Gravesend 37 - Old Dunstonian 21

Despite being a few short of their full XV, Gravesend were an excellent advert for the standard they are currently playing, being quick, well drilled, valuing possession highly and regularly spotting areas where OD's became overcommitted, creating overlaps by flooding runners into underdefended channels. Its therefore great credit to the old boys (themselves missing a few first choice players) that the margin was kept respectable. Competing fiercely at the breakdown and not being found wanting in any one on one tackle, the old boys were eventually overwhelmed by the probing of G's, as the hosts showed the patience to retain possession and engineer openings where they had finally committed all available defensive bodies. It added insult to injury that home stand off Dorton never looked like missing a kick at goal.

Dunstonians trailed 13 nil after half an hour of hard defensive slog, the half being brightened by a converted score from Paul Shepherd. The second half started with two quick Gravesend scores and it looked like the floodgates were about to open. Not a bit of it, as the entire 15, roused by flinty characters like Scott and Shepherd, redoubled their defensive efforts and held the Gravesend seige at bay, who at one stage spent 10 minutes in the red zone with no return for their possession. D's were on the board next when the excellent Hayden Wisnewski playing out of position at 12 stole a pass and sprinted in from 40 metres for a converted score. Gravesend were held to one more score, with a last converted try being claimed by Abbott for the old boys before the match came to a close with the defending champions progressing to an interesting looking final against Juddians in early May.

The old boys finish the season away at Sevenoaks this Saturday. They will finish just below halfway come what may, a creditable result when one bears in mind the time the old boys spent in the botton couple of places. This finish, coupled with the multiple changes to the squad throughout the year reflects great credit on coach Dave Burford and his players