2nds run riot in the first half at Juddians.

Shepherd Neame Premier 2 East

This was a game of two halves - yes, I know, I know, rugby is always a game of two halves but this was a game of two distinctly different halves. Folkestone ran away with the first half and after an influx of players at half time the home side had the better of the second half.
The early stages of the game saw both sides foraging in their opponents half until Richie Bowen set the game alight with an individual break down the centre of the field to set up a ruck. The game moved into TJ's five metre line and Lewis Howland took a short tap penalty but was unable to ground the ball over the line. However Mark Bartlett was on hand to scoop up the ball and dive over for the first score. No conversion 0 – 5. Soon after Richie Bowen burst away from a loose maul on the halfway line and beat all the defence to score in the corner. 0-10.
There was plenty of movement in the Folkestone back division and when Adam Fullerton fed Lewis Howland, Dan Woolford was on hand to provide for Jamie Curtis coming through on the crash ball to see him romp away to score under the posts. Dan Woolford converted making it 0 - 17.
Folkestone had total command in the set scrums and were pushing the home scrum all over the park, easily winning their own ball and making it difficult for TJ's to supply their own three-quarters with any good ball. A Tonbridge passing movement broke down on the half way line for Dan Woolford to hack the ball up field and James Perry was able to collect the bouncing ball to score way out. No conversion 0 - 22.
The Folkestone side had its fair share of youngsters in Ben Gunn, Nick Foster, Connor Loome, Liam Regardsoe and Lewis Howland. They also had their fair share of 'senior' players and Keith Packham and Trolley Howland must be commended for their commitment at this level.
Robert Morford deserved the next try by coming into the line from full back and dummying his way through the defence to raced over the line for another unconverted try. 0 – 27.
The Folkestone pack took the game to TJ's and Adam Fullerton, Carl Schroeder, Liam Regardsoe, Richie Bowen and Captain Alex Box were most prominent. Alex Box has accepted the position of Captain for the 2nds for the rest of the season as Kieran Smith (playing in the 1sts this week) has relinquished the post, being unable to commit the time necessary.
The visitor’s next score was due to the pressure being put on TJ's scrum. TJ's won the ball but were going backwards at a rate of knots and the ball popped out of the side of the pack. Carl Schroeder was on it in a flash to score his first try for the Club on his debut. No conversion 0 – 32. Soon after Lewis Howland burst up the middle to score another unconverted try made the half time score 37 – 0.
Keith Howland replaced Richie Bowen and Folkestone thought they were on to an easy win but TJ's found a couple of players which changed the complexion of the game and Folkestone were put under pressure for the next twenty five minutes. TJ's scored an unconverted try 5 - 37 and got close with two others before Folkestone started to re-asserted themselves. Rob Morford put in a crunching tackle to deny another home try.
Adam Fullerton, Carl Schroeder and Lewis Howland were proving a comprehensive unit and caused the opposition half backs problems in distribution. It was Lewis Howland who started Folkestone’s fight back by picking the ball out of the back of the scrum and tearing through the middle of the defence to score a try, converted by Dan Woolford. 5 – 44. Richie Bowen returned to the fray when Adam Fullerton twisted his ankle.
Tonbridge were still trying to put pressure on Folkestone and had the best of the line out battles which kept them in the game. Folkestone were then being pressured on their own line when a loose ball was hacked away by young Connor Loome which bounced kindly for Robert Morford who drew TJ's full back to send Jamie Curtis in under posts for a try which Richie Bowen converted with a drop kick. 5 – 51.
A good win for Folkestone with a mixed side and the Man of the Match as selected by Alex Box was the newcomer Carl Schroeder who I am sure we shall see more of.
Team: Robert Morford; Connor Loome, James Perry, Jamie Curtis, Nick Foster; Dan Woolford, Lewis Howland; Mark Bartlett, Alex Box, Keith Packham; Liam Regardsoe, Ben Gunn, Adam Fullerton, Richie Bowen, Carl Schroeder,. Sub: Keith Howland.
Scorers: Mark Bartlett 5, Jamie Curtis 5,5, Dan Woolford 2,2, James Perry 5, Robert Morford 5, Carl Schroeder 5, Lewis Howland 5,5, Richie Bowen 5,2.