Medway ended the calendar year on a low note after a 24-19 Regional 2 South East derby defeat at home to strugglers Gravesend.

Gs, beaten 40-28 in the first meeting between the sides this season, attacked hard from the start and from a scrum five metres out they pushed their pack all the way over the line for an unconverted score from Matt Hewitt.

A penalty got Medway back on track. Scrum-half Noah Hyde took it quickly and the ball was spread wide where Max Bullock made the break and offloaded to John Sipawa. Despite being tackled, Sipawa returned the ball to Bullock who ran 50m to touch down under the posts. A successful conversion gave the hosts a two-point lead.

Gravesend hit back as Medway’s strong defending proved in vain. The visitors put nearly 20 phases together before powering through via Stan Dadson, the extras added, and scored twice more before the break.

Firstly their powerful pack drove on from a lineout and pushed Medway over the whitewash again, Harry Brooker getting the glory, The conversion was missed but then, within a few moments, and just before half-time, Gravesend get their fourth try through Hewitt’s second to lead by 17 points.

An re-energised Medway started the second half with intent and their man-of-the-match, Jonah Hyde, added to the try count but the extras were off target.

Captain Antony Clement then broke up a spell of midfield action, winning the turnover in the Gravesend half and finding Bullock who scored again. The conversion was true this time, but that was as good as it got for the hosts, who finish 2024 fourth in the standings with Gravesend second-bottom.

Medway return to action at Old Colfeians on January 4, while Gravesend host Thurrock.