Gravesend II 60 - New Ash Green 14

On a surprisingly mild and sunny afternoon at the mighty Rectory Field, two sides from opposite ends of the league table went head-to-head.

With no 1st XV fixture, there was early talk that a few senior players might drop down. Not so. The “Super” 2s have become a force to be reckoned with this season, availability was strong, and the squad featured a healthy mix of gobby young upstarts and seasoned old stagers.

The die-hard 2s faithful were out in full voice, bolstered by supporters normally distracted by 1st XV duties. Club captain Sammy assembled his own band of merry men on the touchline, providing raucous encouragement fuelled by the odd San Miguel (or six). It’s unlikely he was paying.

In the reverse fixture, Gravesend had built a healthy first-half lead before allowing NAG back into the contest, eventually pulling away for a comfortable win. Would this be a repeat?

Gravesend selected a young side: a forward pack full of energy, exuberance and graft, paired with a backline brimming with pace and creativity. With a couple of Mavericks pulling the strings at 9 and 10, everything was in place for a humdinger — and what better stage than a packed Rectory Field under the watchful eyes of the full coaching team.

First Half

Kicking off towards the river, the Gs started on the front foot. A ferocious defensive set forced an early NAG error, and the mercurial Matt Bruce — fresh from a parent-funded Australian adventure — pounced on the loose ball like a kangaroo on heat. Unfortunately, the referee was some 25 metres behind play, and the opportunity was chalked off for a goal-line dropout.

This set the tone for the opening ten minutes: strong defence, sustained pressure, and eventually the breakthrough. Hightower lock Manny flattened two defenders to crash over for the opener. With regular kicker Jack King sidelined by elastic-band hamstrings, Benny Stelfox took over the tee. More Goose than Maverick on this occasion, the kick drifted wide.

NAG threatened through some powerful centres and a Fabio-esque fullback, but Gravesend’s midfield — Del Boy and Rodney (little Harvey and big Euan) — repeatedly shut the door.

By now, the two best-looking Bens on the pitch were running the show. Stelfox’s right boot relieved pressure with ease, while Kitey’s fast feet orchestrated play like the Last Night of the Proms.

Gravesend began making regular inroads out wide. Speedster Max was first to benefit, pouncing on a loose pass to score. Quick as ever — even without the questionable rally jacket he’s previously turned up in (leave it in the ’90s, son). Conversion missed, but the crowd wanted tries, not points.

Try number three followed soon after. From a quick tap, slick hands released “Colin McRae” again down the wing, who sprinted 50 metres before feeding new man Paul Ekpe in support. Paul shrugged off a desperate tackle to score, though under the posts might have been preferable.

From the restart, ball well caught and set up, Stelfox unleashed a 70-metre monster kick from his atomic right boot, piling pressure back onto the visitors. Gravesend showed no mercy. A well-called “sparkle” move from the lineout led to hard carries from pit-stop Henry easily mistaken for a 35-year-old Geography teacher and centre-crasher Euan, before the ball found its way to the free loader new Clocktower Brucey to finish.15–0.

NAG’s next kick-off wasn’t gathered cleanly by the usually reliable barrel of a man Sarge (T-rex arms made an appearance), giving NAG only their second visit to the Gs’ 22 — and even that was swiftly repelled. A penalty was won by one of the back-row terriers with them combined ive seen more meat on a butchers pencil, we think its Josh. What he lacks in body mass, he more than makes up for in grit. The sharpest of the trio, though the bar isn’t high.

Wave after wave of NAG attack was met by an enthusiastic, organised Gravesend defensive wall. A dominant first half ended 20–0, with the only criticism being occasional over-complication.

Second Half

Three changes injected experience and ballast: Forsyth, the god-chiselled Sammy Curtis, and lorry-driving enforcer Nathan Fouche. Not entirely accurate but Impact guaranteed.

Straight from the restart, NAG kicked long and out on the full. Gravesend scrum — much improved this season — secured clean ball. Wide play followed, but Cameo Curtis was bundled into touch with a crunching tackle and forced off injured. Fingers crossed it’s only a short layoff.

From the ensuing lineout, Josh Harris won clean ball, carried hard, and the backs again went wide. Jet healed Max finished clinically, and this time super boot Stelfox slotted the conversion. The Dave Dorton effect kicking in??

NAG tried to respond, even creating an interception chance, but by now they looked a beaten side. Still, credit to them — they kept plugging away.

Another score soon followed. From a NAG halfway scrum, a loose kick was gathered by Euan who by this stage had been wonderous, fed Stelfox. A beautiful kick, regathered and fed to half back partner Ben Kite, not the sort of player not to be on the score sheet in such a contest.

The kick off isn’t taken cleanly and suddenly NAG look dangerous through their tough centre pairing. They reached the line but were held up superbly by the nugget Lewis White — a simple man who prefers a Lucozade while others indulge in a can of amber nectar. The game has changed.

From the clearance, Gravesend countered. Forsyth reacted sharply, Stelfox shifted the ball, and the speeding bullet Josiah sprinted 60 metres like an NFL running back to score. Bravo. Conversion successful.

The sideline mob was now fully entertained, and both teams obliged. Another penalty, another booming Stelfox kick that didn’t quite find touch — much to the referee’s annoyance, as it was suggested he preferred a slower paced game. Max chased hard, the ball came back, a quick throw in and play resumed deep in Gravesend territory.

NAG kicked straight to Max (again). He ran it hard “up the guts”, recycled ball cleanly, and this time Ben K fed Stelfox, who kicked perfectly for Josiah to collect his rare second catch in a row and score. Tough conversion missed.

A lapse in concentration followed, and NAG finally got their reward with a converted try. Gravesend responded emphatically. Return the Lithuanian colossus Gvidis, now in the second row and anchoring the tight-head side. The result was inevitable: scrum penalty, kick to corner, flawless lineout, and a maul try. Conversion nailed.

From the restart, Forsyth confidently flung a wide pass “out the back door” to Josiah, yes caught it AGAIN, who made good ground before a penalty halted momentum. NAG kicked to the corner but failed to find touch, and Josiah countered ferociously, sparks in his wake. Over-exuberance allowed NAG one of their rare entries into the Gs’ 22, and they crossed for a well-earned try.

Gravesend had the final word. A knock-on, some NAG phases, another turnover (likely Josh, Lewis, or Henry), and quick thinking from Captain Ed Moore — the Swiss Army knife and son of  Gareth  — released Euan. Fast hands followed through Paul and the return offload back to finish an excellent day for Euan, who finished a superb team try. Conversion added.

Full Time: Gravesend 2s 60 – 14 NAG

This was a contest between two sides in very different places — geographically and rugby-wise. NAG are experienced at this level and will bounce back once they find consistency. Gravesend, were almost perfect in the set-piece which gave the quick back division an opportunity to spread their wings. They boast a young squad with a nucleus of genuine talent, growing leadership in Ed Moore, Ben Stelfox and Jack King et al, and the ability to put teams to the sword. The improvement in the set piece and security of front foot ball coupled with some consistency in selection is proving its worth.

A huge improvement on last season — and a performance very much like this one suggests the Super 2s are only getting started.