The occasion started with a moving citation and 2-minute silence led by Garry Jackson. After the moving words and the entire Drill Field showing their respects, the teams moved off to their coaches to complete final checks ahead of kick off.
Captains “paper, scissor, stoned” at the halfway mark with Gravesend winning the “toss” and electing to kick so the Lions set up to receive. A much anticipated fixture, Gravesend lined up awaiting their chase. Both teams looked similar in size, with both having several big looking carriers who almost immediately focused in on each other, preparing to compete to determine who would dominate during the fixture. Literally from the very first minute, both sides battled and brawled at each breakdown, with the carrying side generally coming out on top and maintaining their own ball. A very well-balanced match until just past the midway point of the first half, where despite robust and disciplined defence from the Lions, Gravesend managed to break our lines and score the first points of the day.
This was a tough, physical but well-disciplined and clean contest, which led to both sides suffering injuries early on. Deal & Bettes kept their heads up and 7 minutes later responded in the best way with a try put down by Jonjo Walkin after stepping his way through layered Gravesend defence. 5-5 in to the break.
Deal & Bettes restarted and after a great chase, the ball found Arthur Warner who powered through the opposition to touch down to put the hosts ahead. This truly was a great game, and the leaders changed places numerous times. A momentary lapse in concentration led to Gravesend nicking one back minutes later and again we drew with the travellers. More battle, more surging phases up field, more disciplined work from our forwards led to the ball finding Mason Clements-Mills at 13 and for the umpteenth time crashed in to the Gravesend lines, this time bursting though and touching down for the score. Frustratingly for the next 10 minutes or so, Gravesend proved the more dominant force and managed to notch up 2 tries bringing the tally to 15-20 with the young Lions trailing.
A renewed rally cry went out and the hosts knew they had work to do against their worthy adversary’s. The Lions slowed the pace slightly and worked their phases, our strong and physical pack showing their stamina and proving the more dominant in the later period, battle at the breakdown drew in the visitors players creating an overlap out wide and smooth ball through hands found our lightning fast winger Rod Dechamps who zeroed in on the corner to put one down to equalise, 20-20.
However, Gravesend proved defiant and answered with a try of their own putting them ahead once more. We were now in to the closing minutes and we had work to do. The Lions pressed forward and dragged the Gravesend defence from touchline to touchline, Stevie Watkins made a powerful charge taking multiple defenders to slow him, our 9 found Jonjo Walkin who after some wizardry footwork, found Stanley Preston who came up from 15 to bolster our attacking strength then surged over for a fantastic team try bringing the score level again with only 2 minutes left on the clock, 25-25.
With the scores tied, but with an appetite for victory, the Lions restarted with a lofty kick from Tommy Lane, after a great chase, the Deal boys pressed towards their opponents try line only to be met with a solid defence, Ronnie Victory carried up the right, only slowed by a multiple of opponents, quick ball found Wilf Marchant at inside Centre who offloaded accurately to Cas Weaver at 13 who punched his way through centre field, beating 5 defenders to press the ball down and secure the win for the spirited Deal & Betteshanger Lions.
An incredible triumph that did not come easy, Gravesend refused to give an inch and fought until the last whistle. We’re incredibly proud of the boys for this one, not once did they lower their heads, and pure grit, determination, togetherness and an eagerness to succeed secured this win. Ends 30-25

More tries followed for Jonjo Walkin, Stanley Preston and Ronnie Victory in an additional “Dev Game” where we got some of our newer players some extra minutes in a slightly slower setting.
A truly fantastic morning, with a truly fantastic visiting Gravesend, great boys, great coaching team, and great supporters. We very much look forward to a return fixture
Gravesend voted our #9 Tommy Lane as their player of the match, and the D&B coaches voted ALL of our backs, as the proved that they do listen to us occasionally and hit the overlap multiple times, something we’ve been working extremely hard at on the training ground.
Try Scorers; Jonjo Walkin 2, Arthur Warner, Mason CM, Rod Dechamps, Stanley Preston 2, Ronnie Victory