DARTFORDIANS traveled to Gillingham Anchorians knowing despite their league position, this was going to be a very tough match.

Arriving at the ground on a very cold day, the visitors could see the determination of Anchorians as they were already starting their warm up-session.

Darts started well with a training ground practiced kick-off and looked in pretty good shape for the first five minutes.

This early pressure looked as though they would score from a good lineout take and drive.

However, Gillingham had other ideas and completely disrupted the maul and won back possession.

This was a sign of things to come as Darts missed more tackles in the first half than they have done all season, ensuring the home team remained on the front foot.

Darts were now under pressure in the scrum and lineout and just were not at the races, playing well below par.

All credit to Gillingham, who stuck exactly to their game plan and in boxing parlance, Darts were well beaten up.

Gillingham eventually scored a well-taken try when more missed tackles disrupted Darts’ defence and it was only a matter of time before it was breached.

Darts were not playing to their game plan of moving the ball wide, as their ball was being disrupted by determined Gillingham players who were prepared to put their heads on the block time and time again.

The visitors eventually put some great play together and scored a try through Babs Ojo, which was converted by Tom Griggs.

Tim Stagg and a Gillingham prop were sin binned following a scuffle after Chris Lovell was cheap shotted for the second successive week.

Unfortunately, Dartfordians could not stop the silly errors and from an aimless home team kick, they somehow managed to concede a lineout five metres from their own line.

From the driving maul, Anchorians scored in the corner to make it 10-7 at half-time.

Darts were hoping they couldn’t play any worse in the second half but immediately put themselves under pressure when another silly unforced error put them on the back foot again.

The Gillingham pack was dominant again and for the first time this season, Darts’ defence was not up to the task and they conceded three tries by being driven over their own line by the well-organised home forwards.

It seemed as if every time Darts got a sniff of getting back into the match, they made another stupid error.

Griggs kicked a penalty but again straight from the kick off, Darts gave the ball away to allow the home team to score.

Darts started to dominate play in the final quarter of an hour and scored another decent try through Ojo to show their game plan of spinning the ball wide would have paid dividends if they had won enough ball.

It was too late in the game and the match ended 30-15 to Gillingham to give them a well deserved victory and Darts their first league defeat of the season.