Folkestone fail again to come out on top

London 3 South East
Park House 1stXV 20 Folkestone 1stXV 16
Saturday 10th October 2015 Report from Alex Ruddock

Park House had the slope in the first half and used it effectively with some astute kicking from their fly half who made some good long kicks that made plenty of ground and also found touch. However it was not long before the home side infringed and Seyhan Fell’s kick took Folkestone onto the hosts 22 metre line for a lineout. From the ball that came out Doug Wood was impeded and Folkestone were awarded a penalty (one of 18 they conceded in the game to Folkestone’s six.) Seyhan Fell duly stepped up and slotted the penalty after just five minutes. 0-3.
From the restart Park House were adjudged off side at the ensuing maul on Folkestone’s 22 metre line, the kick was chased by Ollie Walton who was then tackled high by Park House, the penalty kick resulted in a lineout for Folkestone just inside the home sides 22. Folkestone won the ball and Mat Roots made good ground before passing to 17 year old scrum half Doug Wood and as the ball was shipped wide Park House managed an interception and with some very jinking running and passing they managed to evade four tackles before scoring a an unconverted try against the run of play. 5-3.
Folkestone in the opening twenty-five minutes were having the best of the set scrums, driving the Park house pack back metres at a time. During this time Folkestone were giving Park House all sorts of problems resulting in a yellow card for the opposition but although close to scoring several times Folkestone could not quite get the touchdown. A penalty kick at goal went slightly wide of the posts and Doug Wood took a good mark in his 22 which then set Folkestone on the attack again (Park House were now up to their fifth infringement) and in attacking Ollie Walton was forced into touch about five metres out. From the ensuing scrum Will Massey and Kyle Deakin were held up over the line and eventually the ball was knocked on. From the next scrum Folkestone powered forward over the line allowing No 8 Chris Petley to get the pushover try. Seyhan Fell duly converted for the extra points. 5-10.
From the lineout from the restart Park House managed to win the ball and kicked into the Folkestone 22 where Mat Roots took a good catch and rumbled up field with Doug Wood receiving the ball and kicking for touch. From the lineout Park House won the ball and kicked long and after some desperate defence by Folkestone managed to score another try. 10-10.
Unfortunately from the restart Park House came right back into the game and as their winger dived into the corner he was tackled into the flag by a covering Chris Petley, however the tackle was deemed to be high and the Referee awarded a penalty try and also a yellow card for Chris Petley. The conversion was duly kicked to end the half. 17-10. (At this stage Folkestone had conceded three penalties to Park House’s 10.)
From Folkestone’s restart the kick went straight into touch, so the scrum back on the half line was won by Park House and they made ground up field only for a penalty to be given for not releasing the ball in the tackle. The home fly half duly kicked the three points. 20-10.
John Eustace and Ross Johnson were brought off and Jon Morton came on as fly half and Alex Randall went into the centre with Kyle Deakin. Park House continued to give away penalties and allowed Seyhan Fell to bring the score back by striking two good kicks at goal. 20-16.
Josh Kemp replaced the injured Will Massey and in the final quarter of the game Folkestone had their chances to add to their score but the penalties they were awarded failed to get to touch giving the home side a chance to run the ball back and although Doug Wood was stopped from scoring about a metre out the Park House line was not breached again.
Yet again the team had their chances but several poor decisions meant they failed to capitalise on the amount of ball and territory they had won along with some poor first time up tackling in the first half. A game which Folkestone lost rather than Park House “winning”!

Team: Seyhan Fell; Thomo Murray, Ross Johnson, John Eustace, Ollie Walton; Kyle Deakin, Doug Wood; Mat Roots, Jake Ellis, Tom Carvill; Jack Barton, Martin Murray (Capt.); Frazer Hendy, Will Massie, Chris Petley.
Subs: Alex Randall, Josh Kemp, Jon Morton.
Scorers: Seyhan Fell 3, 2, 3, 3; Chris Petley 5.