Gravesend failed to crown a successful season when they slipped to a 28-8 Kent Cup final defeat against Blackheath.

Leading at 3-0 half time, Gravesend went down to a physically stronger team, who dominated the middle phase of the second half.

With defences on top for much of the opening it took 30 minutes for the first points to be scored, through a Gary Gray penalty.

Blackheath moved ahead with a try at the start of the second half and this prompted both teams to start moving the ball through the hands.

Winger Tony Nolan won a kick and chase for a great try in the corner, but Gray failed to add the conversion, leaving Gravesend 8-5 ahead.

Their lead did not last long. A try from Blackheath took them ahead and they didn’t look back. A try from a forwards move made it 18-8 and two more tries were conceded by Gravesend.