Coach Mal Graves praised his side for learning from their mistakes as Whitstable came through a potentially difficult test at Orpington in Shepherd Neame Kent 2 on Saturday.

The Blues coach admitted he had been frustrated with his side’s high penalty count in the previous week’s win over Bexley but against Orpington they were near faultless.

Player-coach Graves said: “Our defensive line was far better this week. I spoke to a few colleagues about it during the week and we came up with some plans and conceded nothing. It was a massive improvement on the previous week for which the boys deserve credit.”

Whitstable’s win was their eighth in a row and Graves admitted it was the sort of fixture they might have lost last season. He added: “It’s not the easiest place to go and they made it challenging for us but we stuck to our structures and our faith paid off.”

Whitstable played down the slope in the first half and a bright start was rewarded with a Jack Barrow penalty followed by a try from Graves who went over after a driving lineout.

Orpington replied with a converted try but the visitors had their noses in front, 8-7 at half-time.
Graves felt his players were a shade over eager with the slope but they slowed things down in the second half and looked better for it.

Full-back James Garland grabbed their second try, breaking out of the Blues’ 22 and then gathering his own kick ahead after he had run into traffic.

Orpington’s second try followed a sustained spell of pressure in the Whitstable 22 but the Blues wrapped up victory when Graves took a quick tap and from his pass, centre Luke Bowers – in his first start of the season – fed Ben Cliff who went over.

Cliff’s return as hooker added much-needed stability to the pack while makeshift prop Ryan Crane – normally a back – did well and there was a welcome return for second row Andy Newman, who came back from his shoulder injury much earlier than anticipated.

With Royal Bank of Scotland’s game against Lordswood postponed, Whitstable are now clear in second place, two points ahead of Foots Cray, who won 100-7 at Shooters Hill. RBS are in fourth, a further two points back although they do have a game in hand.

The Blues host Dartford Valley on Saturday (2pm).

Mal Graves starts a new role with Kent’s under-20s this weekend.
The 39-year-old Blues playercoach has been named as that age group’s forwards coach, working in tandem with head coach Taff Gwilliam, from Medway.

The county are about to launch their campaign in the National Under20 Competition and face pool games against Essex (February 2, Folkestone), Surrey ( February 26, Cranbrook) and Herts ( March 19, away) with the competition quarterf inals scheduled for April 1. Kent reached the quarters last season before losing away to Gloucestershire.

Match Report - Credit to KM Group