FRFC 31 Gillingham Anchorians 3

Last weekend these teams served up an entertaining league match in Gillingham with Folkestone winning 46-20, a result which did not reflect the home team’s performance. Both squads showed many personnel changes for this match in the RFU Senior Vase.
For the first 20 minutes both teams had many chances to open the scoring but with the wet conditions causing problems in the ball handling and both defences on top it stayed 0-0 until Folkestone skipper, Richard Lama burst into the game with one of his trademark drives through the defence. He was stopped just short of the line but found Jon Morton stepping inside. Mike Gardner supported and Morton delivered a perfectly timed cross-over pass giving Gardner a clear run to score under the posts. Seyhan Fell added the conversion. 7-0.
A few minutes later Folkestone earned a scrum on the right wing. Lewis Howland found Morton who picked out Lama who sprinted 10 metres to score. 12-0. Unfortunately that was the last we saw of Howland who left the pitch with a hamstring injury. He has been a revelation at scrum half despite this being just his second senior competitive game. He has quickly found a good partnership with Morton and the good play of the last 2 games has been down to these 2 playmakers giving their runners perfectly timed passes to keep them on the front foot. Howland was replaced by Kiwi, Scotty Evans just back from a lengthy lay-off due to injury.
Last weekend Gillingham would not lie down and it was the same today as they pushed up the field and scored from a penalty on the Folkestone 22. 12-3.
But just before half time they were under more pressure when Ben Brooks thought he had scored for the referee to judge that the ball had been held up. From the 5 metre scrum Morton served 2 outrageous dummies before setting up Seyhan Fell to score under the posts. Fell added the bonus. 19-3.
During the interval the skies opened up and the ref wisely got the 2 teams quickly lined up ready to go. Folkestone were quickly into Anchorians territory but were turned over. The Anchorians left winger grabbed the ball on his own 22 and sprinted up the pitch looking certain to score and bring his team back into the game. Richard Bowen had other ideas and he chased back all the way never giving up and got to the winger on his own 22 driving him out of play. It was a try-saving tackle.
Bowen showed his talent again moments later after his backs had worked the ball from left wing to right wing giving him the ball. The Anchorians defence was set up in a strange zigzag line-up but Bowen simply side-stepped his way to the line. 24-3.
Folkestone finished the game with a late try this time from a penalty. Evans took a quick tap and found Lama again battering his way through. He passed to James Crittell and that was the game over with Fell adding another conversion. 31-3.

In this match Folkestone were without 3 of their best ball carriers in Mat Roots, Ben Flatman and Jake Johnson but between them Lama and Gardner took on the role and it was a close call between them for the Stones’ Man of the Match. But I’m going to give it to Lama. He had a poor start to the season but is now right back on the form. Something the defences from other clubs will not be happy with.
Jon Morton again impressed in the fly half role spraying out perfectly timed passes. Ross Carrigan, signed from Dover at the start of the season,had a great game in the front row and Pat Smith, who has all the skills but has not played as much as he could because of work commitments, is showing great technique and mobility in that front row. Mobility is the keyword to Folkestone's return to form. In defence they are actually attacking as they push their opponents backwards hunting well up the pitch and there is support in plenty for the Stones' ball carriers. If they can keep it up and it is hard work they'll be a tough team to beat this season.

On Saturday it’s back to league duties as Folkestone take on newly promoted Vigo.

Squad:
R Lama, R Carrigan, W Massey, P Smith, M Murray, T Wood, K Johnson, R Bowen, M Gardner, J Mapp, S Stewart, L Howland, S Evans, J Morton, B Brooks, J Crittell, J Johnson, S Fell