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Sat 18 Oct 2014 · London 3 South East
Hastings & Bexhill
1st XV
10
10
Tries: R Dempsey (2)
A battered Folkestone clinch a draw at Hastings
Alex Ruddock19 Oct 2014 - 17:04
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This was a result that put The Stones into to the bottom half of league table after being unable to defeat some bellicose playing tactics.
HASTINGS & BEXHILL 1sts 10 FOLKESTONE 1sts 10
18th October 2014 Report by Alan Schofield
This was a result that put The Stones into to the bottom half of league table after being unable to defeat some bellicose playing tactics. Unfortunately the quality of the game never exceeded the mediocre.
With a further two debuts (following the five of the previous week) and no less than nine positional changes Folkestone are far and away from being the settled side that Coach Leigh Fitchie needs. With head injuries, during the game, to Carl Tibbetts, Warren Blandford, Ryan Farrow and Martin Murray, coupled with injuries to Jack Cox and Ross Dempsey – even more changes may be needed next week.
Folkestone had to withstand a hostile first 10 minutes of the game when Hastings & Bexhill mounted attack after attack on the Folkestone line – but solid defending held, before Frankie Morgan eased the pressure with a long downfield kick. Then it was Folkestone’s turn to test the Hastings’ defence with Charlie Millen and the powerhouse of Ben Stringer at the forefront.
After the two initial tests of the oppositions’ defence the whole of the remainder of the first half was played out to pointlessly between the 22 metre lines. Jack Cox showed some initiative with a grub kick and chase downwind and Jon Morton put in a similar testing kick but both were nullified. After 40 minutes of dour play the score of 0 – 0 was possibly was a fair reflection of the game.
The teenage combination of newcomer James Mead at scrum half, with Frankie Morgan outside him, worked well and securely and had given The Stones a platform from which to attack, but unfortunately frustrating minor offences often followed.
But play livened up immediately after half time as the Hastings full back made a long weaving run to escape the tackle attempts and then pass to put his left wing over for an unconverted try.
Adam Fullerton came on as substitute for a bruised Jack Cox and quickly another try was conceded in a very similar move to the first.
So The Stones were 10 - 0 down and rattled! John Eustace replaced a slightly groggy Ryan Farrow and immediately got into the thick of it. From a ruck he broke loose made ground and fed Richie Bowen who drew in three players, as is his wont, and gave a good pass to Ross Dempsey who couldn’t be stopped from scoring an excellent try. 10-5.
Folkestone now were on top of play and Hastings & Bexhill were largely reduced to long downwind kicks to relieve pressure. But when The Stones were penalised for offside they were fortunate to see the kick from in front of the posts go wide.
Billy Monk came on for Carl Tibbetts who had sustained a head injury, reportedly from a kick (hopefully accidentally). Ross Dempsey complained of face scratching, and then captain ‘Moose’ Murray was subjected to an attack which left a 2” gash in his head. The Folkestone Coach, Leigh Fitchie, was incensed with all this and went on the field to remonstrate with the referee.
These events did inspire The Stones to all-out attack in the final minutes, and they were rewarded with a second try from centre Ross Dempsey after a quick passing movement which had the opposition confused. Ross Dempsey is from a Rugby League background with London Crusaders and is a big, fit 23 year old and very difficult to stop even with three men hanging on to him. His brother Miles plays at No.8 in the scrum and is noticeably ever present around the ball.
For their second half performance and their discipline under provocation it was, from Folkestone’s point of view, unfortunate that Jon Morton’s attempt at a winning conversion kick narrowly missed and they had to settle for two points instead of four.
Team: Will Silvey; Ryan Farrow, Jon Morton, Ross Dempsey, Ollie Walton; Frankie Morgan, James Mead; Martin Murray (Capt.), Jack Cox; Warren Blandford; Carl Tibbetts, Ben Stringer; Charlie Millen, Richie Bowen, Miles Dempsey.
