Folkestone fail to complete their comeback in the game.

FOLKESTONE 23 AYLESFORD 26
3rd October 2015 By Alan Schofield

The last match between these two teams was in season 2006/2007 – when Folkestone came bottom of the league - and they have not been promoted or relegated since then. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of their opponents this day as Aylesford Bulls were relegated last season without obtaining a single league point. However they have enjoyed a startling change around in this season having defeated both Bromley and Heathfield in their first two games.
The Bulls were lucky, in more than one area, to gain the victory over a spirited Folkestone XV where the forwards were rampant for the whole 80 minutes of play.
Aylesford looked to have a large, mature and lively group of backs and forwards but In the first quarter, The Stones occupied their opponents 22 metre line, with a single costly exception, for over 15 minutes. Seyhan Fell, Chris Petley and Josh Kemp had determined runs at the line but Kemp was injured bringing on Scotty Stewart after only 8 minutes. Then Doug Wood was taken off with a bleeding nose, being substituted by Danny Theyers. But play continued with Will Massey having a good individual run brought down short, Tom Carvill similarly and Seyhan Fell missing a penalty kick at goal – so committed were The Stones to attack that they left a gap in midfield and Aylesford, when they got possession, shot through at speed and, with support, were able to run in a try from 65 metres out in their own half. This was converted for a 0 – 7 lead and much shaking of heads by the large home crowd.
Seyhan Fell narrowed the gap to 3 – 7 with a well taken penalty from The Bulls fourth offense at scrums and mauls. But immediately from the resumption a kick to Jon Morton saw him counter with a big kick cross-field - snapped up by a quick running scrum half who wrong footed the Folkestone defence and ran through to score under the posts. And within minutes Aylesford had increased the lead to 3 – 19 with yet another try which started from open play in mid field and finished with a strong forwards surge over the line.
Mat Roots came on for James Archer in the front row and when Aylesford had a man yellow carded for disputing the referee’s decision the home forwards really took control and they forced their opponents backwards for 35 metres before Aylesford were penalised. Unusually Seyhan Fell missed another kickable penalty just before half time.
The dominance that The Stones had in the scrums, mauls and rucks was now to be a feature of the game and they started the second half as they had left the first with a massive 40 metre power drive which just failed to capitalise by a handling error in the back row. The Bulls were unable to cope with the strength of the Folkestone front eight and this led to them conceding penalty after penalty much to the discombobulation of Leigh Fitchie, the Folkestone head coach.
A penalty kick took The Stones to within 10 metres and Tom Carvill was stopped short but no-one could stop Matt Roots diving over to redress the unbalanced score-line. Seyhan Fell magnificently converted from the touchline but 10 – 19 still flattered the visitors. And then – a mix up mid field straight from the kick off let The Bulls straight through the middle with only half-hearted attempts at tackling and a bonus point earning fourth try for Aylesford. 10 -26. Oh dear!
The match had a pattern with Folkestone forwards dominant but against some quick thinking and quick running backs. But it was the home team forwards who earned a try when pressuring on the 10 metre line they forced The Bulls to back pass into their in-goal. Only a good idea with a cool head, but with Folkestone pounding down on the unfortunate receiver - a handling error was forced for Ross Johnson to snap up the ball and score a try that Fell easily converted. 17 -26 and Folkestone had the attention of two hundred spectators!
Aylesford were rattled and this led to ever increasing concessions of penalties. Scotty Stewart led a charge before being brought down but another penalty for The Stones saw Seyhan Fell put the ball through the middle of the posts from 45 mts. out in centre field- 20 -26. Another penalty however saw Will Massey over-react in pure frustration - only to be yellow carded after a melee of pushing.
Jon Morton saw that the backs were unable to break through their opposite numbers and launched a number of high, long kicks into The Bulls own half – quickly followed up, and the ground gained was held by the enthusiastic Folkestone back row.
And now came the much discussed events of the last 10 minutes. Aylesford had a man yellow carded after conceding their fifteenth penalty, (Folkestone had yielded only 6) and Seyhan Fell was unerring to put the score to 23 – 26. Two more penalties against Aylesford both 20 metres out in front of the posts, gave The Stones to chance to draw the game (shades of Chris Robshaw !!) but the team saw the chance to win, such was the forwards power and influence. It all went wrong when a handling error and an over exuberant off side saw relief for Aylesford booting the ball anywhere up field to get relief from the pummelling they were receiving and The Stones were unable to put themselves in a scoring position again before the final whistle. Dommage!!
Team: James Archer; Jake Ellis; Tom Carvill; Martin Murray; Jack Bartlett; Josh Kemp; Will Massey; Fraser Hendy; Doug Wood; Jon Morton; Jack Cox; Chris Petley; Ross Johnson; Thomo Murray Seyhan Fell.
Subs: Mat Roots Danny Theyers; Scott Stewart.