Gravesend kept their cool in a tense finale to defeat second-placed Tonbridge Juddians 27-26 in National League 3 London & South East on Saturday.

The home side's front five set the pattern from the first set scrummage, when they won a penalty which Dave Dorton (pictured) kicked over.

The Gravesend forwards earned a second penalty on nine minutes and Dorton made it 6-0 with another successful kick.

TJs responded with a try out wide and the conversion was kicked to narrow the gap to 9-7 after half an hour.

Dave Irvine along with Ziggy Stevens were winning good ball at the line-out and with the Gravesend pack driving forward the promised score was soon to come.

Tom Goss sent in Sam Hall for the try, but the conversion was missed and TJs were able to draw level at 14-14 before half-time with a converted try of their own.

After the break, Juddians had a player sin-binned for persistent infringements and although Dorton started the second half as he did the first with the successful kick, the visitors moved ahead for the first time, 21-17, with a converted try.

Gravesend moved back ahead when, after several pick-ups and drives saw, skipper Jamie Forsyth went over. Dorton's successful kick put the hosts 24-21 ahead.

The lead changed once again when the opportunist TJs backs set up an opportunity in the corner.

Tonbridge failed to add the extras from near the touch line and with tempers fraying in the last few minutes the visitors had a player red carded.

From the resulting penalty, Dorton moved his side one point ahead and Gravesend were able to hold on to the narrowest of victories.