Last League game for the 2nds.

Shepherd Neame Premier 2 East

The 2nd XV put Ashford 2nd XV to the sword with a feast of attractive running rugby before a crowd of about 60 or so supporters to end their League Season on a high. In the first ten minutes Folkestone thought they had scored twice, however a second movement by centre Ross Dempsey (fresh from a sojourn skiing in France!) when tackled just short of the line was the first try disallowed after eight minutes and straight away in an attack after winning the ball at the lineout from the penalty Folkestone attacked down the right side and prop Mat Roots eventually received the ball just wide of the posts and went over the try line, however his tackler dislodged the ball before it was grounded.
The initiative was quickly regained from the drop out with flanker Dan Cowell ending up with the ball over the line after some good handling by the backs. the try was duly converted for the extra two points by debutant U18 Harry Smith. 7-0. From the restart kick Harry Smith gathered and sprinted up the right wing, evading several despairing tackles by Ashford before passing inside to the supporting Ross Dempsey who this time made no mistake and grounded the ball legitimately. the conversion was narrowly missed. 12-0.
The game was being played at a great pace and Captain Dan Woolford made a great break up the centre of the field gaining 25 metres and the ball was moved through several pairs of hands with a display of slick passing with Ross Dempsey again on the end for the scoring pass. 17-0 with the conversion attempt just drifting wide of the posts. At this stage Alex Pritchard came on for Callum Gibson and Kevin Murray relieved Jeremy Cowell. Shortly after this substitution Harry Smith got on the scoreboard again out on the right after another display of dazzling quick handling by Dan Woolford, Elliot Dempsey and Ross Dempsey passing onto Jade McCaffrey who then released Harry Smith to round the last desperate tackles. 22-0. There was no let up for Ashford as two minutes later from a lineout on the left side of the pitch and on the Ashford 10 metre line the ball was quickly distributed by scrum half Greg Wood (another U18 making an impact in the 2nds) out to the waiting Harry Smith who broke through three tackles down the right and rounded his opposite number to cross the line but as he was tackled slipping the ball to Ross Dempsey to score. Harry Smith then added the conversion. 29-0 and shortly afterwards it was half time.
Several changes were made at half time with Callum Gibson replacing Chris Alexander and Jeremy Cowell on for Jade McCaffrey (who had made some telling runs from full back in the first half.)

The second half started with Ashford attacking and there had to be some sterling tackling and defence from Folkestone to keep their line clear. From a lineout close to their ten metre line Callum Gibson got up high to collect a superb throw-in and with the quick ball Greg Wood moved it out along the line to Harry Smith who proceeded to sprint down the left wing breaking three tackles before scoring his second try and adding the conversion. 36-0.
With the crowd expectant and urging for more scores Folkestone appeared to step off the pace and for the next 25 minutes were put under pressure by an aggressive and sustained attack by Ashford who seemed to come alive and managed to keep Folkestone on the back foot desperately defending in their own half, only just stopping Ashford from gaining a score with last ditch tackling by Mat Roots, Bob Porter, Dave Ballard and Jack Barton and turning the ball over for relieving kicks to touch. Eventually after 29 minutes prop Mat Roots had a breakout from inside his own half, only to be brought down after a trundle of ten metres, but the quickly recycled ball allowed Dan Woolford to break through several tackles to score a relieving try which Harry Smith duly converted. 43-0.
Then with only a few minutes left Mat Roots decided enough was enough and having wrestled the ball free drove forwards for twenty metres before being tackled over the line, this time however he held onto the ball and finally scored. The ever present debutant Harry Smith slotted the conversion for the referee to blow for full time. 50-0.
This was a magnificent display by the 2nd XV with everybody playing their part in keeping a clean sheet and providing an outstanding exhibition of running rugby.
With the return of Ross Dempsey from his Chalet catering scoring a hat trick and Harry Smith with his mature fast running scoring two tries and kicking five conversions it was difficult to name a Man of the Match but I think it has to go to the debutant in Senior Rugby - Harry Smith.

Team: Jade McCaffrey; Harry Smith, Elliot Dempsey, Ross Dempsey, Jeremy Cowell; Dan Woolford (Capt.), Greg Wood; Mat Roots, Jake Ellis, Bob Porter; Dave Ballard, Callum Gibson; Dan Cowell, Chris Alexander, Jack Barton.
Subs: Kev Murray, Alex Pritchard.
Scorers: Dan Cowell 5; Harry Smith 2, 5, 2, 5, 2, 2, 2; Ross Dempsey 5, 5, 5; Dan Woolford 5; Mat Roots 5.