On yet another glorious Sunday, Folkestone took on a well turned out Old Gravesendians’ team and buried them 78-5! After a season of committed hard training and an ever expanding squad, this team owed themselves a decent result on a match day and today was certainly that day!
With both teams agreeing to play the match over three periods to allow for numerous changes the first period got off to a great start for the home side with a try under the posts in the first few minutes. Louis Bolton pounced on a loose ball to run in the opening try; his first of four on the day. Another great try from Ben Proctor, followed neat clean up play from full back Harry Clarke and quick support from Doug Wood. The conversion by Doug Wood from near the touch line was sublime. At this point the OG’s players made the fatal mistake of letting their heads drop and soon found themselves another 3 tries down by the end of the first period, following scores from James Porter and Sid Gurung.
The second period saw the visitors consolidate against a much changed Folkestone team, but poor tackling by the visitors allowed Bolton through to score and for Jack Lord to convert. The visitors kept up pressure in the middle period and eventually their big pack got the ball out to the backs and they ran in their only score. A big tackle from Sam Baker brought to an end a dangerous passage of play from the visitors and with possession regained, Folkestone finished the second period with tries from the ‘two Charlies’ – Green and Watson.
The last period saw the final nails in the coffin added by Louis Bolton (2), Ben Proctor for his second, and a trademark run down the line from George Way.
With such a big turn out and so many tries it wasn’t easy keeping track of individual performances, but further credit goes to James Evans, Louis Bolton and Jack Lord for their conversions and Oscar Peters, Travis Jones and Jack Hill along with the rest of the team for an all round outstanding performance.
The Folkestone RFC U14 team included:
Liam Balcombe, Isaac Bergin, Louie Bolton, James Evans, Declan Gordon, Joel Herbert, Jack Hill, Dylan Himbury, Jack Lord, Matthew McMahon, Ben Procter, Cameron Seagrove, & Shaun Smith, playing in the forwards; Sam Baker, Harry Clarke, Jack Edwards, Charlie Green, Sid Gurung, Travis Jones, Oscar Peters, James Porter, Charlie Watson, George Way & Doug Wood playing in the backs.