Folkestone U14s win again

Folkestone U14s WIN

by Mark Santer

Sunshine was toasting the rugged pitch four as Folkestone U14s hosted the visitors Whitstable.

Whitstable have been building their squad with the addition of some new lads, and today was their opportunity to play and to develop skills.

Whitstable kicked the start and once caught a rapid series of long lateral passes saw the ball back into the hands of No 10 Josh Palmer who ran through for his first try. As full back Hobbsie is resting an injured ankle this week Josh kicked and converted.

Folkestone had heeded the coach’s warnings and rather than getting drawn into a central forwards game they kept spinning it out to the width which allowed Luke McAdam and Charlie Stratford to blast through for hard fought tries. The left winger Rob Sherrard was visibly burning with a desire to get into the game and finally after a lovely loop pass move between scrum half Teds Morris, and Fly half Josh Palmer the full width was exploited with Rob running a superb try. Josh provided two out of three conversions.

Scotty McAdam powered his way through lots of traffic to score his second, but the chest infection he had been suffering from (resilient people the Scots!) meant a prudent substitution as Josh converted his try.

The forwards were enjoying themselves and had pushed back every scrum, winning ball from minor infringements giving Whits possession. The first and second row made every breakdown to keep possession and win possession there was a real hunger for territory which showed in some rolling mauls that travelled for Folkestone for up to 35 metres territorial gain. The second half saw Josh score again and Rob Sherrard having found some excellent pace and receiving good ball from Harry Wren at centre took another two tries, all three converted by Josh Palmer.

At half time Folkestone 54 Whitstable 0

The second half was an opportunity for Whits to play some of their new recruits and accordingly Folkestone changed their line up with Matt Karim and David Little playing as centres and Isaac Bolton and Zac Nixon running the wings.Teds handed scrum half role to Jack Lewis, who had a great half as Folkestone continued to dominate.

Folkestone bagged a few more tries at the hands of Josh Palmer and Charlie Stratford for another two each one of these converted by Teds Morris and one by Josh, then Tyler Russell who with Dan Croker had been toiling away at flanker showed some superb pace to get his name on the score sheet.

Final score Folkestone 83 Whitstable 0

Tries: Josh Palmer (4) Rob Sherrard (3) Charlie Stratford (3) Scotty McAdam (2) Tyler Russell

Conversions Josh Palmer(8) Teds Morris

Man of the match Burt(Connor) Guillfoyle tight head prop

SQUAD: Alchin (capt), Leather, Guilfoyle, Hewitt, Thorpe, Russell, Croker, Stratford, Morris, Palmer, Wren, McAdam, Stonebridge, Sherrard, Morgan, Little, Nixon, Karim, Lewis Bolton