Gravesend secured their National League 3 London & South East status on Saturday with a battling 37-18 win over CS Rugby.

A first win in 2012 was forged by two first half tries from Sam Hall which put them into a 13-6 lead at the interval. Scott Curley and Tom Goss crossed the line in the second half to secure a bonus point, while Hall added his third after CS had threatened a comeback.

The visitors took the lead with a penalty from the boot of Daryl Gore, but a searching run from winger Curley opened up the CS defence to allow Hall to score his first try.

Another Gore penalty edged the visitors back in front at 6-5 before Dave Dorton notched his first points of the afternoon for 8-6 after CS were caught offside in their own 22.

A surging run from centre Adam Bishop set up Hall again just before half-time and his try allowed Gs to edge ahead at the break.

Dorted added another penalty four minutes into the second half and then Scott Curley broke through the tackles on the left wing to put the hosts into a comfortable 23-11 lead. Phillip O’Leary clawed CS back into contention wriggling through the defence to touch down under the posts with Gore adding the extras for 23-18.

After braving the comeback, Hall made sure of the points for the Gs with his third try on 78 minutes and then Tom Goss went over in injury time for the fifth try of the afternoon.