The Blues will start 2017 lying second, level on points with Royal Bank of Scotland and three clear of Footscray as those three team battle for the right to go up with likely champions Old Gravesendians, who are already 13 points clear.

Player-coach Mal Graves said he was please with the way the squad have responded after failing to win either of their opening games, but admits there is still work to be done to complete the job. He added: " The club's in a good place right now but our feet are firmly on the ground because you don't get anything for being second at Christmas. We're in a strong position, but we can still improve. I told the players on Saturday that they were recidivists of the same crime. We keep giving away needless penalties which is stopping us getting any momentum or continuity. We must of conceded 25 on Saturday, the players just need to show a bit more nous."

The Blues are still unbeaten since being pipped 8-7 at Lordswood in October, and Graves said while it was a far from perfect performance he never felt they were in danger of losing to Greenwich where they lead 14-6 at half time.

Leeroy Chaipa, Marck Olive and Ben Cliff scored the Whitstable tries, with Jack Barrow converting all three. There were also good contributions from prop Luke Pepper, and second row Duncan MacKinnon, both of whom came on at half-time to strengthen the pack.

Graves added: "Greenwich is never an easy place to go to but we matched them in every department. We lost up there last season so that itself shows the progress we've made. The boys were actually disappointed not to have got the bonus point, but we cheered up when we heard Royal Bank of Scotland had lost (they went down 15-12 at Orpington)."

Match Report - Credited to KM Group