By Mark Bruce

Gravesend dominated field position against Old Colfeians, but couldn’t make it count with just a penalty to their name in a 14-3 Regional 2 South East defeat.

An inability to capitalise, with a lack of incision from the backs and turning down 12 points by kicking to the corner, proved pivotal after the home side took points every time they entered their opponents’ 22.

The opening half was a narrow affair, Colfes leading 6-3 after penalties at either end of the half. Josh Smith got the visitors’ points.

Colfeians won the race to the game’s first try early in the second period and a yellow card for Andrew Cooke after a high tackle made Gravesend’s task even harder.

They closed ranks for 20 minutes, but once back to 15 players infringed again and Colfes helped themselves to another easy three points.

Second-half replacement Jamie Forsyth - the second introduction following Henry Falconer in the first - made a big impact in the scrum, but a penalty try, which would have guaranteed at least a losing point, never materialised and Gravesend tasted league defeat for the fifth time this season.

Gravesend, ninth in the table, host fifth-placed Reeds Weybridge at their annual sponsor day celebration this weekend.