The second fixture of the season brought a second home game and Gillingham Anchorians to New Burlington Field
In previous seasons these matches have been closely fought. But perhaps the Anchorians saw themselves as the underdogs
FOLKESTONE 36 pts v GILLINGHAM ANCHORIANS 17 pts
20th September 2014 By Alan Schofield
The second fixture of the season brought a second home game and Gillingham Anchorians to New Burlington Fields. In previous seasons these matches have been closely fought. But perhaps the Anchorians saw themselves as the underdogs – their website announcing that Folkestone were ‘title favourites’!
It was fairly obvious from the start that Anchorians had a heavier pack – and their tactics in the opening was to kick for territory and leave it to the forwards from a close attacking position. It worked, and within the first 15 minutes they scored two identical tries with strength and momentum.
But in between these two setbacks The Stone scored a classic try with Ben Stringer making ground, delaying his pass until Tim Wood came up at speed and touched down.
The second of Anchorians tries quickly followed and Folkestone were 5 – 12 in arrears.
It was clear that Folkestone had speed and flare – whilst the opponents had strength and weight. So if Folkestone could negate this disadvantage, then they would be the better side.
Powerful work by all the forwards began to do this by bringing the tackled player to ground – and then the sprightliness of the wing forwards Chris Petley and Richie Bowen - harrying around the edges -started to change this into attacking opportunities.
Ten minutes of scintillating rugby mid-way through the first half by the whole Folkestone team indeed made them look like the promotion candidates that Anchorians thought they were up against.
Kevin Murray from loose play fed Ryan Farrow to touch down and narrow the score to 10 -12. Then within 3 minutes Jon Eustace crashed through 3 tackle attempts to pass to Richie Bowen 25 metres out for a try which brought cheers all round the ground. Stimulated, 17 year old Frankie Morgan converted from the touchline. Five minutes later great combined forward play gave David Baxter a sight of the try line and nothing was going to stop him. Again Frankie Morgan converted and suddenly the score was 24 – 12.
Gillingham had little to offer other than kicking for touch, fly-kicking downfield and chasing – no doubt hoping that their big pack could regain some control of the mauls. In the set scrums the blindside tactic was to bore in on Tom Snare and thus prevent a push. But quick heeling by Steve Doughty, at hooker, annulled this threat.
Almost immediately on resumption after the break, Anchorians were yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle on Chris Petley.
So with 14 men and playing away from home and against the breeze and against a rampant Folkestone team things looked fairly desperate for Gillingham. But to their immense credit they mounted a series of attacks and spaced out the Folkestone defence allowing a very good try on the left wing. 24 – 17.
Will Silvey took a knock to the head and was replaced by Jack Cox. Against the spirit of the play generally, two yellow cards were correctly given following an unpleasant fracas. Jordan Godden was the Folkestone player selected for the sanction. From the ensuing penalty, awarded to Folkestone, Chris Petley neatly side stepped the opposition from 10 metres out and scored an unconverted try after 58 minutes. 29 -17.
The Stones opened up and switched play left and right – and high and long kicks by Frankie Morgan were a new tactic. Although this fed the ball to the opposition, ground was gained principally by some ferocious tackling by Jon Morton playing at centre.
Although not in danger, Folkestone conceded three penalties and Richie Bowen was yellow carded after a tussle. So the defence was tested for some minutes as Anchorians strived to get their fourth try and a bonus point. But first Frankie Morgan kicked clear making 40 metres and then Jack Cox’s kick found another 40 metres to reverse the situation. Tom Carvill and Jon Eustace both were pulled down short of the line. Then a cross-field passing movement with Thommo Murray and Chris Petley stretched a tiring opposition for Ryan Farrow to crash over on the far left. A superb conversion by Frankie Morgan put the score at 36 – 17, three minutes before the final whistle.
An excellent and deserved win by The Stones against a strong and wily opposition took the Stones to equal top of the table with a maximum 10 points.
And the game throughout was well refereed by Steve Matthews and this, apart from one display of bad discipline, made for an entertaining and sporting match.
