1stXV start the New Year winning well at home

London 3SE 9th January 2016 Report By Alan Schofield
The two teams had opposite objectives when they faced each other for the opening game of the second half of the season. Burgess Hill, the East Sussex side were worthy of promotion when they entered the division last year, but they are now striving to avoid relegation at the end of this season. Conversely The Stones have promotion in their sights and they now needed a string of wins to bring them up to the level of the three teams above them.
It was only by the narrowest of margins and a last minute try that The Stones beat Burgess Hill last September but, on this day, with home advantage and playing on the reserve pitch because of soft ground, they proved they had too much all round capability and fitness for their visitors – winning the game comfortably and showing that their promotion ambitions were well within their capabilities.
A significant wind was a factor in this game and Burgess Hill had the advantage of it in the first half. Tactics were predetermined because of this and the visitors used long kicks downfield prompted not only by the conditions but the fact that The Stones forwards showed the equivalent to a brick wall to any attacking moves that were mustered against them. Ollie Walton, Seyhan Fell and Adam Tolman had moved 50 metres back and were faultless in catching every ball that did not find touch. And when touch was found and a line-out formed the accuracy of Jiggles Ellis’ throw-in plus the solid work of Will Turner and Mike Gardner gave their opposition little sight of the ball.
After only a quarter of the game, although scoreless – Folkestone seemed to have the upper edge in all the areas although Burgess Hill, with their large and heavy pack were able to hold their ground in the set scrums. But they consistently lost ground in loose play to the fit and agile Folkestone forwards. The powerhouse that is Tom Carvill, Jack Barton, Will Melia and Jiggles Ellis all making ground by the excellent tactic of keeping the ball tight and barging directly at the opposition forcing them backwards. When Burgess Hill conceded their fourth penalty in resisting this full frontal attack Seyhan Fell could only hit the upright with his effort into the wind.
Another long clearance kick could only find the safe hands of Adam Tolman who ran the ball up field before passing to Tom Carvill who made 25 metres before passing to Jon Eustace and Burgess Hill were back on their 5 metre line and having to desperately kick the ball anywhere to relieve the ever mounting pressure. A line-out was forced and the panurgic Chris Petley brought play right up to the try line when the big Burgess Hill second row forward, in desperation, threw a careless arm he was yellow carded. The penalty caught Burgess Hill short-handed and light weighted and they were unable to stop the ensuing massive Folkestone forward power and Will Turner dived over to open the scoring after 35 minutes of pressure. 5 – 0.
From the kick off Turner again, this time linking with Seyhan Fell, took play immediately back into their opponent’s 22 metre area where Tolman unfortunately knocked on with the line opened up again. The forwards held the scrum and gained possession and ground before Doug Wood fed the ball right and too quickly for the fast covering defence. Tolman and Eustace took it on - but when the ball was slipped to Jon Morton he cut back and crossed the line to touch down for the second try, converted by Seyhan Fell from 30 metres out and into the wind - and a half time score of 12 – 0.
The hardy and windswept spectators could see that with the wind the second half was going to be very much in Folkestone’s favour having shown superiority in all areas of play in difficult conditions.
Within a minute of the resumption, from a scrum resulting from a fielding error, Chris Petley ran the ball right drawing two opponents before a fast pass to Adam Tolman extended the stretched defence which opened up a gap for a try to be scored under the posts. Strangely, Seyhan Fell missed the simplest of conversions – no doubt worried that a full powered kick could, with the wind behind, land on the high speed railway line. 17 – 0.
There was now only score limitation tactics left for Burgess Hill who, in truth, showed very little attacking rugby – preferring to kick whenever possible. But The Stones were hungry for more - and more came only five minutes later. Again Chris Petley from the back row, after the forwards dominated loose play, released his backs after making the crucial 10 metres. Adam Tolman, running right at speed passed to Jon Morton who again cut back inside - wrong footing the defence to score the fourth try, and the bonus point - this time Seyhan Fell made no mistake with the conversion. 24 – 0.
Only the worsening weather conditions restricted now what was a very competent all round performance by the Folkestone XV, supplemented by their substitutes. A free flowing movement down the left brought John Eustace and Seyhan Fell into play and Ollie Walton was unstoppable before he touched down for his second try, converted again by Fell, 31-0.
Only a couple of minutes later a similar movement down the right saw the 17 year old Charlie Watson accelerate away from clutching arms to run another try in from 50 metres and when Seyhan Fell converted this the score 38 – 0 looked no more than this very impressive performance deserved.
It is always a pleasure to note that this game had the added value of some excellent refereeing by Mr Gary Payne who, in these difficult conditions kept the game to be a free flowing sporting contest.
Next week the team travel to Aylesford – a game that might well determine the promotion slots, given the league as it stands.

Team: Ollie Walton; Charlie Watson; Seyhan Fell; John Eustace, Jon Morton; Adam Tolman, Doug Wood; Will Melia, Jake Ellis Tom Carvill; Jack Barton, Frazer Hendy; Chris Petley, Will Turner, Mike Gardner.
Subs: Thomo Murray, Carl Tibbetts, Keiran Smith.
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