Whitstable's Kent 1 campaign began with a defeat on Saturday against a side player-coach Mal Graves admitted were just too streetwise for his divisional newcomers.

The Bluse, last season's Kent 2 champions, were all-square at the break but thereafter struggled to match OG's greater game management skills as the home side pulled clear in the final quarter.

Graves was disappointed his team did not grab at least a losing bonus point but he has no doubts they will improve.

He added: "The score was not really a fair reflection. They were a little bit more streetwise than us and it showed in the second half but until that we held our own.

The scrum was solid, we had a good line-out and looked dangerous with the ball in head. We just maybe need to alter our game sometimes to adapt to how the other side are playing"

Whitstable have retained the nucleus of their championship winning squad and have added one or two new faces, among them tight-head prop Jake Povall and winger Cameron Fry.

Both made a good impression against OGs with Fry forming a lively looking back three alongside full-back James Garland and fellow winger Andy Till.

Early injuries to Rob Hudson and his replacement Marc Harris did not help the Blues but they led 5-0 and 12-6 before being pegged back by Old Gs whose first-half point came from Matt Thompson penalties.

Skipper Ben Cliff and March Olive scored tries for Whistable, the latter's being converted by Andrew Huey.

A try from Matt Johnson, converted by Thompson. moved OGs ahead 19-12 early in the second half but Whitstable responded soon after courtesy of an accomplished finish by Fry, who ran in from 40 yards avoiding three would-be tacklers to touch down.

Only two points separated the sides at that stage but the contest turned in on 11-minute spell which saw the home side score tries through Andrew Kidd, Chris Johnson and Grant Roe, tow of which were converted by Matt Thompson to give them an unassailable lead.

Whitstable host Gillingham Anchorians on Saturday and Graves know they are in for a tough game, Anchs having beaten Goots Cray 71-0 in their opener.

Graves added: "I imagine Anchorians are one of the side who will be up there but we showed on Saturday that we can be competitive."