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Sat 23 Apr 2016 · London 3 South East
1st XVBromley
Penalties: J Mead (2)
6
20
Bromley needed a win to secure the top League position.
Alex Ruddock24 Apr 2016 - 13:54
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But for Folkestone, having suffered six defeats in the last seven matches it was a question of whether they could defend their fourth place.
FOLKESTONE 1stXV 6 BROMLEY 1stXV 29
London 3SE Saturday 23rd April 2016 Report by Alan Schofield.
The last league game of the season had a lot of interest for the top three clubs, not least Bromley – who needed a win to secure the top position. But for Folkestone, having suffered six defeats in the last seven matches it was a question of whether they could defend their fourth place.
In the 22 games in this season, coach Leigh Fitchie has never been able to field the same team twice – and this week, as last week, another four changes were imposed. Among these was the final appearance of Club stalwart, Will Turner. With almost 30 years of playing he has announced his retirement. (Huh! See you next season Will.) Also Seyhan Fell, highest points scorer (156 from 18 matches) was away in Vilnius, Lithuania representing Cyprus against Lithuania.
Before one of the largest crowds of the season, supplemented by a large travelling contingent from Bromley, both teams put up an early display of rugby at its best, particularly from The Stones. But Bromley eventually won with the advantage of two tries which at best could be called opportunistic, or in one case, truly lucky.
The early stages had Folkestone dominating play with the whole team contributing to a series of assaults on the Bromley line – but resisted and temporarily relieved by long kicks downwind, but often into the hands of Adam Tolman – who started all over again. (One desperate kick travelled 85 metres to run dead, and give Folkestone an attacking scrum back within the 22 metre zone.)
Jon Morton kicked through low, and forced another 5 metre scrum. Kyle Deakin, Jon Morton and James Mead tried to break through but it was the forwards who were the dominant force in the first quarter of the game. Eventually Bromley – to whom credit must be given for a tremendous defensive effort – conceded a penalty and James Mead opened the scoring for the home team. 3 – 0.
A wild fly kick at a loose ball put Bromley into attack from a line out and the ensuing eight man maul. But Folkestone were not for being pushed about. Will Melia, ‘Moose’ Murray and Tom Carvill were at the front – and had a knack of stealing the ball from the thick of the melee. And when Bromley threw it wider, block tackles by Kyle Deakin and John Eustace stopped play very abruptly.
John Eustace, Adam Tolman, ‘Thomo’ Murray and Josh Holt took play right up to the Bromley line in an exciting passage of play over the length of the field and when Jon Morton broke through, following his grub kick he was held back and James Mead confidently took the penalty kick from 30 metres. 6 – 0.
Frazer Hendy was given a rest, after 30 minutes of massive effort, and Michael Gardner relieved him. Then it was the turn of Chris Petley to turn Bromley backwards as again Folkestone turned on the pressure. But an offside decision against them allowed Bromley a little consolation at the end of the first half with a long penalty kick 6 – 3.
Folkestone had won the first half with some of the best rugby they have produced in this half of the season and at the half time break Bromley saw that if they were to win the championship the full front confrontational tactic was not going to succeed.
So they opened up play and used the backs and the wings whilst continuing to use a succession of kicks to try to find a new way forward. A long high kick down the right – yet another in the series – found success as it fell just short of Josh Holt, with Adam Tolman as the back-up, when the ball took a bizarre bounce, high and obtusely angled, into the hands of the one Bromley player around who couldn’t believe his luck as he ran through to touch down for a very weird and lucky try against the run of play for an unlikely 6 – 8 score line.
Folkestone took control again with their forwards making 60 metres up field with a series of pick and charges before another misfortune cost them dearly when in full attack a loose ball bounced into the hands of Bromley full back who quickly saw his wingman free and tried a speculative long pass. The ball was snatched up and at full speed easily evaded the out slung arm of Josh Holt and ran the full distance to run through under the posts. 6 – 15. This was shortly followed by another try from a defensive mistake that allowed a smart move again down the right and an unconverted try. 6 – 20.
Bromley were elated at their good fortune and tried the right wing again before being stopped by James Mead. Adam Tolman tried a 45 metre drop kick and Doug Wood came on at scrum half, allowing Mead to bolster up the right wing defence. But the relief of the two quick tries and the gap in the score allowed Bromley to be more expansive and the game changed. Mistakes by both sides to halted progress and the excitement seemed to wane. Folkestone, from a side that looked so compact, confident and secure in the first half were now looking to re-form and find some inspiration.
Bromley were capitalising on Folkestone’s mistakes as much as creating their own opportunities, and unfortunately these mistakes mounted. But the attacking spirit was renewed as Kyle Deakin set James Mead on a run and a three-quarter move had Bromley worried before Jon Morton had to stretch for a pass, and dropped the ball. Folkestone then showed their first half form when the forwards powered the Bromley eight back over their line in total disarray. A penalty try must have been considered by Mr. Halligan, the referee, but he preferred just a penalty, which came to nothing.
Nevertheless Folkestone now were enjoying territory and possession and finishing the game with skill and spirit but the Bromley defence, tested to the end, proved impenetrable. Bromley are to be congratulated on their opportunism and, of course, their championship win, but Folkestone could be in many eyes to be seen as the better team for the most of this game.
And to rub in the misfortune this result, and the other results in the league, Folkestone have plummeted to a final position of fourth from bottom whilst for most of the season they have been in the top four.
Team:- Adam Tolman; Thomo Murray, Jon Morton, John Eustace, Josh Holt; Kyle Deakin, James Mead; Martin Murray (Capt.), Will Melia, Tom Carvill; Callum Gibson, Jack Barton; Frazer Hendy, Will Turner, Chris Petley.
