U13's win a close match at Gravesend

Folkestone appeared to make a promising start with Harry Curtis and Freddie Faiers taking play up field but Folkestone soon lost the ball to a penalty. Gravesend took advantage and cleared the ball back up into Folkestone’s half. Folkestone redeemed themselves by stealing the ball from a Gravesend lineout only to fail to execute any substantial play. Tiarnan Canning managed to gain some good ground for Folkestone but was without any back up. Gravesend responded by stealing Folkestone’s lineout, however lost the ball out of hand and a scrum was awarded to Folkestone. Dylan Barnes gave Folkestone some good clearance but failed to find touch and there followed some uneventful ping pong rugby.

Once again Folkestone took play up into Gravesend’s 22 but lost the ball due to a penalty for playing the ball on the ground. Tom Whelan redeemed Folkestone by winning the ball from Gravesend’s line out and after more ping pong Dylan Barnes stole the ball from Gravesend’s scrum. A super opportunity for play was lost, however, when the ball went into Gravesend’s dead ball area. Folkestone secured their own line out but then lost the ball again and again and Gravesend ran straight through and secured a try and subsequent conversion.7-0.

The restart saw some sloppy passing and a resulting scrum to Gravesend. There was some light for Folkestone when they again stole the ball and Dylan Barnes cleared it up field into touch inside Gravesend’s 22. Folkestone got a hand to the ball in Gravesend’s line out giving William Rayner the opening to smash through Gravesend’s defence and go over the line for Folkestone’s answering try. Dylan Barnes made a valiant effort through extreme winds to convert out wide but although the ball had the legs it didn’t quite make the posts. 7-5.

Folkestone woke up following the restart and gained good ground. The disciplined Gravesend players however benefitted from another penalty against Folkestone and cleared the ball back into Folkestone’s half. Gravesend pushed the ball further and approached Folkestone’s 22. Freddie Faiers was waiting though and put in a crunching tackle. Good tackles followed by Callum Little and again Freddie Faiers answered Folkestone’s prayers by clearing the ball into touch for the half time whistle. 7-5.

The Second half restart saw Folkestone benefit from a lineout and subsequent scrum. Dylan Barnes powered up field and Tom Whelan finished with Folkestone’s second try. An excellent attempt at conversion was not helped by the windy conditions. 7-10.

The restart saw William Rayner gain Folkestone some ground only for Folkestone to lose the ball in the ruck to Gravesend who despite good handling in their backs were stopped by tackles from Aurelien Austin and ball clearance from Freddie Faiers. Gravesend’s defence held and they powered Folkestone into touch. Gravesend went on to steal Folkestone’s line out and clear play back up to Folkestone’s 22. Gravesend got a hand on the Ball in Folkestone’s lineout but Folkestone managed to hang on to possession only to lose it again, Gravesend took play back into Folkestone’s 22. Folkestone got a touch on the ball in Gravesend’s lineout and Aurelien Austin rescued Folkestone from a near certain try by an excellent clearance. Gravesend benefited from a scrum down but again Aurelien Austin cleared only to see Gravesend catch and drive the ball back up field again.

The wind and rain certainly didn’t help, but play paused for an injury to Folkestone forward Johnnie Hobbs. Folkestone gained a scrum and Dylan Barnes powered up field. Gravesend conceded a penalty but Folkestone failed to use the opportunity and once again faced Gravesend in a scrum.

Ted Bean managed to give Folkestone some much need space but was then carried back again by an excellent defensive work by Gravesend. Gravesend booted the ball from their own scrum up into Folkestone’s half but Folkestone were rescued by Freddie Faiers and play was soon back in the Gravesend’s 22. Folkestone won their lineout and the ball was taken further up field by Will Rayner. Gravesend’s organised defence forced Folkestone back though and bad passing resulted in a scrum to Gravesend. Folkestone redeemed themselves with a mighty push but gave play away. The scrum was awarded to Gravesend and again Folkestone pushed them back. When the ball came out Dylan Barnes and Will Rayner put in a well supportive effort. The final phase of play saw another penalty from Folkestone cleared to touch by the Gravesend Lads. Gravesend won their line out and were only stopped when Dylan Barnes put in a crunching tackle the ball was cleared to touch for the end of the match. 7-10.
Squad: Aurelien Austin, Dylan Barnes, Ted Bean, Tiarnan Canning, Harry Curtis, Lewis Dorrell, Freddie Faiers, Kai Freeth, Johnnie Hobbs, Ciaran Hughes, James Hughes, Josh Kendall, James Leather, Tom Leather, Callan Little, William Rayner, Finley Russell, Ollie Turner, Thomas Whelan, Toby Wills.