The Stags came into this game off the back of four successive defeats and with Gravesend very much involved in the relegation battle the scene was set for a nervy encounter and nervy for the first half it was but then the Stags moved up a gear to take the chequered flag with a good bit to spare at the end.

Anyone who could remember the scrummaging indignities heaped on the Stags in this same fixture last year might have predicted that Gravesend’s tight forwards were likely to be handy in the set even if there might be a question mark or two over their staying power. And so it came to pass. With the tallest forward on show in their ranks also, line-outs looked as if they could be fairly productive for the Gs also and indeed they were certainly relatively untroubled on their own ball.

CS were relying on their backs to give them an edge and this was where the first score came from with an overlap worked and centre Tim Wells carrying on as he left off last week, straightening and giving with precision and putting Tom Mitchell over in the corner after six minutes.

Following a needlessly conceded penalty that cost CS a huge amount of territory, they found themselves defending a series of Gravesend attacks culminating in the award of a penalty under the posts for a scrummaging infringement. Not long afterwards an unconverted try was conceded to give the home side the lead 8-5.

There was really little to choose between the sides at this point . CS regained the lead with Sam Glasson the man in position to benefit from some good ball retention by backs and forwards alike with the home side’s defence eventually just hopelessly overstretched and it was clear that the Stags’ best tactic was to move their opponents around as much as possible. It was Gs who went into their changing room – the Stags stayed out on the field – with their noses 11-10 ahead, however, when Joe Clarke - who was doing sterling work in defence - was penalised on the stroke of the half for not rolling away.

One disappointing facet of the Stags' play had been their discipline with some needless penalties given away, including one quite comical one for off side with the offender still protesting his innocence, and on another occasion they were marched back an extra ten metres for dissent. Indeed, Gravesend would arguably not have had the territorial foothold to score eight of their first half points if penalties had not wantonly been given away.

The home side had lost two players to injury and this coupled with their forwards' relative lack of mobility was always going to have quite a bearing on a game played on a very reasonable surface. With parity of possession, greater flair and now improved concentration and execution the Stags' backs really came into their own and they were assisted by some at times fairly feeble defence with first-up tackles being regularly broken. Fly, half Scott Hadden was the first to break through to regain the lead. Good support play from the forwards then enabled Gino Corradi to claim the bonus point try and finally Stuart Peel rounded off the proceedings with the best try of the afternoon. All three second half tries were converted. Gravesend had had their share of the ball but so well marshalled was the defence that more often than not they seemed to be going backwards with it. Those injuries had certainly not helped their cause, however.

It had been a hard fought game and the Stags' first victory in three visits to Gravesend. Coach Stefan Smith was understandably pleased , albeit perhaps suffering a little from rosy glasses syndrome : " Best team game all season. Players showed great ownership pre-game and delivered a hard earned result after some very difficult losses. Dawes, Clarkey, Wellsy and Jimbo were huge on defence. Tight five had a massive scrummaging and lineout game."

The best performance of the season to date from my perspective remains Old Elthamians away. Tim Wells was the spectators' man of the match for the second week running.

CS Rugby 1863 scorers:

Tries:

Mitchell
Glasson
Hadden
Corradi
Peel

Cons:

Hadden (3)