Folkestone lose to Tom Carvill's Old Tiffininans.

[b]Folkestone 1stXV 14 Old Tiffinians 1stXV 21.[/b]

Saturday 1st September 2018 Pre-Season friendly. Report by Alex Ruddock.

On a hot and sunny day, under blue skies at the start of an Indian Summer, Folkestone entertained Old Tiffinians, captained by Folkestone Old Boy Tom Carvill in a warm-up game before the start of the League season next Saturday at home to newly promoted Vigo RFC. KO 15:00.
The match was quite an even one with Folkestone soaking up a series of attacks by “Old Tiffs” and although the defence held strong Stone gave away a series of penalties (five in the first 11 minutes!) each of the penalties were at the breakdown in play, a variety of holding on to the ball carrier in the tackle, handling on the floor, which meant the Referee Ross Alexander had words with Captain Seyhan Fell to the affect that the next similar infringement would be a yellow card for the Team continually infringing. Hence the unlucky Mat Roots was given a ten minute rest when he partially blocked the Tiffs scrumhalf at the base of a ruck after 15 minutes.
However with the opposition opting for the kick to touch each time there were no points conceded when three or four of the penalties were kickable. At the ensuing lineouts Stones thwarted any of the attacks with good tackling by Liam Trinder, Scott Stewart, Jeremie Cowell and Rob Godden in the lineout and Callum Palmieri, newcomer fly half Luke “Kiwi” Robinson and John Eustace. It was from one of these that Robinson put in a long clearance kick allowing Stones into the opposition half and a good attacking play by Liam Trinder, Jack Barton and Rob Godden meant that the tryline was reached and Scott Stewart was at the bottom to claim the try, Seyhan Fell then added the extra points. 7-0.
However only five minutes later Old Tiffs were able to stretch the Stones defence to score their own converted try. 7-7.
Roots returned to the pitch (refreshed after his ten minute rest) and was instantly involved in an attacking bullocking run, with several defenders clinging on before he was brought to the ground but managed to offload to the supporting Jordan Godden (brother of Rob) who made a jinking run for the line only to be tackled just short with Scott Stewart on hand to flop over the line to score. However the Referee adjudged Jordan to have lost the ball forward when he was tackled, so unfortunately no try.
A penalty kick by Old Tiffs failed to find touch just short of the Stones try line and was fielded by the Stones backs and after some interpassing Daniel Hillier received the ball and proceeded to out pace the opposition and sprinted a full 80 metres to score under the posts. Dan O’Rourke (on for Robinson) kicked the extra two points. 14-7.
Stones were reflecting on Hilliers individual try when Old Tiffs from the restart managed to regain the ball and by swift interpassing spread the home sides defence enabling the winger to run round and score a converted try. 14-14.
Afterwards the Referee gave the Old Tiffs winger a yellow card for foul play. However their fourteen players pulled together to score another converted try. The Final score being 14-21.
Team: Seyhan Fell; Thomo Murray, John Eustace, Jon Morton, Daniel Hillier; Luke Robinson, Callum Palmieri; Mat Roots, Tom Davey, Martin Murray; Jack Barton, Rob Godden; Jeremie Cowell, Liam Trinder, Scott Stewart.
Rolling Subs: Ben Lewis, Shane Hills, James Archer, Kalum Smith, Billy Monk, Jordan Godden, Dan O’Rourke, Dan Fosbery, Jack Shorter, Mark Ip-Lloyd, Adam Tolman, Louis Watson, Steve Rees.
Scorers: Scott Stewart 5; Seyhan Fell 2; Daniel Hillier 5; Dan O’Rourke 2.