By Mark Bruce

Gravesend have treated their fans to some dramatic moments this season and they were served up some more in a 31-31 Regional 2 South East draw against Old Tiffinians.

Starting strongly playing into a bitterly cold breeze, Gravesend were soon in the lead when top try scorers Stan Dadson and Samraj Chahal both touched down for a 12-0 advantage.

However basic errors and a failure to take the restart allowed the away side to firstly reduce the deficit and then nudge ahead.

Their progress was shortlived when Chahal capitalised on a fumble at the back of a scrum to give Gravesend a five-point cushion. Tiffs, though, were not done and scored again to lead 21-19 at half-time.

In the second half the visitors were reduced to 14 men following a head-on-head clash and Dadson took advantage to score his second try of the day. The scores were then locked at 24-24 and Dadson looked like he had scored his hat-trick when somehow he ended up on his back.

The missed opportunity looked to have proved costly when Tiffs scored from another good move, but Chris Shorter dived over from short range to level matters and set up another nervy finish.

With home supporters fearing the worst Tiffs put the Gravesend line under enormous pressure, but this time they were able to resist until, finally, one of the away players was held up over the line - signalling the end of a compulsive encounter.

Importantly the draw gave Gravesend three points and allowed them to move four points clear of the relegation zone.

Gravesend have a week off before returning to action at Old Dartfordians on March 1.