U13's at Cranbrook

14th September 2014 11:00 Report by Alison Hughes
Photographs Courtesy of Paul Turner.

Good defence by Folkestone, then a superb break enabled Harry Curtis to score a lovely early try. Will Mead was unable to convert. The restart saw a nice chip by Freddie Faiers which unfortunately was stolen by Cranbrook and led to a knock on by Folkestone. A good surge by the Folkestone forwards gave William Rayner Folkestone’s second try. A super conversion followed by Will Mead. Following the restart, Folkestone gained ground and took play up field. Cranbrook defended well and blasted the ball back towards the half way line. Folkestone were mightier in the scrum, they secured the ball and took play again back towards Cranbrook’s try line where Freddie Faiers surged over the line right between the posts. Will Mead stepped up to secure a lovely conversion. The restart saw some excellent manoeuvres and passing by Folkestone especially TJ Leather, which led to a sprinting try by James Hughes. Will Mead only narrowly missing the conversion. Folkestone’s defence was tested after the restart and Cranbrook upped their game which led to them catching Folkestone napping and putting their first points on board with a quick try and conversion.

Half Time saw Cranbrook run out fighting with a more assertive attitude. They drove the ball up to Folkestone’s 22. Will Mead managed to clear the ball back to the half way mark where it was picked up by Joseph Faiers and he ran the rest of the pitch to claim a try right under the posts, converted by Will Mead. Another cracking run by Joseph Faiers saw him take it up field again for a replay of his previous try again right between the posts and again converted by Will Mead. The restart saw Cranbrook take advantage of a sleepy Folkestone and gain their second try, however they failed to convert this. Kirkland Otto gained much ground to enable Harry Curtis to score a try. A valiant effort by Will Mead but no conversion. He did, however, deliver a superb chip over Cranbrook’s heads giving Finley Russell the opportunity to secure a try. Will Mead was unable to convert though.

14th September 2014 12:00 Report by Alison Hughes

A good break by Dylan Barnes was halted when a powerful Cranbrook bundled the ball into touch. Cranbrook regrouped and took the ball back down field for their first try. They were unable to convert. Some superb tackling from Kirkland Otto and Aurelien Austin secured Folkestone their first scrum. Folkestone were able to gain much ground and surged towards Cranbrook’s try line but a well organised defence from Cranbrook were able to hold the ball up. Cranbrook turned the tables and headed for Folkestone’s line only to be stopped by a crunching tackle from Tiarnan Canning. Cranbrook surged for the line once more but were held up by a determined Freddie Faiers. Folkestone defended well and Freddie cleared the ball up field. Unfortunately Folkestone conceded a penalty and were then moved back further and Cranbrook were able to power through with a try and conversion. The restart saw Dylan Barnes crash through Cranbrook’s defence and power over the line to open the scoring for Folkestone. Dylan was unable to convert though. Ted Bean caught the restart and powered up field, only to be battered back down field by a heavy defence and powerful forward play by Cranbrook. Tom Whelan offered some cracking tackles which took us into half time.

Some fluid passing by Cranbrook was interrupted by a superb tackle again from Tom Whelan. Folkestone secured a penalty in Cranbrook’s half and Dylan Barnes kicked for touch. A lot of ground was gained by a super push for the line from Ciaran Hughes and Tom Whelan finished the try off. Dylan Barnes narrowly missing the conversion. The restart again saw Folkestone on the defence to a much more powerful pack from Cranbrook but they answered with fearless tackling from Aurelien Austin, Kirkland Otto and Tom Whelan. Following a short break for injury stoppages, Cranbrook crashed through a now tiring Folkestone squad. However they failed to convert this. Folkestone won their next scrum and Tom Whelan threw himself over the line. Dylan was unable to convert. Fatigue started to show within the Folkestone ranks when Cranbrook scored a try pretty much from the restart and this time were successful in converting. Folkestone then failed to benefit from a penalty conceded by Cranbrook who went on to secure the ball and another try.

Folkestone Squad: Aurelien Austin, Dylan Barnes, Ted Bean, Tiarnan Canning, Harry Curtis, Lewis Dorell, Freddie Faiers, Joseph Faiers, Kai Freeth, Max Henderson, Johnnie Hobbs, Josh Kendall, Ciaran Hughes, James Hughes, TJ Leather, Callan Little, William Mead, Kirkland Otto, William Rayner, Finley Russell, Ollie Turner, Thomas Whelan, Toby Wills.