Subs: John Eustace, Adam Fullerton, Billy Monk.
Timeline: Hastings: Try 43m, Try 49m, Folkestone: Try 55m Ross Dempsey, Try 76m Ross Dempsey.
18th October 2014 Report by Alan Schofield
This was a result that put The Stones into to the bottom half of league table after being unable to defeat some bellicose playing tactics. Unfortunately the quality of the game never exceeded the mediocre.
With a further two debuts (following the five of the previous week) and no less than nine positional changes Folkestone are far and away from being the settled side that Coach Leigh Fitchie needs. With head injuries, during the game, to Carl Tibbetts, Warren Blandford, Ryan Farrow and Martin Murray, coupled with injuries to Jack Cox and Ross Dempsey – even more changes may be needed next week.
Folkestone had to withstand a hostile first 10 minutes of the game when Hastings & Bexhill mounted attack after attack on the Folkestone line – but solid defending held, before Frankie Morgan eased the pressure with a long downfield kick. Then it was Folkestone’s turn to test the Hastings’ defence with Charlie Millen and the powerhouse of Ben Stringer at the forefront.
After the two initial tests of the oppositions’ defence the whole of the remainder of the first half was played out to pointlessly between the 22 metre lines. Jack Cox showed some initiative with a grub kick and chase downwind and Jon Morton put in a similar testing kick but both were nullified. After 40 minutes of dour play the score of 0 – 0 was possibly was a fair reflection of the game.
The teenage combination of newcomer James Mead at scrum half, with Frankie Morgan outside him, worked well and securely and had given The Stones a platform from which to attack, but unfortunately frustrating minor offences often followed.
But play livened up immediately after half time as the Hastings full back made a long weaving run to escape the tackle attempts and then pass to put his left wing over for an unconverted try.
Adam Fullerton came on as substitute for a bruised Jack Cox and quickly another try was conceded in a very similar move to the first.
So The Stones were 10 - 0 down and rattled! John Eustace replaced a slightly groggy Ryan Farrow and immediately got into the thick of it. From a ruck he broke loose made ground and fed Richie Bowen who drew in three players, as is his wont, and gave a good pass to Ross Dempsey who couldn’t be stopped from scoring an excellent try. 10-5.
Folkestone now were on top of play and Hastings & Bexhill were largely reduced to long downwind kicks to relieve pressure. But when The Stones were penalised for offside they were fortunate to see the kick from in front of the posts go wide.
Billy Monk came on for Carl Tibbetts who had sustained a head injury, reportedly from a kick (hopefully accidentally). Ross Dempsey complained of face scratching, and then captain ‘Moose’ Murray was subjected to an attack which left a 2” gash in his head. The Folkestone Coach, Leigh Fitchie, was incensed with all this and went on the field to remonstrate with the referee.
These events did inspire The Stones to all-out attack in the final minutes, and they were rewarded with a second try from centre Ross Dempsey after a quick passing movement which had the opposition confused. Ross Dempsey is from a Rugby League background with London Crusaders and is a big, fit 23 year old and very difficult to stop even with three men hanging on to him. His brother Miles plays at No.8 in the scrum and is noticeably ever present around the ball.
For their second half performance and their discipline under provocation it was, from Folkestone’s point of view, unfortunate that Jon Morton’s attempt at a winning conversion kick narrowly missed and they had to settle for two points instead of four.
Team: Will Silvey; Ryan Farrow, Jon Morton, Ross Dempsey, Ollie Walton; Frankie Morgan, James Mead; Martin Murray (Capt.), Jack Cox; Warren Blandford; Carl Tibbetts, Ben Stringer; Charlie Millen, Richie Bowen, Miles Dempsey.
Subs: John Eustace, Adam Fullerton, Billy Monk.
Timeline: Hastings: Try 43m, Try 49m, Folkestone: Try 55m Ross Dempsey, Try 76m Ross Dempsey.
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