Maidstone 26 Folkestone 3

The first game of the New Year is always difficult. Players haven’t played for 3 weeks and their stomachs are full of Christmas cake. All teams suffer it so determination and hard work come into the equation. It’s also good to have a game plan and today Folkestone could not overcome Maidstone’s simple game plan. The home team support players were first to every breakdown and they had their big ball carriers waiting to take the ball on pushing Folkestone onto the back foot. This gave Maidstone lots of good ball in good positions and they had the choice of allowing their pack to rumble up the pitch or to unleash their backs to attack into the spaces. Folkestone never got going as they were repeatedly pushed backwards.
The first 10 minutes saw a tight game and Folkestone were awarded 2 penalties. Seyhan Fell missed with the first attempt from 40 metres. He had the distance but pulled the ball to the left. His second kick from 30 metres was perfect. 3-0.
From that point Maidstone got into their game and their confidence grew and grew. Making his debut in the Folkestone back row, Ben Edwards, was making good ground with the ball but the support play from Folkestone was just a little bit slower than the home team. Maidstone eventually scored the try their play deserved with a fine move from right to left scoring just left of theposts. 5-3.
Minutes later they increased their lead from a scrum on the Folkestone 22. The home Number 8 took the ball on from the base of the scrum powered to the line drawing in Folkestone defenders which allowed him to offload perfectly for a score under the posts and a converted try. 12-3.
Maidstone lost a player for 10 minutes after the dreaded yellow card came out but still remained on top. They went into the half time interval with a push-over try from their scrum and again the try was converted. 19-3.
The second half saw a much-improved Folkestone and they began to push for a score but the home defence were never in any real trouble except for a 10 minute period when Folkestone threw everything at them. Ben Brooks and Adam Tolman finally got some chances to show their pace and it looked like Folkestone could score the traditional consolation try but a wave of penalties against them kept them out. To make matters worse the referee showed the red card to Ollie Brooks. After the game the ref told me it was for a punch but Brooks contests the decision and there is video evidence to support his claim. Even the home team were mystified with the red card.
By now Folkestone were a thoroughly depressed unit and the home team sealed a bonus point win with their 4th try which came from a Folkestone attack. A loose pass was intercepted and 2 Maidstone players gleefully sprinted down the pitch to score unmolested. 26-3.
So, a poor performance from Folkestone which sees them slip to 3rd place in the league 2 points behind Medway and 9 behind leaders, Crowborough. Has the result destroyed Folkestone’s promotion chance? No it hasn’t. They have games against Medway & Crowborough to play and even though today was one of those days when it all goes wrong the Folkestone squad fought to the end. Next week they take on, old chums, Park House at the New Burlington. Games between these two are always full-on physical affairs which, I reckon, will focus the minds of Folkestone players perfectly.
A word for Paul Williamson,a veteran, who made his debut today for the 1st XV. He was drafted in a few hours before kick-off after Will Massey went down with flu. Last season Williamson played in the 4th XV but has worked hard this season to find himself now playing regularly in the 2nd XV. It’s a big step-up from that level of rugby to the 1st XV version of the game. He came on for the last 20 minutes and didn’t take a backward step. As an example to younger players it was excellent.

Squad:
R Lama, M Roots, R Puddy, M Murray, P Williamson, B Flatman, J McMurray, R Hudson, B Edwards, J Johnson, W Turner, S Harris, S Evans, B Brooks, J Morton, A Tolman, O Brooks, S Fell