Gravesend 42 - Horsham 15

Gravesend produced a dominant display against play-off rivals Horsham to secure a home tie next week against the same opposition.  

Knowing nothing less than limiting the opposition to one bonus point would do Gravesend started brightly.  Ben Hope received the kick off and immediately breached the Horsham line only to be stopped by a last ditch tackle by the opposition scrum half.  

Hope was not to be denied just four minutes later as he timed his run to perfection, rode a tackle and dated home under the posts.  20 minutes were on the clock when Horsham responded and after several phases of play crossed the line.  With the remainder of the half a keenly contested affair every point looked like counting.  Chris Brady was held up when Horsham were down to 14 men but the reprieve was short lifted as George Bruce broke the line and set up Chris Brady with a 40m dash for the line.  Stopped agonisingly short he was able to set up a Bruce who had the easiest of tasks to touch down.

With half time score at 14-5 Gravesend need a bright start and with the wind at their backs blew away Horsham with two quick tries into the second half.  Chris Brady finally got onto the scoresheet and then Ben Stelfox added another.  With the conversions being added by Josh Barnes there was finally some daylight between the teams at 28-5.  

Twice Horsham cam back but on each occasion Gravesend upped their levels and scored themselves.  Chris Brady managed another as did Ben Hope rewarding another man of the match performance.

The finally try of the day went to Harry Brooker who has the easiest of walk ins following some good forward play.  Gravesend managed the game and made the most of the elements and times are arguably their most complete performance to perfection.

Their reward is now a home tie next week against Horsham when they will once again require all the support they can get.