Gravesend claimed their third National League 3 London & South East win this season with a 33-12 victory at bottom-of-the-table Havant.

Both halves were shortened and there were plenty of water breaks as the players took to the field in 28 degrees, conditions more suitable for sunbathing than rugby, but Graves scored five tries to claim a useful bonus point and go fifth in the table.

Havant started the better, taking a fourth-minute lead with an unconverted score, but Terry Papworth levelled matters after some fine running with ball in hand to cross near the posts. Josh Smith added the conversion.

Tony Whitehead, joining from full-back, ensured Graves ended the half in the ascendancy with a move that started one side of the park and ended on the other before Smith added the extras for a 14-5 lead.

The home side got the second half’s first points with a converted score, but Papworth’s second try, wide out near the flag, started a run of 19 answered points with Smith converting his own score to increase the advantage to 14.

Phil Thompson claimed the fifth try, converted by Smith, which gave the visitors enough of a cushion to withstand Sox Stevens’ late trip to the sin bin.