Gravesend 1st XV (20) v (19) Dover 1st XV
Played 4th April 2009
The home side completed the only double over Dover this season following another close encounter, where once again only one point was the deciding factor. Over the past two seasons the two teams have been involved in some mammoth encounters and this was another, providing the many spectators present much to discuss after the game; particularly the standard of the match official who had a lengthy conversation with his assessor after the game.
The game was one of two halves with the G’s having the benefit of the slope and wind in the first and looking dangerous with Dover having the better of the second. Dover’s start could not have been better. Direct from kick off young Sam Coughlan, who had an excellent game, took possession of a loose ball which was fed across the park to Ricky Mackintosh who touched down in the right hand corner with less than a minute on the clock. 
The conversion was missed. G’s responded, and from a penalty they recycled the ball to their right winger who scored on the 4th minute. Dover were under immense pressure and following a number of penalties conceded G’s took a quick tap to touch down with the extras added.
Dover had a difficult 25 minutes to contend with and they made numerous basic mistakes giving the hosts the upper hand. G’s kicked a penalty late on to take a well deserved lead. Dover’s problems were compounded when Lee Tonks was forced to leave the field with a hand injury, which seriously disrupted matters leaving the visitors with an uphill climb in the second half.
With the advantage of the slope Dover started well and a penalty was unfortunately missed in the opening minutes. G’s scored the killer try shortly after this and Dover were left fuming after there was a blatant forward pass and a knock on that went unnoticed. Dover fought back, lifted their game and pressurised and they were soon back in contention when Stuart Dean fed Buster Collins to touch down following some intense pressure on the G’s five metre line, with Martyn Beaumont adding the extras. The visitors were now on the ascendancy and were making a determined effort to increase their momentum and G’s weathered the storm and again made their way to the visitors end. Dover found themselves on the back foot but they responded with a try after 63 minutes which raised a round of applause from everyone present. From a lineout just on Dover’s 22 metre line, hooker Jack Tomlinson threw to Dale Tonks who made great strides forward to offload to Tomlinson before forwards Gus Surendorff, Collins and Jon Foster joined the fold with some excellent handling before the ball was fed to Beaumont who sprinted the distance to touch down under the posts and he then secured the extras for a wonderful score.
With only a 1 point deficit there were now 17 minutes remaining and both teams became involved with an iron resolve in adversity. Dover did their utmost to salvage the game and another penalty attempt sadly went amiss. The game could have gone both ways and the battle continued to the end. G’s remained strong in defence nullifying the Dover attack, who fought to the final whistle.
Both teams and their supporters exchanged good wishes following another huge game from both teams and it would be true to say there is very little between them. It was particularly sporting when a large number of the Gravesend supporters clapped the Dover team to the changing rooms, after their team talk, which is testament to the efforts of the visitors.
Gravesend and Dover have both done remarkably well in their first season in London 2 and G’s will finish 4th with Dover directly behind, if they can take the points against Maidstone at Crabble in two weeks time.
Senior Coach Graham Tonks was pleased with his team’s efforts. He commented ‘We have only ourselves to blame having made too many errors and basic mistakes. We came back strongly in the second half and with a little piece of fortune; we could have stolen it at the end. We must be more clinical when opportunities are on offer but overall the lads have again proved their worth against one of the best teams in the league’.
Team, Moore, Tomlinson, Stanley (Cooper), Sluman, Surendorff (McNamara), Collins, Foster, Tonks D, Murray, Beaumont, Tonks L (Dean), O’Donnell, Coghlan, Mackintosh, Townley.
Report by: Richard Collins
Pictures by:Ian Shilson
