11:06am Monday 8th March 2010
By Mike Cubitt
With the river and strong north wind behind them Gravesend breezed through to a comfortable 38-19 victory over Thanet Wanderers at Rectory Field on Sunday.
Having been awarded an away team victory over Maidstone, for failing to fulfil the league fixture on Saturday, Gravesend came into the game looking to prove that their close victory over today’s visitors, earlier in the season, was worthy of the league leaders.
Some 150 spectators didn’t have to wait long as Gs launched a series of attacks towards the visitor’s line, as the ball was spun along the line through Clement, Gray, Moorey and Adam Bishop.
The strong wind having more than a casual influence on the game as it took the ball away from the players in the pass.
Dorton coming forward from full-back joining the line, and Curley and Tom Bishop making the extra man as they came in from the wings.
A poor clearance by Thanet gave Dorton the opportunity to link with Adam Bishop in the centre and as they broke forward a series of exchange passes with Tom Bishop on the wing, saw the game move to within five metres of the line.
Hussey and Moorey secured the ball and Clement found a huge gap to run in and round for a try. Dorton’s well struck conversion giving G’s the lead 7-0 on the ten minute mark.
Some huge kicks out of hand by Dorton kept Thanet pinned in their own half, and it was only four minutes later that good second phase possession enabled the ball to go along the line to Curley wide on the left, who made no mistake as he ran in to touch down.
Dave Dorton put in a massive kick from near touch to secure the extras and 14-0 lead.
Rob Hussey along with the Stevens brothers allowed little room for the visitors to work in, and it was some huge tackles from the former that were taking their toll on the visitors backs as they were constantly cut down.
Curley was unlucky not to add his second of the day as he was first stopped two metres short of the line, then help up as he was driven over.
Thanet were tied up to the point that they only came close to the home twenty-two metre line once during this first half, and from the restarts the strong wind meant they were failing to get the ball over the ten metre line, passing the advantage to Gs.
Further tries from fly half Gray and Whitehead, on for the injured Adam Bishop, and another conversion from Dorton moved Gravesend ahead 26-0 and the break.
Thanet came out with the elements in their favour for this second period, and started much better, but it was Curley that added to his first half success as Grays burst of pace made room for Dorton to give the scoring pass for the winger to race in. The kick was held short by the wind.
Just one minute later, Thanet’s Ollie Cackett made the most of the loose ball and defensive lapse by Gs to grab an opportunist try as he touched down near the posts. Full-back Syreb made no mistake as he put over an easy conversion to narrow the score to 31-7 Gs were now having to work harder for possession and found they had to up their game as Thanet competed well at the breakdown.
A period of pressure inside the visitors twenty-two saw the defence hold firm until Bishop was released on the right and with the line in his sight he made no mistake as he raced in for Gs sixth try of the afternoon.
Dorton again successful added the points for 38-7.
Twelve minutes remaining of a game that had seen Gravesend stamp their authority on it from the start, saw some ragged defensive errors, coupled with a determination from the visitors, that culminated in a further two well earned tries, from Eldridge and Wakefield, and one conversion from Syreb, going Thanet’s way to bring the final score to 38-19.
Having had the better of the scoring in the second half, this must give Thanet Wanderers some confidence when they visit Rectory Field next week for the league encounter.
Today’s team: Dorton, A Bishop (Whitehead 24), T Bishop, Moorey, Curley, Gray, J Clement (Gwynne 60), Warner, McKay, Forsythe, Irvine, Abbey, Stevens (Luck 68) , Hussey, Stevens. Reps: Gwynne, Luck, Whitehead, Walpole Next week Thanet Wanders-home, kick-off 3.00.
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