Folkestone struggle at home again.

FOLKESTONE 1sts. 5 EASTBOURNE 1sts`11
Saturday 5th March 2016 London 3SE Report by Alan Schofield
One question before the game was which team could break the mould of a losing sequence. The Stones recently have been unable to pick a side where players and positions have not had to be reshuffled – and this has led to the downfall of their promotion chances – so real only 5 weeks ago.
But their anticippointment was palpable as they descended to a fourth defeat in an error strewn game but where most observers would clearly see them as being the better team.
We had the doubtful experience of seeing 29 penalties or free kicks awarded during the game, the majority against Eastbourne, and the count of other misdemeanours was abberant. (During the second half the Orient/Pullman train passed by – thankfully the engine driver didn’t whistle!)
There was an edgy start to the game when Eastbourne put up a series of attacks and they put the Folkestone forwards to the test – but they were up to it with Will Melia, Tom Carvill and Callum Gibson all making telling tackles before Jon Morton cleared the lines with a big kick. Then it was the visitors turn to defend as Folkestone struck back with a vengeance.
Possibly, with hindsight, there came a decisive moment in the game when Eastbourne conceded five penalties in their own 22 metres area – three of them in quick succession with Folkestone taking scrum options and only feet away from scoring a try. Astonishingly the referee did not award a penalty try. Then - desperation for the home side when they knocked on their fourth attempt to get over the line.
It was soon clear that The Stones forwards were better in the scrums, better in the rucks and better in the mauls but unfortunately they were also better at knocking on, forward passing, accidental offside and every other minor offence that could give their opponents possession. Tackles were missed giving Eastbourne three clear runs before being hauled down, and The Stones had to start all over again.
Adam Tolman started a promising move cross field that had the opponents lacking defenders but another handling error brought no rewards. But good rugby was not the order of this day as a scrappy first half ended with no score and The Stones feeling hard done to.
The deadlock was broken soon after the restart. Another tackle was missed centre field and Eastbourne broke through with Folkestone thin on defence. Quick to see the opportunity they had players following up more quickly than Folkestone and they forced their way over for an unconverted try 0 – 5.
Immediately Folkestone retaliated with Kyle Deakin (subbed for James Lunnun at No. 10), Tom Carvill and Adam Tolman all featuring with good runs. Chris Petley made 10 metres after the scrum had rolled Eastbourne backwards again but in the ensuing play with the Stones moving forward, and in possession, the referee inexplicably gave a scrum to the defenders – relieving the pressure. Jon Morton broke clear and was hauled back by his neck in full view, but that seemed forgivable – except for yet another penalty. Eastbourne were now penned back well into their own half by the Folkestone forwards and the try that seemed inevitable did finally come when forwards powered their way over the line with Jack Cox getting the final touch. The conversion attempt shaved the outside of the post. 5 – 5 after 62 minutes of play.
Eastbourne tried to strike back but they had to get through the solid oak door that was John Eustace in the centre but they were awarded a penalty kick from 38 metres downwind and in front of the posts – easily kicked to open up a three point gap. 5-8.
Both teams could not fully function against the stream of offences the referee saw and Folkestone did themselves no favours by poor and misdirected kicks into their opponents waiting arms, or failing to find touch from defensive or penalised positions. Folkestone offended the referee’s interpretation of a law in mid field with five minutes to go and the Eastbourne kicker had no difficulty placing the ball between the posts to give his team a 5 – 11 margin and the home supporters shaking their head in disbelief.
Another four minor offences prevented a comeback that the home team strived for and it was a eucatastrophe for Eastbourne when yet another whistle was blown, but this time it was the last.
The only hope for Folkestone now is to earn ‘the best of rest position’ in the final table with their nearest challengers, Park House, also regularly failing to win. But when one considers the consistently good performances up to the end of January – the string of defeats since then has been hard to bear and hard to watch.
Team: James Mead; Josh Holt, Jon Morton (Capt.), John Eustace, Adam Tolman; James Lunnun, Doug Wood; Will Melia, Jack Cox, Tom Carvill; Callum Gibson, Jack Barton; Jake Ellis, Frazer Hendy, Chris Petley.
Subs: Terry Holt, Alex Randall, Kyle Deakin.
Scorer: Jack Cox 5.