Folkestone fail to extend their run of wins at Hastings and Bexhill.

HASTINGS & BEXHILL 1stXV 24 FOLKESTONE 1stXV 10.

Saturday 16th December 2017. London 3 SE. Report from Alan Schofield

A quick look at any Bookies betting odds before this match would have seen Folkestone as firm favourites, winning on their last four outings – whilst their opponents had lost in their last three, and not registered a win since October – but Folkestone got their comeuppance in this match that, at times, was as exhilarating as listening to Dame Judi Dench talking about her passion for trees.
The Stones were on the back foot from the start as repeated attacks from Hastings’ forwards, and backs, saw them defending well in their own 5 metre zone before yielding to the weight of numbers and an early 7 – 0 deficit.
Only briefly in the first 15 minutes did Folkestone combine well. A good move started by Kyle Deakin would have finished with a concession of a penalty kick, had not Jason Baker caught the touchline bound ball and forced Hastings back into their 22 metre area. And then a handsome move involving all the three-quarter line forced the opposition back to their line. Unfortunately The Stones were prone to concede penalties and the fifth in 15 minutes was costly as a try had looked likely.
Steve Doughty had received a couple of knocks and he was replaced by Connor Leather before Hastings were sent back to defence by a long penalty by Seyhan Fell, following a head high tackle. This time there was no mistake as Folkestone took the line out, and the ensuing ruck with Callum Palmieri finding John Eustace, at speed on an inside line, crashing over under the posts. An easy conversion for Seyhan Fell, and the scores were level after 28 minutes. 7-7.
Hastings then began to show just a little more attacking force than their opponents. Callum Palmieri, although a lightweight, brought down a 15 stone Hastings man with a superb try saving tackle – and it was the Folkestone tackling that had to be of the highest order. Scott Stewart, in the thick of things, stole the ball in his own in goal to touch down and deny Hastings a try –then Folkestone nicked the 5 metre scrum and gained some ground. Not for long, however as Hastings fought back and in an almost exact repeat of their first try, managed to force the Folkestone forwards back over the line for them to touch down for a converted try in the 5th minute of stoppage time in the first half. 14 – 7.
The second half was a dour affair, thus the reference to Dame Judi. It was estimated that 75% of the play took place between the two 22 metre lines. Scrum followed penalties, and penalties followed scrums. Seyhan Fell kicking one of the penalties to take the score to 14-10. Tackling by both sides was solid – John Eustace being sin binned for a very robust tackle on his opposite number, and later, after his return was, by circumstances unseen but not unsurmised, carried off the field with a badly damaged foot. In the meantime, Hastings converted the ensuing penalty kick. 17 –10.
Kieran Smith and Liam Trinder replaced Scott Stewart and Adam Bloomfield, with Connor Leather moving in to hook. Callum Palmieri was flattened a couple of times by an opposition that appeared to target him, but the team held up well against the Hastings XV that were beginning to win the battle, albeit in the period when Folkestone were reduced in numbers and had a few walking wounded. Jake Ellis had a couple of strong ball carrying efforts centre field and Jack Brooks made good ground before being hauled down, injured and replaced, Adam Bloomfield returning to the fray.
Colby Hayward and David Jarvis were always in the mix, and Callum Palmieri was active behind the scrums, but mistakes spoilt any and every move that Folkestone managed to create – which was frustrating as they clearly have worked hard on these attacking tactics.
Hastings were not without fault, but they did threaten more when they managed to put together an uninterrupted period of play, and with minutes to go found the breakthrough finding a gap through the disrupted Folkestone defensive line and running through to touch down the decisive try, taking the score line to 24 – 10.
But they were lucky to get away with this as the final score as The Stones mounted some of their best attacking work in the last minutes of play, including 6 minutes of stoppage time. Four penalties, four lineouts and multi attacks in the 5 metre zone were all repelled by Hastings before the final whistle.
Folkestone had to work hard in defence in this match, against a team that had the edge on them. And their efforts were not helped by a regular number of injuries and reshuffling of both the forwards and the backs. It was unfortunate that their open running and passing style was continually frustrated by the inability to complete their moves.
The next home match is against Bromley on the 6th January where The Stones will be looking to haul themselves up from the nether regions of the league table, where they have spent the whole of the first half of the season.

Team: James Mead; Jason Baker, John Eustace (Capt.), Jack Brooks, Seyhan Fell; Kyle Deakin, Callum Palmieri; Steve Doughty, Adam Bloomfield, Bob Porter; Jake Ellis, David Jarvis; Sam Beech, Colby Hayward, Scott Stewart.
Subs: Connor Leather, Kieran Smith, Liam Trinder.
Scorers: John Eustace 5; Seyhan Fell 2, 3.