Gravesend expected a tough London 2 South encounter at Dover on Saturday and they were not disappointed, but G’s managed to come away with a last-gasp 8-7 victory after a gruelling contest.

They had to withstand heavy Dover pressure in the opening 20 minutes before taking a 3-0 lead through a 21st-minute penalty by fly-half Gary Gray.

But Dover were not to be denied and after 32 minutes full-back Townley scored near the posts. Beaumont added the conversion to give the home side a deserved 7-3 half-time lead.

The second half, however, belonged mostly to G’s but hey were unable to break through until Tony Nolan put substitute winger Scott Curley in to score in the corner.

Old Gravesendians suffered a 10-0 defeat in their top-of-the-table clash with Medway in Kent 1.

The first half was hard-fought but ended 0-0. Old G’s started the second half brightly, only for Medway to take the lead through an opportunist try by their flanker Colin Chapman.

And Medway then sealed victory with the best move of the match, finished off by Danny Williams in the corner.