The long journey eastwards to North Walsham, for this first experience in National League 3 was made all the more worthwhile as G’s came away with the spoils, and just reward for their eighty minute performance, when they edged out Vikings 13-17.

Starting briskly, Gs early pressure was rewarded when the home backs were caught offside at the breakdown, Dorton’s well struck kick put the first points on the sheet after just three minutes.

The pace in the home backs, with full-back Frost, Couzens and van Vuuren showing some enterprising runs kept Gravesend stretched in defence. Young missed the chance to put the home side in front as two penalty opportunities went wide before twelve minutes.

Gravesend’s forwards showed they were more than a match as they gained good ball to get the backs away. Clement fed Gray with quick ball from the base and the breakdown, but the home defence were quick to snuffle out these attacks.

Under pressure in their own half Vikings kicked much of their possession away as they tried to gain territory, only to see Gs take the game back to them.

Always looking dangerous with ball in hand, it was the pace of Frost that led to the home side opening their account, as he injected speed into a counter, combined with his wing on the left, and Couzens joined in to take a scoring pass and the lead at 5-3, at the end of the first quarter.

Good work from Matt Clement, supported by the Stevens brothers ensured a good supply from the loose. Newman and Stevens won their ball in the line-outs and competed to disrupt home put ins.

It was again a break-out from defence that brought the home side into Gs twenty-two, only for the characteristic solid tackling to stop them short.

A well worked set catch and drive from a five metre line-out saw hooker McCall forced over for the touch-down and 10-3, with three minutes of play remaining, Young missed his fourth opportunity to put points on the board, and with the last kick of the half Dorton went wide with a penalty chance for Gravesend.

Within three minutes of the restart Vikings edged further ahead when fly-half Davies-Horne put over a penalty kick from in front of the posts, and 13-3.

Gravesend’s work rate didn’t reduce, although their numbers did when first Ziggy Stevens received a yellow for not rolling away at the tackle, followed three minutes later by brother Sox, again laying off-side at the point of tackle.

The overlap saw Gs reduced to thirteen men for seven minutes, but when others may have crumbled, herculean efforts from the remaining forwards allowed no more possession or territory to go Walsham’s way.

Solid scummaging and good line-out work, kept Gs ball supply while the backs took this into home territory only to find the defence hold firm. Gravesend’s line never really came under threat in this second half as every attack was dealt with by an efficient tackling and covering of ground by the back-row.

At the end of the third quarter Ziggy was back on the park, and three minutes later following a narrow penalty miss by Dorton, Gravesend had a full compliment back.

Superior fitness of the Gravesend pack was begin to show through as Forsyth, Papworth, Clement et al showed some fine exchange of passes as they took the game to the opposition. With ground made forward it was a combination of backs and forward work that saw Gray go over wide on the left to narrow the gap to 13-8, Dorton’s huge kick from the touchline took the margin to 13-10 as the game moved into the last twelve minutes.

Walsham’s second-row Reeves was shown a yellow card with just ten minutes remaining, and this didn’t help the home sides cause, as they were now coming under constant pressure as Gs looked for the winning points.

With four minutes remaining, Gs were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Dorton was down receiving treatment following a heavy tackle, Gray the same but for cramp. Curley volunteered , but he struck the ground as he kicked and again the home side was let off.

A line-out on the right, won by Forsyth at the back, saw Gs take the ball forward before releasing the backs to left, as the attacked was held up short of the line, quickly recycled ball was sent right and with the home defence streached, the overlap was created for Adam Bishop to run in un-opposed.

Dorton added the extra points to ease ahead 13-17.

Two minutes of play remaining and there was no way the visitors were going to let their hard worked for lead slip away, as they tied the game up near the half way line and as time edged to a close a kick to touch secured the well deserved first win at National level.

Next week at home to Hertford k.o. 3 p.m.