ground before giving Clement a return pass to score between the posts.

Gray again kicked the conversion Going in to the latter part of the first half, it was Wanderers who looked the most likely to score.

Poor kicking out of defence and missed tackles allowed the home team to take the initiative.

Only scrambling defence and desperate tackling kept Gs' line intact.

In trying to run the ball out of defence, Gravesend instead of making use of the wind put themselves under unnecessary pressure.

This allowed Wanderers to mount an attack, ending with James Green going over in the corner to score an unconverted try.

With the opening half coming to a close, Gs put a string of good ball retention together but unfortunately they were penalised just metres from the line.

A score at this time would have been extremely advantageous with Gs having to face the elements in the second half.

Would a six point advantage at half-time be enough for G's?

From the restart, who else but Clement made a scything break deep into Wanderers half and only desperate tackling kept him out.

From the ensuing ruck, Abbey ran strongly to score wide out.

Gray, with a great kick into the wind, added the conversion.

With the young backline growing in confidence, Gs exerted great pressure on the opposition with both Saunders and Tom Bishop going close to scoring.

Gravesend's scrummaging power was causing Wanderers great problems and the line out work of Abbey and Thompson contributed greatly to Gs' advantage at this stage.

To Wanderers great credit, they came away from this period of play without conceding any points.

Going into the last quarter of the game, it was Gs turn to defend.

Wanderers' strong forward play put Gs right back on their line.

They threw everything at the Gravesend defence but magnificent tackling, and it must be said, a one dimensional attacking strategy, prevented the defensive line from being broken.

Flanker Rob Hussey's tackling was both courageous and defiant and that man Clement was everywhere.

Thanet were awarded a succession of penalties, but were unable to make good use of their opportunities.

It was one way-traffic towards the Gravesend line, but the well-drilled defensive line remained intact.

The resolve was immense. The final whistle came with some relief and I suspect even more so for the travelling supporters who were emotionally drained.

Gravesend are at home to Maidstone on Saturday.