After being well beaten in the first game between these two teams earlier in the season the home team and support were demanding victory. But Park House are a good and very street-wise team and everybody knew it was going to be a tough match.

So the home support was jumping for joy when Folkestone opened the scoring within 2 minutes of the start. It came from a line-out won by Jack McMurray on the left wing and the ball quickly moved across the pitch towards the right with Richard Lama punching a big hole through the visitor's defence. He got the ball out to Dan Sangiuseppe on the right wing and he burst over in the corner to open the scoring.

The referee was very charitable to the Park House Number 6 who was guilty of killing the ball repeatedly giving away penalty after penalty in the opening skirmishes and didn't show him the yellow card some felt he deserved. Folkestone after scoring so quickly went into standby mode and Park House produced their own good play to level the match a few minutes later. 5-5.

Scrum half Joe Hull set up Folkestone's second score with a dynamite pass to Sangiuseppe who was again lurking with menace on the wing. He was over in a flash for a 10-5 lead. Fly half Chris Petley showed his accuracy with his 2 conversion attempts but the cold, swirling wind took control of the ball and sent it wide on each occasion.

Near the end of the first half  a Park House player was penalised for an off the ball tackle as Folkestone surged towards the try line.  Folkestone kicked the ball to touch and from the line-out Will Turner caught the ball and led his pack over the line for a 15-5 half time lead.

The home support expected more Folkestone scores in the second half with the wind now behind them but instead Park House raised their game. But before they could do so Folkestone were awarded a penalty slotted by Petley for a 18-5 lead.

Most home supporters now realise that a 13 point lead is by no means a safe lead for Folkestone and back charged Park House. You can almost feel the Stones team getting very nervous when they get themselves into what should be an unassailable lead. it didn't help the home team when they were hit by a double injury as David Baxter went off closely followed by scrum half Joe Hull. You had to feel sorry for Baxter in his first game back after a lengthy injury. He bravely made what he thought was a try saving tackle and stayed down only for the excellent referee, Mr Delport, to blow for an earlier Park House infringement. Like last week against Medway Folkestone's organisation just fell apart and clever grubber kicks by the visitors twice put them in on the left wing to score easy tries. 18-15.

Wuth Park House now highly motivated and sensing blood Folkestone desperately needed somebody to get hold of the steering wheel. Up stepped Adam Tolman as he calmly took charge winning penalties so that his team could make their way up the pitch to safety and then the ref blew for time. A good win for Folkestone against a team who, had they not been deducted 10 points in the league for fielding an illegible player would be challenging for promotion.

Man of the Match was again difficult. Leigh Fitchie put in a good shift at hooker and his weight has added power to the front row. Richard Lama, as always, put in some big tackles and made good yardage with the ball. But in the end it's a close call between Dan Sangiuseppe and Adam Tolman. Sangiuseppe is just returning after injury and assumed he would start on the bench but he is so experienced and clever it was no surprise to see him pop up with 2 tries. Tolman was majestic at full back and knows when to join the atatcking line and his calm play in those last few minutes stopped Park House in their tracks just as they were looking very dangerous.

Next week Folkestone take on Gosport & Fareham in the regional semi final of the Senior Vase.

Squad:

S Harris, M Roots, L Fitchie, T Ermel, J Cox, K Lomp, J McMurray, D Baxter, W Turner, S Stewart, L Jeffery, J Hull, C Petley, J Morton, R Lama, D Sangiuseppe, A Tolman, C Hunt