Gravesend narrowly failed to put a dent in high-flying Barnes’ National League 3 London & South East title aspirations after a 26-21 defeat.

Barnes opened the scoring within three minutes with a Warren Gower penalty, but Gravesend showed good spirit – even when Nathan Lines was sin-binned – and Tom Bishop went over for the game’s first try, converted by Dave Dorton, to give the visitors a 7-3 lead.

Three tries before the end of the half from Ant Wilde, Sayer and Damian Hoo, however, underlined the hosts’ superiority and they had time to increase their advantage further when Gower kicked another penalty.

Ziggy Stevens reduced the deficit in the second half, and when his try was converted by Dorton Gravesend were just nine points behind. Another Gower penalty stretched the lead to 12 points but Graves had the last word, and a bonus point, when, from a series of pick and drives, skipper Jamie Forsyth was forced over and Dorton added the extras.