SIDCUP 16 PTS GRAVESEND 15 PTS

....on Sunday by 2 tries, a penalty goal and a dropped goal to 5 penalty goals. The game was an illuminating experience as it was the inaugural match played under the new Sidcup floodlights which were very impressive.

The match kicked off under grey skies with a cold wind blowing up the slope which Gravesend had first use of. Sidcup got themselves into a muddle from the kick-off as a slip and a charged down kick immediately gave Gravesend territorial advantage. It took Sidcup ten minutes to get out of their twenty two but when they did they managed a score. A miss-cued clearance kick by Gravesend was collected by Richard Day. Although day was tackled just short of the line, he managed to emerge from the ruck and touched down.

Having initially defended effectively, Sidcup now seemed to be gaining the ascendancy. The forwards were putting Gravesend under pressure in the scrum, Steven Evans and Mike Elliott were dominating the line-out. Nick Gilbert made a terrific run where he seemed to go through half the Gravesend side. However possession was not being turned into points. Poor decision making and handling meant that Gravesend had more than their fair share of the ball and Sidcup were giving penalties away at regular intervals. Gravesend centre Josh Smith was proving himself to be a very reliable kicker being successful with four penalties and half time was reached with Gravesend having a comfortable lead.

Although Sidcup were behind, this was a far better performance than the first half at Basingstoke the previous Saturday and the deficit did not seem unbridgeable as long as the hosts tightened up their game. The second half began very promisingly as Sidcup camped on the Gravesend line. However a series of driving mauls and pick and drives were repelled and it took over ten minutes before Sidcup scored. Another driving maul was stopped short but Richard Clarke broke wide from the base and turned the ball inside to Richard Evans who touched down.

Sidcup continued to have territorial advantage but it was another fifteen minutes before Sidcup took the lead. Sidcup were awarded a free-kick for a delayed throw deep in the Gravesend twenty two, Jamie Cutler took a quick tap and Gilbert drove for the line. The ball was recycled quickly from the ruck and Richard Evans dropped a goal.

It was now Gravesend’s turn to have possession and territory. Although Sidcup were defending well, it was at the expense of a number of penalties. Eventually one was awarded in front of the posts and Smith restored the lead. This, however was short lived; with just over ten minutes remaining, Sidcup were awarded a penalty forty five yards out. Replacement full back, Jim Hardy, made no mistake with the kick and the game ended with Sidcup on the attack.

Although it was another narrow victory, Sidcup were worthy winners as they controlled the second half. The forwards played very well. Sam Carmen, Alex Isaacs, Tom Wicks and Jon Cosh gave solid front row performances and the line out was never troubled. Nick Gilbert improves with each game at No 8. Once again, the defence in the backs was exemplary and Richard Evans gave a confident display at stand-off.

These days, the Kent Cup seems a bit of an anachronism. When your Correspondent was in what passed for his heyday, it represented the only competitive rugby at club level in this area. He remembers battles against clubs like Askeans, who were then an entirely different side from today and trips to rather isolated parts of the county such as a visit to Snowdown Colliery (who seemed to be made up entirely of Welsh players) where he was attacked by an umbrella wielding female spectator who invaded the playing area. Success at Kent Cup level meant entry to whatever the National knock-out cup was called at the time and the opportunity to play against top clubs such as Saracens who scraped home 11-0 on their ground. Today it seems to be another fixture and another opportunity for injuries to be picked up which then impact on league games. Grumble over. This Saturday normality returns and Beckenham are visitors in the league.