Gees sign off in style

12:49pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008

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Gravesend 19-3 Deal & Betteshanger

WITH promotion achieved, this was a display of rugby worthy of a championship winning team from Gravesend.

In front of a very large crowd, Gees put on a display of attacking rugby from all parts of the field.

In fact, they made third-placed Deal & Betteshanger Lions look very ordinary.

Electing to play against a very strong wind in the opening half, Gees quickly showed their intent of playing their game at pace.

However, the visitors had the first opportunity of scoring but Tom Best failed to convert a penalty from 50m.

Within minutes, Gees deservedly took the lead when Will Ballard kicked a penalty from 22m.

Gravesend's scrum half Jon Clement, at his sniping best, then made an audacious break which was carried on by the ever supporting Ziggy Stevens, but the final pass failed to go to hand.

The home forwards were well on top in all facets of the game with the back row of Matt Clement, Ziggy and Soxs Stevens winning the ball in the collision areas and ensuring good quick ball for scrum half Clement to send his back line running at the opposition.

Only sterling defence by the Lions kept them out.

Gravesend increased their lead when Ballard put over another penalty after 13 minutes of play.

Within minutes, the Lions opened their account when Best put over a penalty from 22m.

Gees continued to play their high octane game and winger Tom Goss went close to scoring.

From the resulting pressure, Ballard failed to add to the score when he missed a penalty from 40m.

Gravesend's aggressive approach and support play, with Soxs Stevens making huge dents in the Lions' defensive line, finally paid dividends.

After a great break by fly half Ballard and good support play, winger Tom Goss crossed over in the corner for a good try.

Gary Gray, with a brilliant conversion, added the extra points.

One sensed the Gees supporters relax momentarily after this score, but the Lions continued to defend stubbornly.

With the contest entering the final minutes of the opening half, the game saw a yellow card handed out to Lions flanker Nathan Michael and minutes later, Gees' Martin Wilkinson for retaliation.

Gees continued to press for another crucial score before half-time, but on several occasions the final pass went to ground.

However, on the stroke of the break, Gray put over a superb penalty from wide out to give the Gees a good cushion before playing against the elements in the second half.

Gees increased their lead in the opening minutes of the second period when Ballard put over a penalty from 22m.

The Lions were using the wind to good advantage and increasingly spending more time in Gees' half, but aggressive tackling by centres Ashley Moorey and Matt Weighman kept the visitors well behind their own gain line.

Gravesend's forwards, with locks Dan Abbey and Phil Thompson controlling the line outs, continued to supply the back line with good ball.

Fly half Ballard, superbly marshalling his back line, tantalised the Lions defence with his breaks and probing kicks.

Going into the last quarter, the visitors began to take the more direct route with their forwards.

This proved to be no more successful with the Gees' forwards more than matching their aggressive approach with skipper Martin Wilkinson leading by example.

With the game breaking up, the Gees supporters hoped for another try to round off a tremendous display, but the final pass on three occasions failed to go to hand with a try very imminent.

The final whistle heralded much celebration from everyone associated with the club.

Great credit must go to the coaching staff, led by Simon Jervis, who have instilled such confidence and belief in such a young team who have entertained the supporters with some vintage rugby over the season.