With a number of injuries to key Ravens personnel an emotional match will be remembered more for the hits and aggression rather than any rugby skills on display. The game turned nasty after 20 minutes of the first half when one of the Bulldogs players suffered concussion from a powerful Correira run off his wing, though up that point the visit side from Essex were deeply in control as they pulled out a 36 - 0 lead as the Ravens failed to get started.

Forwards Gary Sargeant and Carl Morgan put in some big tackles to get the ball back for the Ravens it was left to Captain Oakley to  orchestrate a fine move down the left for debutant Nick McPherson to bundle of the line and add the first points of the match. The Ravens were clearly controlling the match but Hainault worked hard to keep the Ravens at bay until the half time whistle.

The second half was much more of a heated affair as tempers flared resulting in a sin binning for one of the opposition but it wasn’t enough for the Ravens even though another debutant Andre Karon was able to power his way over for his first try.

The Ravens were still on the end of a 66 vs. 8 scoreline. This moved the Ravens out of their second place in the league table but it is still early in the season and hopes are high for the premier Kent club to turn this around and be back on top when they meet Eastern Raiders on 31^st May