Subs: Alex Box, Michael Gardner, Doug Wood.
Scorer: James Mead 3, 3.
London 3SE Saturday 23rd April 2016 Report by Alan Schofield.
The last league game of the season had a lot of interest for the top three clubs, not least Bromley – who needed a win to secure the top position. But for Folkestone, having suffered six defeats in the last seven matches it was a question of whether they could defend their fourth place.
In the 22 games in this season, coach Leigh Fitchie has never been able to field the same team twice – and this week, as last week, another four changes were imposed. Among these was the final appearance of Club stalwart, Will Turner. With almost 30 years of playing he has announced his retirement. (Huh! See you next season Will.) Also Seyhan Fell, highest points scorer (156 from 18 matches) was away in Vilnius, Lithuania representing Cyprus against Lithuania.
Before one of the largest crowds of the season, supplemented by a large travelling contingent from Bromley, both teams put up an early display of rugby at its best, particularly from The Stones. But Bromley eventually won with the advantage of two tries which at best could be called opportunistic, or in one case, truly lucky.
The early stages had Folkestone dominating play with the whole team contributing to a series of assaults on the Bromley line – but resisted and temporarily relieved by long kicks downwind, but often into the hands of Adam Tolman – who started all over again. (One desperate kick travelled 85 metres to run dead, and give Folkestone an attacking scrum back within the 22 metre zone.)
Jon Morton kicked through low, and forced another 5 metre scrum. Kyle Deakin, Jon Morton and James Mead tried to break through but it was the forwards who were the dominant force in the first quarter of the game. Eventually Bromley – to whom credit must be given for a tremendous defensive effort – conceded a penalty and James Mead opened the scoring for the home team. 3 – 0.
A wild fly kick at a loose ball put Bromley into attack from a line out and the ensuing eight man maul. But Folkestone were not for being pushed about. Will Melia, ‘Moose’ Murray and Tom Carvill were at the front – and had a knack of stealing the ball from the thick of the melee. And when Bromley threw it wider, block tackles by Kyle Deakin and John Eustace stopped play very abruptly.
John Eustace, Adam Tolman, ‘Thomo’ Murray and Josh Holt took play right up to the Bromley line in an exciting passage of play over the length of the field and when Jon Morton broke through, following his grub kick he was held back and James Mead confidently took the penalty kick from 30 metres. 6 – 0.
Frazer Hendy was given a rest, after 30 minutes of massive effort, and Michael Gardner relieved him. Then it was the turn of Chris Petley to turn Bromley backwards as again Folkestone turned on the pressure. But an offside decision against them allowed Bromley a little consolation at the end of the first half with a long penalty kick 6 – 3.
Folkestone had won the first half with some of the best rugby they have produced in this half of the season and at the half time break Bromley saw that if they were to win the championship the full front confrontational tactic was not going to succeed.
So they opened up play and used the backs and the wings whilst continuing to use a succession of kicks to try to find a new way forward. A long high kick down the right – yet another in the series – found success as it fell just short of Josh Holt, with Adam Tolman as the back-up, when the ball took a bizarre bounce, high and obtusely angled, into the hands of the one Bromley player around who couldn’t believe his luck as he ran through to touch down for a very weird and lucky try against the run of play for an unlikely 6 – 8 score line.
Folkestone took control again with their forwards making 60 metres up field with a series of pick and charges before another misfortune cost them dearly when in full attack a loose ball bounced into the hands of Bromley full back who quickly saw his wingman free and tried a speculative long pass. The ball was snatched up and at full speed easily evaded the out slung arm of Josh Holt and ran the full distance to run through under the posts. 6 – 15. This was shortly followed by another try from a defensive mistake that allowed a smart move again down the right and an unconverted try. 6 – 20.
Bromley were elated at their good fortune and tried the right wing again before being stopped by James Mead. Adam Tolman tried a 45 metre drop kick and Doug Wood came on at scrum half, allowing Mead to bolster up the right wing defence. But the relief of the two quick tries and the gap in the score allowed Bromley to be more expansive and the game changed. Mistakes by both sides to halted progress and the excitement seemed to wane. Folkestone, from a side that looked so compact, confident and secure in the first half were now looking to re-form and find some inspiration.
Bromley were capitalising on Folkestone’s mistakes as much as creating their own opportunities, and unfortunately these mistakes mounted. But the attacking spirit was renewed as Kyle Deakin set James Mead on a run and a three-quarter move had Bromley worried before Jon Morton had to stretch for a pass, and dropped the ball. Folkestone then showed their first half form when the forwards powered the Bromley eight back over their line in total disarray. A penalty try must have been considered by Mr. Halligan, the referee, but he preferred just a penalty, which came to nothing.
Nevertheless Folkestone now were enjoying territory and possession and finishing the game with skill and spirit but the Bromley defence, tested to the end, proved impenetrable. Bromley are to be congratulated on their opportunism and, of course, their championship win, but Folkestone could be in many eyes to be seen as the better team for the most of this game.
And to rub in the misfortune this result, and the other results in the league, Folkestone have plummeted to a final position of fourth from bottom whilst for most of the season they have been in the top four.
Team:- Adam Tolman; Thomo Murray, Jon Morton, John Eustace, Josh Holt; Kyle Deakin, James Mead; Martin Murray (Capt.), Will Melia, Tom Carvill; Callum Gibson, Jack Barton; Frazer Hendy, Will Turner, Chris Petley.
Subs: Alex Box, Michael Gardner, Doug Wood.
Scorer: James Mead 3, 3.
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