It was ultimately a scrappy game with unforced handling errors on both sides, but the home side suffered most by giving away penalty after penalty, leaving them always seemingly on the back foot.

Chiltern’s injury jinx also continued, with powerhouse tight-head prop Garret Doman-Cann leaving the pitch with a serious looking leg injury after only seven minutes. This undoubtedly unsettled the side, but Joe Winpenny who was making his Chiltern debut at loose-head switched sides and sub Ziana Alexis came on to shore up the front row. A spirited effort by both lads in difficult conditions.

The game swung backwards and forwards for the first quarter until after 20 minutes, good pressure from the visitors and a break through the centre ended with a try for their right winger. The conversion was missed, but the visitors took the lead 0-5. From the restart, however, the home side found territory in the visitor’s 22 and a good lineout catch on the left and swift hands along the line found Chiltern right wing Jack Kenyon in space and in for a try. Also unconverted, the scores were then level at 5-5.

On the stroke of half time, after much pressure on Chiltern try line, the referee finally lost patience and awarded a penalty try for the scrum half diving in, which was converted for a half time score of 5-12 to Gravesend.

The second half continued a scrappy affair, although the home side did well to prevent the visitors from scoring any further tries, despite suffering two yellow cards after 48 and 70 minutes played.

Jack Kenyon kicked a penalty for the hosts after 60 minutes to narrow the gap to 8-12, but they failed to add to this and the visitors landed a penalty conversion of their own just before the final whistle, to make the final score 8-15.

A frustrating afternoon with only a losing bonus point, but something’s going to click very soon. Chiltern are capable of beating any team in the league and hopefully will soon be doing so.