Folkestone suffer another League loss.

PARK HOUSE 1st XV 24 FOLKESTONE 1st XV 11
Saturday 28th October 2017. London 3 South East. Report from Alan Schofield.
The best part of this day came two hours after the final whistle
The Stones have found themselves in a poor position in the league before this match against the Bromley based Park House – and it would have been with some concern to see that their opponents had scored more points than them in the first six matches.
Park House is a very old (1890) established Club and nowadays have a very nice atmosphere surrounding both the playing and non-playing members. They play their rugby in a solid and predictable manner which is (as the record shows) often overcome by more resourceful and adventurous opponents.
Two unusual incidents occurred before the match started – firstly it was seen that there were no white lines on the pitch, only the faint markings of discolouration of the grass – and then the appointed referee fell ill an hour before kick-off and was unable to start. A trawl around the Clubhouse scooped up a retired player, Steve Coleman, who had some experience of the laws – and he was pressed into service. His performance was more than adequate and expected as he controlled the match and adjudged the laws very well. He was heartily congratulated by spectators, coaches and players alike after the match.
There is little or nothing to be written positively about the Folkestone performance on this day. In training sessions the complicated moves, with slipped and disguised inter-passing coupled with running positional switches all work well. And it is superb to see the top premier teams and international sides perform this type of rugby. But for Folkestone – put an opposing team in front of them then they crumble into confusion. The game plan is lost, handling is awful and passing is wild - and they reduce themselves to futile solo efforts or aimless kicks eagerly snapped up by the opposition
Of course, it doesn’t help that the team necessarily and regularly has to be changed because of availability, lack of training and injury. New, young players are brought in weekly – and today we welcomed Jason Baker on the right wing and David Jarvis in the forwards.
Only three minutes had elapsed before Folkestone succumbed to Park House forwards winning the ball easily in a line-out, mauling forwards then releasing the ball along the three-quarters and scoring on the right wing – good, standard classical uncomplicated rugby. 5 – 0. The home team forwards were much heavier and stronger than the visitors – and this was going to weigh heavily in their favour for the full 80 minutes.
When Jason Baker, in his debut match, scored the first try for the Stones in the 19th minute – at last we had a glimpse of a good, well worked move. It had taken 17 minutes for The Stones to set foot inside the Park House half and when Sam Beech started a backs movement through Michael Gardner and John Eustace, then with James Lunnun, looping round to make the extra man, – he threw a long accurate pass to Jason Baker on the right wing. 5 – 5.
Minor injuries to Conor Guilfoyle and Callum Palmieri brought on Adam Tolman and David Jarvis to interrupt play. But the quality of rugby was not high. A spate of penalty kicks moved play up and down the field, but when Park House came wildly offside in front of their posts – Seyhan Fell made no mistake with the kick. 5 – 8.
The second half, from the Stone’s supporter’s viewpoint was all too similar to the previous week when Folkestone could not find the moves in the second half to defeat a Lewes team after gaining a lead. More substitutions and interchanges saw Steve Doughty being brought off to rest before going back to the hooker’s position. Bob Porter joined the fray and Kieran Smith was off and on again as the physio Ashley Fry saw to a few minor bumps and bruises.
A promising move by Sam Beech, Adam Tolman, John Eustace and Josh Holt saw a glimmer of hope – only to be snuffed out by yet another passing/handling error. And the Folkestone mistakes mounted as Park House capitalised by good quick passing moves - scoring a try on the left wing to gain the lead 12 - 8. Seyhan Fell reduced this to 12 – 11 with a penalty kick before another foray down the left wing brought Park House their third try. 17 – 11. And a fourth home team try came the same way – just by good straightforward passing, strong running and feeble tackle attempts. 24 – 11, and the game was lost.
So unpalatable as it may be to the players and supporters alike - Folkestone now find themselves in the relegation zone – and unless they can uncomplicate their imperfect, elaborate and perplexing style of play perhaps they should revert to the type of rugby that Park House adopt.
Initiation ceremonies and ritual humiliation of new players and players who make awful errors during the game are a part of the spirit of Folkestone rugby, all taken and received in good humour.
But the happenings as the team coach neared the Club on the return journey showed we might not be playing the best rugby ever, but we’re still enjoying the team spirit!
Next week – away to bottom-of-the-table Sheppey, who no doubt will be bolstered by Folkestone’s performances and results to date.
Team: Seyhan Fell; Josh Holt, John Eustace (Capt.), Michael Gardner, Jason Baker; James Lunnun, Callum Palmieri; Thomas Snare, Adam Bloomfield, Steve Doughty; Conor Guilfoyle, Kieran Smith; Sam Beech, Jeremie Cowell, Scott Stewart.
Subs: Bob Porter, David Jarvis, Adam Tolman.
Scorers: Jason Baker 5; Seyhan Fell 3; 3.