GRAVESEND TOO STRONG FOR VIGO

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Forget about the score line. What was important was the fact that Vigo gave the League leaders a proper game, shorn as they were of so many regulars. As the long season takes its toll on the players, all three teams at Vigo are struggling to raise a side. That they did once more is a testament to the passion showed by this little Club. The fact that they came back from a convincing 7-31 deficit at half time to offer a real challenge to a strong, well-drilled Gravesend side in the second half is worthy of much praise. And praise too, to Gravesend who showed respect to their opponents, the game played in super spirit, well refereed by Mr Silve.
Gravesend, who had scored over 60 points in the return fixture and are leading the Premier League East, were soon into their confident stride. When Vigo gave away a penalty almost from the start, Gravesend drilled the kick deep into Vigo territory. Their pack, always strong, drove Vigo back over the line to score. One became two almost immediately afterwards, when again their big pack hurled Vigo back for a further try. Vigo were facing humiliation but showed defiance with a fine try, Ben Paget dummying to open a gap which Ollie Stringer spotted and utilised, speeding through for a try which he converted to narrow the gap.
Gravesend realised that they needed to apply themselves. Needless to say, their big weapon is a well drilled pack – as it ever was throughout the Club over the years – and once again, Vigo were forced into headlong retreat under the weight of their visitors forwards, who powered over for a converted try. Suddenly Gravesend decided they also had useful threes and the pack, perhaps grudgingly, allowed the backs to have a go. Which they did to telling effect scoring a converted try after a fine passing movement. Just before half time Gravesend moved into a convincing lead, a ruck producing good quick ball for a try, once again converted.
So 7-31 at half time, Gravesend’s confidence high, another big score looked on the cards. But Vigo now had the slope. Ben Buckland and Robert Hayes, nominally back row forwards but pressed into service at centre because of the injury crisis, were starting to make a few inroads or smashing into the tackle and Gravesend stuttered. They then gave Vigo a helping hand by losing TWO players to the sin bin for a double neck roll, quite bizarrely. Gravesend, to their credit, accepted the ruling but Vigo spotted an opportunity .Ollie Stringer made a half break before shipping the ball to Buckland who rampaged over. But Gravesend responded immediately, probably practising Rugby League at training !! Their thirteen men punished Vigo for a missed tackle, their big centre blasting through for a fine try, converted.
But Vigo refused to lay down. Hayes sent out (as one observer said ‘’the worst pass he’d ever seen’’) It was so bad that it seemed to hypnotise the Gravesend defence. Either that or they were so convulsed with laughter, they forgot to react. Either way, Mike Szodi scooped up the rolling ball, feeding Adam Fitzgerald who crossed the white line. Fitz had epitomised the commitment in this team by turning up late due to work commitments yet pulling on the jersey to join the fray.Vigo were snorting now,and when Robbie Hayes scored from a superb offload by Robert ‘’Sonny Bill’’ Carleton, an upset briefly looked on the cards. Gravesend were knocked a little sideways by this perceived impudence. How dare this team hamper their progress? Then when Warren Lee caught the ball from a kick and sent a spiralling touch finder deep into Gravesend territory, it almost appeared that Vigo were cocking a mighty snook (no euphemism ) at their opponents. Especially when Mr Lee told all and sundry how good a kick it was. Several times. So they re-applied themselves to the task in hand and slapped Vigo down with a final try right at the end of the match, a very good offload out of the tackle allowing Gravesend to have the final word.
Vigo had showed great spirit and pride, from 17 year old Lewis Pitchell to the veteran Robbie Hayes, from a hyper-active Max Gregory to the more stately Darren Cox, but it was not enough to stop the steamroller that is Gravesend from winning the League. It seems that Vigo old boys, Mark Robinson and Elliot Blackmore, coaching respectively at 1st and 2nd team level, have helped to renew a sense of purpose and direction at this fine club, which should not be forgotten, helped establish Vigo with coaching and guidance in Vigo’s formative years.

Vigo team: M.Szodi; R.carleton, B.Buckland (capt.), R.Hayes, L.Pitchell; O.Stringer, B.Paget; C.Judson, S.Smith, S.Christmas (rep: A.Fitzgerald); L.Walker, M.Lingham (rep: W.Lee); L.Evans, M.Gregory; D.Cox

Referee: Mike Silve (Kent)