AT LAST!!

Pre-season friendly 30th August 2014 Report from Fogell McLovin
Folkestone travelled to Moat Park on Saturday to take on Maidstone Mustangs (2nd XV). Folkestone 2nds had previously agreed to play Maidstone Thirds but both sides agreed on merging the fixture due to unavailability of players from both sides.
Folkestone showed great strength in depth, and credit again must be given to Folkestone’s junior coaches, particularly Frank Morgan senior, Keith Woodward and Nick Easthope, for producing Folkestone’s next batch of talented juniors.
Folkestone were without last season 1st XV regulars including Captain Moose Murray (ankle), Adam Tolman (unavailable), Tom Carvill (holiday), Jack Cox (work), Richard Dagger (cricket season), Chris Petley (holiday) and Thomo Murray and Will Turner (work), but where boosted by Oliver Walton who has again agreed to return from Reading and play for his home side.
New Vice-Captain and outside half Will Silvey led the side, having demonstrated his leadership throughout pre season, despite a long lay off, he proved his tactical prowess throughout the game varying his options from the numerous penalties conceded by the home side to keep them guessing and his backline on top.
Folkestone applied early pressure from the kick off, and having forced Maidstone to kick for touch to clear their lines camped in their 22 for 13 minutes constantly recycling the ball. Maidstone defence was however impeccable and held strong before Folkestone conceded two penalties allowing Maidstone to clear their lines well into Stones half, from the lineout Maidstone fed their winger on an overlap and he crossed for a converted score. 7-0.
Folkestone very own Paul Gascoigne, Jordan Godden was a late call up to replace Adam Tolman, terrorised the home side all day, and his control of the forwards and perfect feed to Will Silvey allowed Stones to quickly regain control of the game, Folkestone had wave after wave of attack, Will Silvey spotted the space and a perfect kick behind the Maidstone winger, Tim Wood & Dave Baxter turned over the maul Maidstone set up from the lineout, and the Godden-Silvey partnership immediately set up attack. The bosh brothers John Eustace and Ollie Walton in the centres interchanged passes before sending young centre, who was playing on the wing, Ross Johnson across. 7-5.
The second quarter started with a series of errors from both sides. Maidstone had picked up knocks to their loosehead prop and reserve front row, so both sides opted for uncontested scrums so that these injuries can be managed with the season fast approaching.
Will Silvey kicked deep from a scrum into the home sides 22 which is collected by the Maidstone winger, sadly the chaser was no where to be seen and this allowed Maidstone time to spot the space and they fed the ball to the opposite wing where their winger ran in for his second from 40 m. 14-5.
Maidstone again got a penalty, from the lineout they set up a few phases before again spinning out to the winger to cross for a hat trick. 19-5.
At this point it would have been easy for Folkestone to give up but Will Silvey, aided by Folkestone Veteran and former 1XV Captain, Dave Baxter rallied their troops, and Folkestone again applied pressure, from a line out, the ball went through the hands and found Ollie Walton who drifted between two defenders before being pulled down and dragged into touch.
Tim Wood forced a turn over in midfield and ‘Stones immediately went on the attack. Ben Stringer and Tim Wood hit the ball up hard and allowed the space for the backs to exploit. But again the home side held strong.
A reshuffle was made as “bosh one” (John Eustace) was withdrawn, and the hungry Richie Bowen moved into the centre. Bowen (and of course Bowen senior) had been disappointed that new coaches Leigh Fitchie and Marc Spearpoint had left him on the touch line on ‘Stones pre season tour and tournament in the previous weekends, as Ritchie had played back to back seasons for the past two years of American Football and Rugby, but that decision proved to pay dividends as the man of the match ran rings around the opposition all day, and played a key roll in the next try, having beaten four defenders fed “bosh two” (Ollie Walton) who found full back Jon ‘the high ball’ Morton who crossed. 19-12.
From the restart the Folkestone forwards went on the attack, setting up phase after phase, Will Silvey again spotted the space in the 22 and a cheeky nudge over the top meant the winger had to turn to collect, Steve Doughty applied the gas and forced a turn over, hard work from Dave Baxter, Tim Wood and Tom Snare allowed Will Silvey to dance under the posts. Half Time 19-17.
Maidstone responded instantly after the interval, and after collecting the kick off and hitting the ball upfield before breaking, quick recycling saw the ever present, Maidstone Kiwi number eight run in from 30 metres. 26-17.
Again lack of concentration from the kick off and a missed tackle in midfield allowed the home side to again to break through with the hooker and captain scoring under the post. The conversion was missed. 32-17.
Folkestone soon woke up and applied waves of pressure within the home 22 but a loose pass allowed the Maidstone outside half to run the length of the field. 39-17.
Testament must be given to Will Silvey and his visiting team, as despite the game looking out of reach they responded and set up camp in the home half. Maidstone where now constantly killing the ball to stop and slow Folkestone’s attacks, but Silvey constantly kept them guessing by varying his options from the penalties. From a scrum the ball was fed to Richie Bowen who skipped around five defenders and scored. 38-24.
Ollie Walton returned the deep kick off into the home half and a knock on at the line out time gave Folkestone another attacking scrum. Good work form Dave Baxter, Charlie Millen and Jordan Godden, which allowed Will Silvey to find Ollie Walton who broke and fed Richie Bowen who was pulled down by the last defender. Maidstone again killed the ball with a try looking inevitable, Silvey again opted for the scrum, this time Bowen fed Walton who darted over the line. 38-31
Folkestone again sent the restart back into the home half, and pressure from this kick allowed Richie Bowen to turn the ball over, the ball was quickly sent wide to Jon Morton on the opposite wing who shrugged off his defenders, before being pulled down, Folkestone again got the penalty, and Will Silvey kicked for the corner, good vision from loose head Tom Snare who applied his trade in National One last year whilst at University, allowed Jordan Godden to snipe over for a well deserved try much to the delight of his on looking mum. 38-38.
Folkestone again made changes going into the final quarter, and knocks in key positions meant several of Folkestone’s players were forced to play out of position. Maidstone however felt an upset was on the cards and called upon the old guard to come in. Folkestone stuck to their pattern throughout the final quarter and despite spending most of the final twenty minutes in the home sides half, the wealth of experience from the home side against the Folkestone Youth meant that they ran in 73-38 winners.
Both Leigh Fitchie and Marc Spearpoint were extremely proud of the teams effort, especially in the final quarter with a very youthful side came up against a Maidstone side boasting ten first XV players from last season. The Maidstone Coach supported the ‘Stones Coaches and was quick to acknowledge the visiting teams squad depth, and commented on the scare we had given going into the final quarter.
Special mention must be given to tight head prop James Archer for responding to the late call up. Charlie Millen was the silent assassin on the back row, who worked tirelessly throughout, with Tim Wood, Ben Stringer and Steve Doughty was electric throughout. Will Silvey demonstrated that he was not fazed by additional pressure of leadership but last months player of the month, Richie Bowen, shone throughout. “GO ON RICHIE, GIVE THE BALL TO RICHIE.”
Team: Jon Morton; Bobby Hulpan, John Eustace, Ollie Walton, Ross Johnson; Will Silvey, Jordan Godden; Tom Snare, Steve Doughty, James Archer; Ben Stringer, Jake Ellis; Tim Wood, Charlie Millen, Dave Baxter.
Subs: Richie Bowen, Joe Johnson, Chris Jarvis.
Scorers: Ross Johnson 5; Jon Morton 5, 2, 2, 2, 2; Will Silvey 5; Richie Bowen 5; Ollie Walton 5; Jordan Godden 5.