WITH perfect ground conditions at Rectory Field on Saturday, Gravesend played host to a much improved Tunbridge Wells XV and showed why they are top of London One South, outscoring the visitors 15-3.

The win maintains the three point lead over Dover, victors 14-39 away at relegation contenders, Maidstone.

From the outset it was clear that Gravesend’s forwards were looking to stamp their authority on the game.

With ball in hand they took the game forward, recycling and making ground to keep the play in the visitors half.

Good defending by Wells kept Gs out and some long kicks relieved their line to take play into home territory.

A penalty count of two to nine against the visitors, as they were penalised time and again at the break-down, in the first quarter, prevented any real rhythm in the game.

Gravesend’s confidence and dominance of possession was such that they spurned kicking opportunities as they opted to kick to touch and five metre line-outs.

The visitors defence proved sufficient to counter these attacks and held firm.

Ashley Moorey was strong in defence as he safely gathered the visitors kicks into Gs twenty-two, and with James Harris combined to counter attack and run at the opposition.

On one of these link-ups, Harris, flying on a well angled run, was stopped by a multiple tackle, having taken a heavy knock to the head had to leave the field, replaced by Anthony Nolan.

Over elaboration at times by the home forwards, when they would have been better served moving the ball out to the backs, saw the game stagnate on the ground.

Rob Hussy, sin binned for playing the ball on the ground after eighteen minutes, left the home pack one short but this did not reduce the hunger for a score.

It eventually came, good possession won at the line-out, forwards recycling the ball and linking with the backs to stretch what had been a resolute defence, and a three man overlap, it was Ziggy Stevens who crossed for a well worked try.

Thirty-one minutes played and 5-0 to the good, back to full strength as Hussey returned, more points were anticipated. Ample possession, strong running by Weighman and crash ball takes from Saunders but the visitors line held firm.

Matt Murtagh put points on the board for Wells as Gs were penalised, off-side at the maul, to reduce the arrears to 5-3 at half-time, Gravesend disappointed at the narrow margin at the break.

The early exchanges of the second half saw both sides employ a kicking game, and again it was Gs that came off best as Dorton pushed the visitors back to their 22.

Gravesend’s lack of penetration in the last fifteen metres meant they continued to fail to turn possession and position into points, this was equally matched for Wells with a dismal display from their half backs, as they squandered hard won possession, unable to pass to hand, the ball often going behind the receiver.

This weakness in the visitors game was quickly taken advantage of as the Gs backs were speedily up on their opposite numbers, spoiling and gaining turn-over ball.

Camped for periods near to or in the visitors twenty-two, recycled possession coming, Gs crossed the goal line twice only to be brought back, for a knock-on and then a forward pass.

Reward for this pressure came Clement, who had marshalled his forwards all game, out witted the defence to make space for Weighman to touch down between the posts.

Dorton added the conversion to move the score to 12-3.

Debutant Clarence Harding equited himself well at eight, until he was replaced, having taken a couple of knocks to the head, by Nathan Lines and Ben Warner came on for the last three minutes for Ethan White.

Good running attacks, again with great linking between the half backs and the three-quarters as they were joined by the forwards.

Some good chip kicks through, from Dorton, Nolan and Moorey kept Gravesend’s forward momentum and pressure on the receiver from the centres ensured G’s position, but for little reward.

Against a less adept defence, by this stage, the score would have been doubled, or more. Credit must be given for the way the visitors kept to their task as they reduced the space that prevented Gs from running the ball.

A successful Dorton penalty added at the seventy-four minute mark for 15-3, Gravesend comfortably in control and pressing for more points and the final whistle was blown.

One more game before the Christmas/New Year interval, and Gravesend are already assured of top position in the league as they enter 2010.

Next week Sidcup away