Folkestone v Sheppey

REPORT BY STEVE HUGHES

..However, League positions mean very little this early in the season and Folkestone started this match without seven players who would normally appear in the First Team Squad. These included, Seyhan Fell, Adam Tolman, Jona Manu, Kyle Deakin, Josh Holt, Tom Snare and Jack Cox.
The line-up was consequently shaken up with James Mead moving to full back and Jordan Godden moving to scrum half. Thomo Murray came in for Josh Holt on the wing and the new New Zealand signing Cameron Dallas making his debut at No. 6. A welcome return saw brothers Jack and Ben Brooks after a season out of the game.
Folkestone lost this game in the first 20 minutes for within 30 seconds Sheppey took the ball from the kick off and with simple inter-passing score under the post for a converted try 0 - 7. From the kick off Sheppey were immediately back in the home Red Zone and from a loose maul under the posts their flanker just flopped over for another converted try 0 -14 in the space of three minutes.
James Mead converted a difficult penalty from the touch line but Sheppey were immediately on the attack from a loose kick out of defence, and weak tackling saw the visiting centre glide through on the outside to score in the corner which was again converted. 3 - 21 in eleven minutes.
Folkestone’s tackling was weak and spectators wondered how their team could respond from such a devastating beginning. It was Steve Morgan who provided the inspiration by sweeping around his opponent to give Jon Morton the opportunity to send Thomo Murray into the corner for an unconverted try. 8 - 21, Folkestone kept getting on the wrong side of the referee and were penalised in front of the posts to increase the Thanet (even Sheppey!?) lead to 8 - 24.
John Eustace, Sam Beech and Jordan Godden were doing more than their fair share of tackling around the rucks and mauls whilst Will Melia and Ben Stringer made ground with the ball.
This was not the most auspicious start by Folkestone and it's many years since I can remember being so many points down so early in a game and at this point they seemed to have lost all focus. Then, just as everything seemed lost, they sparkled for the first time, moving the ball from a maul on the right with Thomo Murray entering the line to create space on the left. Steve Morgan and Jon Morton combined to put James Mead away up the left touch sent Ben Brooks sprinting into the corner for a try. James Mead converted from the touch line which gave the spectators some cheer as they narrowed the deficit to 15 - 24.
Folkestone were now showing more enterprise by moving the ball at every opportunity. Sam Beech and Cameron Dallas were taking clean ball at the line outs which created the space to progress. Sheppey were then reduced to 14 men for dissent and Jack Brooks replaced Thomo Murray.
A delightfully crafted miss-pass from Captain Jon Morton to James Mead saw him crash over in the corner but was unable to convert his own try.
20 - 24 at half time.
Folkestone recovered some of their composure at the re-start which culminated in a try for Ben Brooks after a delicate switch pass to Steve Morgan saw him crash over in the corner, getting the ball before being smashed into touch. James Mead converted giving Folkestone the lead for the first time in the match 27 - 24.
Jon Morton and Steve Morgan looked dangerous with the ball in hand and the Brooks Brothers were ready to pounce any anything loose. James Mead added to his tally with another penalty and Folkestone looked as if they were going to draw away for a win as the game went on, having recovered from 3 - 21 down early in the game.
However, Sheppey hit back with another score after constant pressure on the home try line resulting in their centre adding the points to get them within one point 30 - 29. No conversion Play then turned scrappy with multiple stops for injuries and lectures by the referee and the game seemed to drag on. Jake Ellis replaced Sam Brooks before getting injured and was in turn replaced by Thomo Murray.
Folkestone then scored a well worked try with James Lunnun scoring under the posts before the referee called him back for a penalty to Sheppey.
At this point with only minutes to go it appeared that Folkestone were destined for a win but destiny plays crude tricks and Sheppey scored in the dying seconds which was converted to give them a 30 - 36 win.
Not Folkestone's best game by a long chalk and for patches there appeared to be no cohesion or continuity due to errors, knock-ons, dropped balls etc., and although they tried hard at times there was a lot of endeavour but not a lot to show for it.
My Man of the Match was John Eustace.