ERITH went into their visit to Old Gravesendians on the back of a five match unbeaten run in the league, a record which certainly gave this fixture an extra edge.

As it tuned out, and despite the close scoreline, Old Gs survived this challenge with something to spare to consolidate their position in the Kent One runners-up spot.

Within two minutes, the hosts were on the scoreboard.

Erith were slowly working their way up field through their pack when they were turned over.

Gravesendians quickly turned defence into attack and the urgency of their play took Erith by surprise.

Good bursts from centres Michael Hodge and Mark Fenton allowed Smith to keep up the momentum, full back Marcus D’Cunha added the extra man, and winger Dave Boyer touched down in the corner for the perfect start.

For the next 40 minutes, Old Gs dominated play totally yet frustratingly could only add a solitary penalty to their score.

There was a litany of chances and half chances which were missed or squandered.

The first was a little kick ahead, fumbled by the Erith defence, but Old Gs could not pick it up and score without knocking the ball on.

Another sweeping attack was ruined by the final pass going marginally forward.

Forceful drives by the pack, led by the ever-willing Omar Wahab and Lawrence Coleman, were held up on the line or fell short.

Another move swept forward and Boyer touched down in the corner again.

The referee ruled he had failed to ground the ball in goal after consultation with the Erith linesman and the try was disallowed.

Richard Oxtoby finally put over a penalty to settle everything down and break the stalemate.

Although Old Gs were often the cause of their own shortcomings, some credit must be given to the Erith defence who held out manfully under the severest of pressure to hold the score to 8-0.

Eight points was a poor return for Old Gs considering their total domination.

The visitors spent nearly the whole first half stuck in and around their own 25m area and must have felt they had won some sort of moral victory as they could easily have been 20 or even 30 points adrift by half-time.

As the first half came to a close, Old Gravesendians’ flanker Mark Thompson was taken to hospital with concussion and a serious facial injury.

The game was disrupted constantly by a series of injuries to players and the resulting substitutions.

It was not a particularly undisciplined game, although there was the odd niggle which erupted into confrontation.

All were dealt with by the referee, although all these incidents added over 30 minutes to the game time.

The second half was scoreless, although both sides continued to try to make something happen.

Erith spent a little more time in Old Gs’ half of the field, but ruined their chances of making any progress by conceding so many penalties.

The result was the visitors rarely looked likely to put any points on the board.

Old Gs’ defence coped well and the visitors did not have the pace or creative ability to break it down.

Erith had one clear chance with a three man overlap, but the player in possession stumbled to ground of his own accord and Old Gs swiftly shut the door.

Although unthreatened, Old Gs could not make much progress themselves and in the end, just settled for holding the line and claiming the two points for a win.

A bonus for Old Gs was the performance of second row James McKay who gave a good account of himself on his first team debut, adjusting well to the faster pace of the game at the higher level.

Man of the match was captain, flanker Matt Coomber, whose work rate and dedication to the cause is exceptional.

The second team drew 3-3 away at Gravesend, Adam Keenhan scoring a penalty, while the thirds lost 8-0 at home to Gravesend.

Both were Merit table games.

This Saturday sees the first team visit Old Olavians away, the seconds entertain Maidstone and the thirds travel to the same opponents.