A game between two teams vying to push on into second place in the league. This game had had to be re-arranged from earlier in the season when Gravesend couldn’t raise a team; this time they did have a team and, without matches for their more senior teams, were able to load themselves with hired guns.

Edenbridge were struggling initially; insisting on taking on the much bigger visiting pack running the ball back into contact rather than using our pacey back line and opening up space. Wayward kicking was the dominant feature of the opening 40 with far too many kicks not finding touch and falling into the hands of Gravesend’s hard running centres. One option that did look promising though was the cross-field kick to Perry on the wing.

From the outset this game was unforgiving was the visitors determined to ‘rough-up’ the young Black and Gold team. Bantin at scrum-half was the main target of Gravesend’s rough-housing unfortunately resulting in him being given many a talking to by the referee for retaliation.

There was some good defence from Edenbridge once they had let in a very soft opening try within 5 minutes of kick-off. Gravesend had clearly travelled without a kicker and they pushed the straightforward conversion wide. Edenbridge tried to come back and but, as had all too often been the case this season the clinical edge was not there.

Gravesend scored a second try but once again missed the extras. 10-0 down and Edenbridge looked a little helpless. Half time came at the right time for the home team and they regrouped. For most of the second half there was only one team in the game. The home team scored a very well worked try through Allwood on the wing; and excellent finish to some lovely flowing passing. Bantin added 2 more points and it looked like the Bridge would finish the come back.

With 15 minutes to go a penalty attempt was pushed wide but that did not unsettle the home side. Defending on their 22 Lilley intercepted a pass from Gravesend’s scrum half and fed on to Perry outside of him. It looked like a certain try and when the ball was popped back inside to Burton just on the try line everyone celebrated the try. Unfortunately the fog had been coming in over the course of the second half and by now it had reached a point where visibility was terrible. This meant that the referee couldn’t see to be able to give the try and awarded an attacking 5 metre scrum.

Bridge were not able to capitalise on the field position and to add to their woes another penalty went wide. There was some desperate defence from Gravesend in the dying minutes and they finally managed to win the ball and hoof it into touch. The final whistle went leaving Edenbridge 3 points down and frustrated at a loss that could so easily have been avoided; the return fixture will certainly be fiery. Edenbridge still move up to second equal in the league with East Peckham, 1 point ahead of Gravesend.
 

Edenbridge:

Scorers:
Tries: Allwood
Cons: Bantin
Pens:

Team:
15. Sedgwick, S.; 14. Allwood, D; 13. Clarke, R; 12. Smith, T; 11. Perry, S; 10. Whiting, M; 9. Bantin, G; 1. Smith, B; 2. Lilley, C; 3. Mitchell, D (rep. Kennedy, W); 4.Mussi, J; 5. Fenner, M (capt.) (rep. Moody, T); 6. Batchelor, S; 7. Barnes, T; 8. Burton, C

16. Tipler, J; 17. Lucas, P