Early season injuries, and University terms have already changed the face of Folkestone RFC

Early season injuries, and University terms have already changed the face of Folkestone RFC this season. Key players - Adam Tolman, Will Silvey and David Baxter (injured) and Tom Snare (Uni) had to be replaced – but this allowed a welcome return from ankle to injury to popular Club Captain ‘Moose’ Murray.
Last season Dunstonians ran The Stones close at their narrow and sloping pitch, but they lost both fixtures having suffered a heavy defeat in the return at Burlington Field.
But eyebrows would be raised in some quarters on reading this result, after a very solid and encouraging start to the season by The Stones.
All credit to Dunstonians for holding out against a Folkestone team who, in the second half, dominated possession and played 80% of the match in their opponents half. Dunstonians are an exceptionally heavy team and possess some of the dark arts in the set scrums that gave them an advantage in that area – which helped their cause considerably.
In front of a sparse crowd where the number of players exceeded the number of spectators, Folkestone brought the defeat upon themselves by simply failing to capitalise on the countless opportunities that they created.
Within one minute Folkestone were ahead 0 – 3 from a Frankie Morgan penalty kick – and from the restart the same player fly-kicked long, Dunstonians offended, the tap penalty was quickly taken and Thommo Murray went over for a on the right wing for an early 0 – 8 lead.
The Stones didn’t have any time to settle as Dunstonian’s pack won a couple of scrums easily by their weight advantage and fed the ball out to a fast running right winger – who slipped at least three half-hearted tackle attempts and managed to carry the ball from his own half all the way to score under the posts. 7 – 8.
And the lead was lost some minutes later when Folkestone conceded a penalty in an easy position which was converted to give their opponents a 10 – 8 lead.
Frankie Morgan missed an opportunity to recover the score line, when he shaved the posts with a long penalty attempt.
Steve Doughty at hooker had his neck hurt in the hard scrums and was replaced by Warren Blandford – no doubt due to the opponents prop screwing in at 45° and propelled forward by by a 34 stone second row. The referee was seemingly unaware of what was going on and it wasn’t until the last quarter of the game that his attention was drawn to the tactic and he took action.
Folkestone’s response, on their feed, was to win quick ball and set it up for Chris Petley to make the gain line. Jonny Morton made a good run of 40 metres down the centre but his pass went astray and a clear opportunity was missed.
Dunstonians found their way to The Stones 22 defensive line and in a well-rehearsed move gave the ball to their enormous prop who, with six forwards in support, powered over the line with ease for a converted try and an 8 – 17 lead.
The hard physical contact now had Richie Bowen sent to the physios for treatment to an injured shoulder, Joss Kemp substituting. Ben Stringer was treated for a bloody nose and Folkestone were losing their authority and composure that has been so evident in the season to date.
The half time talk by coach Leigh Fitchie clearly had some effect because The Stones came out for the second half and won possession from the kick, gaining uphill ground into the opposition territory. Thereafter, and for most of the second half, they remained there.
But it was then a story of wasted opportunities. Time after time Folkestone ran the ball at the their opponents but dropped passes, forward passes, high passes, low passes, misdirected passes all contributed to a highly frustrating period of play. Richie Dagger, on for Jack Cox, touched down but play was brought back for a scrum. Jon Eustace, Ryan Farrow and Chris Petley all had powerful attempts in quick succession, each time the ball mysteriously finishing up in Dunstonians hands.
Richie Bowen, resuming after treatment, had the ball over the try line but couldn’t touch it down. Charlie Millen, who played tirelessly throughout, was felled in his attempt by a neck high tackle that resulted in Dunstonians being reduced to 14 men. But they held out until the final whistle.
This was not the creative, open fast flowing exciting rugby that the young Folkestone team have produced to date this season. It was a dour contest, strewn with errors. But Dunstonians probably deserved their win particularly by an impenetrable defence in the second half.