In previous years Uckfield could have been seen as Folkestone’s bête noire

FOLKESTONE 1st XV 80 UCKFIELD 1st XV 10
Saturday 2nd April 2016. London 3SE Report from Alan Schofield

In previous years Uckfield could have been seen as Folkestone’s bête noire and few spectators will have forgotten last seasons’ home fixture when Folkestone were leading 23 – 0 and contrived to lose 23 – 39, having suffered losses and scraped draws even against them before this. But Uckfield have problems this year, being located at the hub of a throng of rugby clubs – all striving for the best players – and they sit alone at the bottom of the table.
The Stones took the tonic they needed after five defeats by putting in an overwhelming performance and ran Uckfield ragged with 12 tries including two Penalty Tries and a hat-trick by Jon Morton and a 27 point tally for Seyhan Fell.
Uckfield showed some spirit – but often misguided - as they accumulated three yellow cards during the game, and at one point having to play with thirteen men against a rampant Folkestone fifteen.
The Stones soon showed they were superior in every department – the first scrum was demoralising for Uckfield as a mighty heave pushed them five metres backwards and they broke up in disarray – Seyhan Fell took the ensuing penalty from 38 metres with ease. 3-0. Another scrum, a fast feed from scrum half James Mead to Kyle Deakin - and Adam Tolman joining in from full back angled a run and went straight through the created gap without being touched. Seyhan Fell slotted the conversion. 10-0. This was soon followed by a Seyhan Fell penalty kick. 13-0.
Only minutes later the Folkestone front row of ‘Moose’ Murray, Will Melia and Tom Carvill combined to dismantle all their opposite numbers and Uckfield, conceded a penalty try. 20-0. Two yellow cards in succession followed – the first for a punch that perhaps symbolised the frustration that Uckfield were having to endure.
Fast feeds from scrums and pick and runs were quickly fed down the home side’s three quarter line but when the ball arrived with John Eustace, the 16 stone centre, it took three men to pull him down – but after a couple of successes they then failed to ground him twice in two minutes – each time allowing him to touch down.
Half time gave Uckfield a breather, but a 32 – 0 deficit.
Five minutes later it was 46 – 0 when Uckfield had to concede a second Penalty Try created by the dominant Folkestone forwards - shortly followed when Jon Morton touched down after Seyhan Fell had switched play to the left with a 45 metre run and a quick inside pass.
The only respite by which Uckfield could escape the unrelenting attacks was to kick the ball up field as far away as possible and they were rewarded a ball bounced obliquely into the hands a following player who managed to score an unlikely try to give them 5 points for effort. 46-5.
Whether or not The Stones were riled about this upset, they struck back with a vengeance and proceeded to run in 5 tries in the next 15 minutes of play. Jon Morton, Seyhan Fell,(2) Kieran Smith and Frazer Hendy all putting their names on the scorecard – now over 73-5. But the foundation for all these tries were the forwards – Will Melia and Tom Carvill always in the thick of the action and often emerging with ball – and setting off with their individual runs.
With all the Folkestone team hungrily lined up again for another try – a loose ball on the five metre line fell into the hands of an Uckfield player who managed see a gap and to run the whole length of the field to touch down and a bit of consolation for the long, long journey and their heaviest defeat of the season. 73-10.
Jon Morton finished the game with his third try when the tiring Uckfield players found little to stop him running through most of their disconsolate players. 80-10.
The league table now is a fascinating puzzle. Folkestone can determine who wins the league title as they play the two top teams, Heathfield and Bromley, in the remaining two fixtures. But equally their current fourth place in the table could be overtaken by Old Dunstonians, currently in ninth place.
The next home game is on the 23rd April against old adversaries, Bromley, could and should attract the largest crowd of the season – something The Stones deserve for their attractive attacking rugby, and even if it is occasionally flawed, they have sustained it throughout the season – and never with the same team twice.
Team: Adam Tolman; Thomo Murray, Seyhan Fell, John Eustace, Jon Morton; Kyle Deakin, James Mead; Martin Murray (Capt.) Will Melia, Tom Carvill; Callum Gibson, Kieran Smith; Frazer Hendy, Will Turner, Chris Petley.
Subs: Cameron Seagrove, Doug Wood, Josh Holt.
Scorers: Seyhan Fell 3, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 5, 2, 2, 2; Adam Tolman 5; John Eustace 5, 5; Jon Morton 5, 5, 5; Kieran Smith 5; Frazer Hendy 5; Penalty Tries 5, 5.