Old Gravesendians 53 v 5 Guys Hospital

Rugby Union Kent League One

OLD Gravesendians made an immediate impact in Kent League One with a battering, seven-try demolition of the combined hospital side, writes John Oxtoby.

The result was the product of an excellent all-round team performance based on uncompromising defence and some clinical finishing in attack.

There was no real clue to what was to come from the early play although the visitor's pack was driven off their own ball at the first scrum.

Early pressure from Old Gs resulted in a penalty chance, comfortably converted by Michael Hodge, followed quickly by a more difficult chance also converted by Hodge.

For the rest of the quarter Guys were in the ascendancy, hitting the post with a penalty and unlucky to be denied a pushover try.

Old Gs defended tenaciously and forced turnovers which enabled their lines to be cleared with some excellent long-range punting down the slope from fly half Richard Oxtoby.

From one of these Michael Hodge was first to the ball and, although caught, he released his fellow backs who switched the line of attack to put Luke Combe in space on the right wing.

His pace and step inside wrong-footed the final cover for an excellent converted try under the posts.

Old Gs were now in a confident mood and soon added to their score.

From a lineout near half way, scrum-half Dan D'Cunha darted through a small gap and offloaded to flanker Matt Coomber who charged towards the line.

He was caught, but quickly recycled the ball to give Luke Combe another chance to use his pace.

Combe's inside pass to Michael Hodge allowed the powerful centre to batter his way over the line from short range, he converted his own try for 20-0.

As half time approached Old Gs' Dave Boyer hit the line from fullback to open up the visitor's defence and a well-timed pass put Coomber in under the posts for a 27-0 half-time lead.

Guys had all the early play after the re-start, trying everything they could to break down Old Gs' brick wall defence.

Then the hosts broke and a slick interpassing move down the blindside by backs and forwards saw D'Cunha put in the final burst to dive over for another converted score.

More flowing rugby, with great support play and quick passing saw Mark Fenton-Smith storm over under the posts for 41-0 with the conversion.

The next score came from an interception from Fenton-Smith who ran into the corner from 40m out but Hodge missed the conversion.

The final score came from a break by No 8 Mark Lockwood off the back of a scrum on the halfway line and he put Dave Boyer through for an unopposed score and Hodge's conversion ended Old Gs scoring on 53 points.

A final flurry from the medical men resulted in a late consolation score with the Guys scrum half nipping over from close range.

Old Gs travel to Park House this weekend.