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Sat 19 Oct 2013
Old Mid-Whitgiftians 1
1st XV
21
50
Tries: R Dagger (4), T Carvill, S Fell (2), A RandallConversions: S Fell (5)
The style of their play is exhilarating and pulsating this young side deserve more support!
Alex Ruddock21 Oct 2013 - 09:19
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Five straight wins to be top of the table in the league and averaging over 40 points per game - Folkestone rugby has never enjoyed such a promising start to a season in their 39 year history.
RFU Senior Vase First Round 19/10/2013
By Our Intrepid Reporter Alan Schofield
Five straight wins to be top of the table in the league and averaging over 40 points per game - Folkestone rugby has never enjoyed such a promising start to a season in their 39 year history.
The style of their play is exhilarating and they deserve support even larger than the solid band of followers, many of whom travelled to Surrey for this RFU Senior Vase first round draw against Old Mid-Whitgiftians.
The opposition are at the same level as Folkestone, but in the London South West division. They have not had such an encouraging start, losing 4 of their first 5 matches.
And so, Folkestone could have been seen to be favourites, but because of the tough nature of the season to date, coach Darren Molloy decided to rest 7 of the players who played in the previous weeks’ decisive win over Sheppey in the league.
The earlier exchanges indicated that both sides were fairly even. Old Mids pressed but were well held by the ‘Stones young forwards and it was the front row of Aaron Robbins, Warren Blandford and Tom Carvill in the thick of the action. Chris Petley was formidable in defence and attack. Unusually for ‘Stones, this season, they failed to penetrate the opposition’s defence early on. Old Mids’s solid defence were causing some problems.
But then the breakthrough came in a manner that was repeated six times in the next 60 minutes.
Folkestone’s teamwork and technique look for weaknesses in the opposition and it was found by Nick Ford and Mike Gardner. Coming from the back of a set piece they feed the ball out to the right where Tom Ash and John Eustace, both big and muscular centres who necessarily occupy two or three of the opposition. Seyhan Fell, from full back, can see the play and he joins the line to take the slipped pass and quickly feed Richard Dagger on the right wing. Dagger is fast. After 18 minutes he had a clear gap provided for him – no-one could catch him and scored unopposed in the corner to give ‘Stones a 5 – 0 lead.
This was quickly improved upon by the forwards, as two minutes later the whole pack pressurised the Old Mid’s line and Tom Carvill touched down for a true forwards try which Fell converted for a 12 – 0 scoreline.
‘Stones now began to play their open, quick and expansive team rugby which has been a feature of their play this season, but such is the speed of inter-passing it cannot be mistake free – and James Orchard, the Old Mids dangerous looking fly half snatched the ball between passes and ran 50 metres to score under the posts. The try converted to make the score 12 – 7.
Undeterred, and within 10 minutes, Folkestone’s third and fourth tries were scored by Richard Dagger in the almost identical manner to the first try, both converted and Old Mids went into half time 26 – 7 down and shaken by the pace of the Folkestone backs.
By now the forwards were combining well and Scott Stewart with Kieran Smith in the second row were helping to gain ground at every scrum. The back row of Alex Randall, Chris Petley and Mike Gardner were formidable, and well in command.
The line-outs were evenly contested, Old Mid’s had two tall jumpers who won most of their own ball, but from a Folkestone touch inside the opponents half the old routine happened again, when the ball sped down the line – but this time Dagger fed Fell to score on the right wing. Fell converted for a 33 – 7 score.
And five minutes later it was back to the same tactic with Fell feeding Dagger to score his fourth try of the game. Old Mid’s had no answer to these right wing attacks.
In the second half ‘Stones conceded 11 penalties. Most of these were at the point of tackle, rucks and mauls. Time after time they were conceding 40 or 50 metres with long penalty kicks and ensuing line-outs.
Darren Molloy substituted Jordan Godden, after a solid game at scrum half, and Scott Stewart with Will Turner and Kevin Murray.
Old Mids took the advantage given to them by the penalties and from a misunderstanding the defence let them score a simple unopposed try under the posts to reduce the deficit to 40 -14.
And they quickly resumed their position given to them by more penalties, attacking the Folkestone line – but suffered a morale sapping set back when Mike Gardner made a breakthrough and instead of kicking to touch made 40 metres on his own before giving the ball to Alex Randall, backing up powerfully, who finished the remaining 50 metres to score.
Club Captain, ‘Moose’ Murray, hitherto resting on the touchline, substituted Mike Gardner after 75 minutes – not something an opposition wanted to see! The extra weight gave impetus to Carvill, Robbins and Turner – all making good runs and it was from yet another movement led by the forwards that Ryan Farrow fed John Eustace to let Seyhan Fell in for a try on the far left wing.
Another three penalties against Folkestone saw them penned in defence in the final minutes, and Old Mids scored a converted try to make the final score 50 – 21.
Today’s referee was ex-player, Bruce Wilkinson – only in his second year with the whistle. He was the biggest man on the field! He controlled the game with authority and clarity. Our congratulations go to him for a very sporting game played in a good spirit.
The Folkestone travelling coaching team of Darren Molloy and Leigh Fitchie were very well pleased with the 8 tries produced by this young team, and they warmly congratulated the players after the match.
The man-of-the match was undoubtedly Chris Petley. Yes, Dagger scored four tries and Fell scored 18 points, but Petley was inspirational and non-stop in attack and defence playing from his position at open side flanker.
The travelling spectators were thoroughly entertained and the word will quickly pass around the Shepway area that this Folkestone team are well worth watching. On Saturday, there is a home game against Gillingham Anchorians (KO 3 pm.). This is a top-of-the table encounter and should produce some thrilling rugby.
