The Folkestone Seconds team are making the old adage ‘a game of two halves’ very much their own this season.

The Folkestone Seconds team are making the old adage ‘a game of two halves’ very much their own this season. With this game another example of a disjointed first half followed by a strong second half with the team gaining focus and determination to take back the game. The game started at odds with myself, as captain, and David Jarvis delayed travelling to the Medway ground! After arriving two minutes before kick-off, a quick huddle and team chat was done before the game was started. The first half went very in favour of Medway, with the hosts playing a two man out carrying game that attacked the Folkestone midfield. Some excellent defence from all, with strong tackling from Dan Woolford and Frank Morgan making sure that Medway were kept at bay for the first 10 minutes.
Medway kept the pressure up and forced Folkestone into conceding a run of penalties, keeping us penned back in our 22. Eventually Medway took advantage of a loose ball from their own lineout and crashed the ball over for the first score of the game. 5-0.
Folkestone started to compose themselves, but Medway continued the pressure at the breakdown and forced the turnovers, which meant our backs were not seeing any possession and creating frustration in out play.
Another Medway try came from a part break and some strong pick and driving around the breakdown fringes. This score was converted making the score line 12-0.
Medway won a couple of penalties, one of which was converted. Another loose lineout, this time from a mistimed throw and lack of communication meant an easy score for Medway to take the ball and fall over the line for another try. Unconverted making the score 20-0 at halftime.

The halftime chat centred on getting us all calmer and focused on playing as a team, as we were allowing Medway to control the game and us. The beginning of the second half, saw Folkestone increase their own pressure and stop the momentum Medway had at the breakdown. A series of strong scrums with great strength from Harry Paton and Adam Fullerton enabled Folkestone to spend the first 10 minutes in Medway’s 22. But the ball was lost in possession after a near miss for a score, and Folkestone were defending again.
Folkestone scored their first points controversially, with James Mead making an excellent break down the left side line before being taken out very late after chipping the ball ahead. This resulted in a penalty try and with James Mead getting the conversion this made the score 20-7.
Adam Fullerton left the field injured, which meant a very inexperienced Jake Ellis stepped up to fill the gap at prop. This did mean Medway took advantage of a weakened scrum, making it harder for us to maintain the pressure we had built. But Jake started to hold his own and we got some momentum back.
Folkestone started to control the game more, with excellent defence from David Jarvis, strong straight up carrying from Carl Tibbetts and line breaks from Frank Morgan, Ryan Farrow and James Beaney.
Folkestone nearly scored their second try from a line out on Medway’s line, with a quickly recycled ball allowing Harry Paton to crash through the defence to be held up over the line. Fraser Nurse and Jade McCaffery made sure that Folkestone were playing in Medway’s half, with some great ball defence and territory kicking.
The next score was for Folkestone, with Ryan Farrow taking a fast ball to break through two defending tacklers to score near the posts. Making the score 20-14 with a conversion from James Mead.
Another score for Folkestone came in the last five minutes of the game, some superb running from Frankie Morgan saw him chip and chase his own kick and evade the defence to score a great try. No conversion meant the score was 20-19 to Medway with only three minutes left on the clock. Folkestone pushed hard but forcing the ball meant a turnover for lost possession and was also the end of the game.
Man of the match goes to a very deserving Frankie Morgan, who took all his opportunities very strongly, kicked very well out of hand, and scored probably of the individual tries of the season.
Team Line up: Fraser Nurse; James Beaney, Ryan Farrow, Frank Morgan, Jade McCaffery; Dan Woolford, James Mead; Adam Fullerton, Alex Box, Harry Paton; David Jarvis, Jake Ellis; Chris Alexander, Kieran Smith, Carl Tibbetts.
Sub: Terry Holt.
Scorers: Penalty Try (James Mead); James Mead 2, 2; Ryan Farrow 5; Frankie Morgan 5.