With Dover’s home fixture against Sidcup called off due to snow, Gravesend were able to consolidate their place at the top of London Division One South at Rectory field on Saturday, with a workman like win, 36-24 against Beckenham.

In front of a home crowd that was boosted by some eighty Sponsors and guests who had enjoyed a pre-match lunch, Gs took to the field in confident mood, but it was soon apparent that the previous week-ends layoff had blunted their sharpness.

The first quarter was strewn with handling errors and poor decision making in attack, but fortunately the defending qualities remained in tact.

Gravesend’s forwards found themselves up against a strong visiting pack led by skipper Thorne at No 8 and ably supported by Narbey and Wright at half backs.

When the home team finally got to grips with the game, some fine miss moves by Gray, and well placed chips looked sure to see Gs through but a defence well up to their task kept the visitors line safe.

It was twenty-nine minutes in that one of these moves from half back allowed room for Dorton to join from full back and break through a gap to make thirty metres before giving the scoring pass for Moorey to touch down. Dorton having recovered his breath, slotted over the conversion for 7-0.

With Gs having points on the board it was a well won ball by the visitors at the line-out and Becks forwards were there to gather and take the ball on for twelve metres before hooker Redding drove over to a well worked try, with Wright adding the kick to level on thirty-five minutes.

One minute later and Isaac was shown the yellow card, for repeated team offences at the breakdown, and sent to the sin bin.

Taking full advantage of the extra man, Gs began to stretch the game wide and with Bishop taking the play forward on the right, second phase supplied by Clement to Curley, then Gray who made ground down the left.

As the fly half looked cut off he chipped over the defence and Stevens (Ziggy) chasing through, gathered the ball and a couple of defenders before crashing over near the posts, Dorton again successful with the conversion for 14-7.

With the clock ticking on past the forty-six minute mark, Beck’s Wright took his chance with a well struck penalty to reduce the arrears to just four points at the interval.

It was clear that Beckenham had not come, to the town club, just to make up the numbers and it was just two minutes in after the restart that an uncharacteristic lapse in the home defence that allowed the ball to run loose.

While Gs dithered looking on, the alert Perry coming in from full back gathered and outwitted the home line to chase round and touch-down to put Becks in front. Wrights kick taking the score to 14-17.

Jolted into action with a little more urgency Gs started to put some moves together that saw Bishop and Dorton just fail. Then Hussey received the yellow card as he was caught handling at the breakdown.

One short but not deterred, pressure on the ball receiver from Saunders, backed up by Stevens and Harman saw good turnover ball won.

Again it was pressure inside the visitors twenty-two that forced a miss kick that went wide on the left. As the home backs leapt to secure the ball, it was Curley who out jumped them all to gather, then run in from twenty metres, to score by the corner flag.

Dorton with a huge kick from the touchline took the score to 21-17 and as the fifty minute mark ticked past he added a huge penalty for another three points.

Gs were still not having it all their own way as the visiting threes put some good attacking moves together, as they were fed from the hard working Becks forwards, all without success.

Saunders had a huge game in the centre as he and Moorey took down their opposite numbers. Gravesend rang the changes at the end of the third quarter. Harman made way for Clement on the flank, the Bishop twins swapped places as Tom came off the bench then White took over from Warner in the front row.

With Hussey having served his time, he was soon back amongst the action. Several phases of pick and drive culminated in number eight Stevens being stopped just short of the line, but as he was taken down he managed to stretch a long arm to force over the try.

Dorton on target yet again as the score line moved forward to 31-17.

A happier, looking, Gs were back to their usual open playing ways as they started to run the ball from all phases. The linking of backs and forwards with ball in hand. The quick short throws at the line-out, Papworth and Forsyth exchanging passes as they set the game in motion.

It was just reward for the hard working Abbey, who had secured a huge supply of ball from the throw in, as he took a scoring pass to touch down for Gs fifth try and 36-17 with two minutes to play.

Despite the home XV's obvious superior fitness it was the visitors that gained the last score. Gs backs failing to play to the whistle as they stopped for what they thought was an infringement, the game went on and Jones picked up the ball to race round for a try. Wright kicking the conversion for a final flattering finish, 36-24.

Fourteen points given away from two lapses, five tries from a young XV that at times today demonstrated why they have been at the head of the league since the start of the season, and a well deserved result that keeps them there.

Today’s team: Dorton, A Bishop (T Bishop 63), Saunders, Moorey, Curley, Gray, J Clement, Warner (White 65), Papworth, Forsythe, Z Stevens, Abbey, Harmer (M Clement 65), Hussey, Stevens. Reps: White, M Clement, T Bishop Next week Cobham away.