Team: S Fell; R Dagger, R Farrow, J Eustace, T Ash; N Ford, J Godden; A Robbins, W Blandford, T Carvill; S Stewart, K Smith; A Randall, C Petley, M Gardner. Subs: M Murray, W Turner, R Hudson, K Murray.
OLD MID-WHITGIFTIAN 21 FOLKESTONE 50
By Our Intrepid Reporter Alan Schofield
Five straight wins to be top of the table in the league and averaging over 40 points per game - Folkestone rugby has never enjoyed such a promising start to a season in their 39 year history.
The style of their play is exhilarating and they deserve support even larger than the solid band of followers, many of whom travelled to Surrey for this RFU Senior Vase first round draw against Old Mid-Whitgiftians.
The opposition are at the same level as Folkestone, but in the London South West division. They have not had such an encouraging start, losing 4 of their first 5 matches.
And so, Folkestone could have been seen to be favourites, but because of the tough nature of the season to date, coach Darren Molloy decided to rest 7 of the players who played in the previous weeks’ decisive win over Sheppey in the league.
The earlier exchanges indicated that both sides were fairly even. Old Mids pressed but were well held by the ‘Stones young forwards and it was the front row of Aaron Robbins, Warren Blandford and Tom Carvill in the thick of the action. Chris Petley was formidable in defence and attack. Unusually for ‘Stones, this season, they failed to penetrate the opposition’s defence early on. Old Mids’s solid defence were causing some problems.
But then the breakthrough came in a manner that was repeated six times in the next 60 minutes.
Folkestone’s teamwork and technique look for weaknesses in the opposition and it was found by Nick Ford and Mike Gardner. Coming from the back of a set piece they feed the ball out to the right where Tom Ash and John Eustace, both big and muscular centres who necessarily occupy two or three of the opposition. Seyhan Fell, from full back, can see the play and he joins the line to take the slipped pass and quickly feed Richard Dagger on the right wing. Dagger is fast. After 18 minutes he had a clear gap provided for him – no-one could catch him and scored unopposed in the corner to give ‘Stones a 5 – 0 lead.
This was quickly improved upon by the forwards, as two minutes later the whole pack pressurised the Old Mid’s line and Tom Carvill touched down for a true forwards try which Fell converted for a 12 – 0 scoreline.
‘Stones now began to play their open, quick and expansive team rugby which has been a feature of their play this season, but such is the speed of inter-passing it cannot be mistake free – and James Orchard, the Old Mids dangerous looking fly half snatched the ball between passes and ran 50 metres to score under the posts. The try converted to make the score 12 – 7.
Undeterred, and within 10 minutes, Folkestone’s third and fourth tries were scored by Richard Dagger in the almost identical manner to the first try, both converted and Old Mids went into half time 26 – 7 down and shaken by the pace of the Folkestone backs.
By now the forwards were combining well and Scott Stewart with Kieran Smith in the second row were helping to gain ground at every scrum. The back row of Alex Randall, Chris Petley and Mike Gardner were formidable, and well in command.
The line-outs were evenly contested, Old Mid’s had two tall jumpers who won most of their own ball, but from a Folkestone touch inside the opponents half the old routine happened again, when the ball sped down the line – but this time Dagger fed Fell to score on the right wing. Fell converted for a 33 – 7 score.
And five minutes later it was back to the same tactic with Fell feeding Dagger to score his fourth try of the game. Old Mid’s had no answer to these right wing attacks.
In the second half ‘Stones conceded 11 penalties. Most of these were at the point of tackle, rucks and mauls. Time after time they were conceding 40 or 50 metres with long penalty kicks and ensuing line-outs.
Darren Molloy substituted Jordan Godden, after a solid game at scrum half, and Scott Stewart with Will Turner and Kevin Murray.
Old Mids took the advantage given to them by the penalties and from a misunderstanding the defence let them score a simple unopposed try under the posts to reduce the deficit to 40 -14.
And they quickly resumed their position given to them by more penalties, attacking the Folkestone line – but suffered a morale sapping set back when Mike Gardner made a breakthrough and instead of kicking to touch made 40 metres on his own before giving the ball to Alex Randall, backing up powerfully, who finished the remaining 50 metres to score.
Club Captain, ‘Moose’ Murray, hitherto resting on the touchline, substituted Mike Gardner after 75 minutes – not something an opposition wanted to see! The extra weight gave impetus to Carvill, Robbins and Turner – all making good runs and it was from yet another movement led by the forwards that Ryan Farrow fed John Eustace to let Seyhan Fell in for a try on the far left wing.
Another three penalties against Folkestone saw them penned in defence in the final minutes, and Old Mids scored a converted try to make the final score 50 – 21.
Today’s referee was ex-player, Bruce Wilkinson – only in his second year with the whistle. He was the biggest man on the field! He controlled the game with authority and clarity. Our congratulations go to him for a very sporting game played in a good spirit.
The Folkestone travelling coaching team of Darren Molloy and Leigh Fitchie were very well pleased with the 8 tries produced by this young team, and they warmly congratulated the players after the match.
The man-of-the match was undoubtedly Chris Petley. Yes, Dagger scored four tries and Fell scored 18 points, but Petley was inspirational and non-stop in attack and defence playing from his position at open side flanker.
The travelling spectators were thoroughly entertained and the word will quickly pass around the Shepway area that this Folkestone team are well worth watching. On Saturday, there is a home game against Gillingham Anchorians (KO 3 pm.). This is a top-of-the table encounter and should produce some thrilling rugby.
Team: S Fell; R Dagger, R Farrow, J Eustace, T Ash; N Ford, J Godden; A Robbins, W Blandford, T Carvill; S Stewart, K Smith; A Randall, C Petley, M Gardner. Subs: M Murray, W Turner, R Hudson, K Murray.
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