Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Graves thrilled as bankers are brought to their knees
Mal Graves believes Whitstable have put down a real marker in Shepherd Neame Kent 2 after ending Royal Bank of Scotland’s 100% record at Reeves Way on Saturday,
The Blues player- coach described the result as the best since he became coach but says the challenge now for his players is to maintain the same standards for the rest of the campaign.
Second-placed RBS had won all seven of their previous games and Graves said: “It was a fantastic result, the best since I’ve been here and thoroughly deserved.
“RBS are a decent side who contributed to a good game but the intensity the boys showed from one to 18 was just ferocious.
“We were all over them the whole time and did not give them any chance to breathe.”
Graves said the platform for victory was laid by the Whitstable pack, who ‘did not give an inch,’ while a decision to move Sam Holness from flanker to centre bore dividends as he produced a man-of-the-match display.
Marck Olive, growing in stature at full-back after a switch from No.10, also caught the eye.
Andrew Huey kicked a second minute drop goal and by half- time, Whitstable had carved out a useful advantage thanks to Bobby Powell’s try which was converted by Jack Barrow, who also kicked two penalties. RBS came back but Whitstable’s victory was secured when Josh Booty went over for a try, which Barrow converted to give him 10 points on the day.
The win consol idated Whitstable’s third spot and they are now within two points of the bankers and seven adrift of unbeaten leaders Old Gravesendians although the top two have both played a game less.
The Blues visit fourth-placed Footscray on Saturday and Graves says he hopes his team will travel full of confidence.
He added: “Saturday was the sort of game we’ve lost in the past but on this occasion, the boys were totally focused and kept their composure.
“They have laid down a marker but the trick is to try and play like that every game.”
‘It was a fantastic result, the best since I’ve been here’
Whitstable try to protect the ball against RBS on Saturday, and right, man-of-the-match Sam Holness braces himself for a tackle