GRAVESEND consolidated their place at the top of London One South following an 80 minute performance against a hard tackling Chobham side.

The early exchanges saw some uncharacteristic lapses from Gs as the ball went loose or was lost at the tackle this coupled with a number of transgressions gave Chobham’s centre Andrew Walsh the opportunity with a well struck penalty on six minutes.

The lions’ share of possession was coming Gravesend’s way but with passes not going to hand, and the odd wrong option being taken, a lively Chobham backline were making the most of this turnover ball.

But it wasn’t until the end of the first quarter as Walsh doubled the lead when Gs were penalised for handling at the scrum they had taken against the head.

Gravesend forwards continued to win good possession, which saw Harris fly on some fine angled runs, but to no avail.

Hooker Papworth came away with the ball from a line out and make 25m to near the home 22 but the ball went forward in the tackle.

With the home side employing a kicking game with some high ball keeping Gs going backwards, it was Curley’s return kicks that relieved the pressure, putting the game back to the centre of the park.

A dour home defensive line and heavy tackling kept Gs out until the last play of the half when Tony Nolan opened their account when he touched down wide out following some fine passing in the three quarters.

Trailing 6–5 at the break, but looking the only side likely to cross the line, Gravesend came out for the second 40 minutes a reformed side.

With the sun behind them Gravesend began to play a more positive game, and early Gs runs with the ball being moved wide out the second half looked to be a promising spectacle.

With the home side caught offside, Gary Gray stepped up to give Gravesend the lead from a penalty with four minutes of the second half played.

It wasn’t all going Gravesend’s way and it was good defensive tackles in the middle of the park by Moorey and Bishop that helped keep Chobham at bay.

The next score went to the forwards six minutes later as Clements seized on the ball at the base of a ruck, sold the dummy and moved the ball to Papworth.

He had a series of passes with skipper Forsythe and the final ball seeing second row Dan Abbey carry it and the tacklers across the line to touch down.

Gray’s successful kick added the extra points for 6–15.

On the odd occasion the home side ventured between Gravesend’s 10m and 22m lines, it was G’s that transgressed and Walsh was able to pull pack the deficit with a penalty kick and 9–15 just two minutes later.

From the restart, Gravesend won turnover ball, Clements sent Gray away and some fine side stepping and dummy passes he ran in for a superb individual try between the posts, then added the conversion for a well deserved 9–22 lead.

Gravesend never allowed Chobham to get a game together and they were forced to kick much of their possession away.

Curley and Harris thrived on this as they took the play back to the Chobham’s half and only good defending by the home side kept them from scoring.

A further exchange of penalty kicks from Walsh and Gray moved the score to 12–25 with 10 minutes left.

Some enterprising running from Austin Saunders in the centre kept the spectators’ interest and on another day may well have earned some reward.

With Chobham continuing to kick, Austin again made the forward run that sent Nolan in for his second touch-down of the game, Gray again kicking for 12–32.

The fitness of the Gravesend pack and the relentless work rate of the back row of Stevens, Hussey and Forbes never abated.

There was just reward when, with the ball amongst the forwards, a fine kick ahead again saw Nolan outstrip the opposition for pace, gather a bouncing ball to run in for his third try of the afternoon and an emphatic final score-line of 12–37.