Gravesend Rugby Club’s first home defeat of the season last weekend could help their bid to win automatic promotion from London 1 South.

That’s the view of head coach Matt Williams, who watched his side beaten 27-20 by Wimbledon at Rectory Field.

The result ended the Gs’ run of 12 straight wins and meant they missed out on the chance to move top of the table.

But Williams saw the positives.

He said: "Saturday was a good thing for us because it refocused our minds. We’ll have the right frame of mind again now, so I’m not despondent at all.

"It was as though we needed to lose just to reaffirm that just turning up doesn’t mean you’re going to win."

Gravesend’s players trudged off the pitch to the surprise news that leaders Chichester had also been beaten at home, by Cobham, meaning the Gs actually closed the gap in the title race to a point.

Williams said: "We must be blessed. I couldn’t believe it. They lost without a bonus point as well, which is positive for us.

"In the last 10 minutes, we started to wake up and play proper rugby and we ended up scoring a losing bonus point. At the end of the season, that one bonus point could be so important."

Gravesend will go top if they win at Haywards Heath on Saturday.