FRFC 41 Fullerians 12

Folkestone coach, Darren Molloy, had enough players available to field 2 teams in this preseason friendly against Watford-based Fullerians. The visiting team had to endure an early start and some motorway jams which wasn’t the best preparation for taking on a confident home team but despite that Fullerians got off to the better start. A hard quick start is the best way to shake off the aches and pains of a long coach trip. Fullerians enjoyed putting pressure on the home line and using a rolling maul they were on the score-board in the 8th minute. 0-5.
This wakened up Folkestone who attacked from the restart surging down the middle. Ref, Simon Bingham allowed advantage to Folkestone after a high tackle and Ollie Walton used that advantage to score under the posts. Seyhan Fell added the conversion. 7-5.
Ollie Brooks was a complete menace to the visiting team and he made a penetrating drive into the visiting defence handing the ball off to Ben Flatman and what a great sight he was battering his way through the defence only to be finally stopped short of the line by 2 brave defenders. After his try-scoring performance earlier in the week against Canterbury the home support were overjoyed to welcome the big man back to the team after a bad injury last season
Folkestone’s next try had the home support cheering loudly with Drew Woolford setting up Tom Johnson who roared 50 yards down the left wing to score a cracking try in the 21st minute. No defender got near him at all. Young Johnson has suffered horrendous injuries and not played rugby for 2 seasons and is now easing himself back into the game. This was the first chance for Darren Molloy to see Johnson in action and he was highly impressed. 12-5.
Molloy was using this match to look at all his players so there were many substitutions and that can lead to total confusion but despite the changes the team kept it together on the pitch and Molloy is now getting to the point where he has 2 players fighting for the same position. Despite 4 substitutions for Folkestone after Johnson’s try they regrouped and were soon back in Fullerian territory. This time David Baxter took a quick throw-in to himself and he showed pace as he charged up the pitch drawing defenders, creating space and finding Adam Tolman coming up on the right wing and nobody could keep up with him as he dived over to score out wide in the 24th minute. 17-5.
When he was a member of Saracens Rugby Academy Tom Johnson actually played a few games for Fullerians and they must have been sick of the sight of him in the 35th minute when, this time, Simon Harris slipped the ball to him and another burst of pace blasted him over the line. 22-5.
Once again Molloy was able to give his 4 Foreign Legionairres a run out and once again they were impressive as was ex Whitstable player, Rob Hudson who once again earned much respect from the large crowd of supporters. On Tuesday, Michal Krizanek scored the winning try against Canterbury and today it was compatriot, scrum half, Jakub Kopfiva who scored after a maul close to Fullerians’ line. The young Czech was quickest to see the ball and the hole in the defence and he opened his scoring account with the club. Fell added the conversion. 29-5.
Fullerians last season, after losing just 5 matches, earned promotion in their regional league and stand 1 division above Folkestone so they were not going to give up and they kept on playing good rugby using the flair and pace of their backs and they earned the appreciation of the home supporters with a second score after enjoying much pressure inside the home 22. 29-12.
Back came Folkestone again and this time New Zealander, Richard Puddy made the assist to Adam Tolman to score out on the left wing. 34-12.
The game was running out of time as winger Ben Page streaked down the right wing putting yet more pressure on the visitors. Page was covered well but managed to get the ball to Seyhan Fell who offloaded to Simon Harris for the final try of the match. Fell converted. 41-12.
Folkestone deserved the victory. They had too much pace for the visitors and such a long trip must have weakened them. One thing’s for sure, they are an entertaining team. As, of course, are Folkestone. Once the Stones get their running game moving it is difficult to hold them back. They have many strike options with the ball carriers, Baxter, Flatman, Hudson, Ollie Brooks and McMurray. At the breakdown they have Will Turner, Jake Johnson, Rob Hudson, Moose Murray and James Woolford who all love trouble. They have cunning and guile in Harris, Lama, Godden and Petley who was unable to play today after being concussed earlier in the week. The main danger to other teams, though, comes from the pace of the back 3 and in those positions coach Molloy has a wealth of talent in Scotty Evans, Luke Simpson, Ollie Walton, Fell, Johnson, Page, Tolman, Woolford, Morton and Page all wanting to win the starting shirts. Yet to play is Ben Brooks out for a few more weeks with a broken wrist while Christian Sangiuseppe, unfortunately is still unavailable due to Spitfire Shoulder! I’ve rambled on about the 4 imported players, Richard Puddy, Scotty Evans, Michal Krizanek and try scorer today, Jakub Kopfiva, before and they are all finding their form and making valuable contributions to the team. Their home clubs back in New Zealand and the the Czech republic will be very proud of them all.
On Sunday 28 August Folkestone host their annual Spitfire Tournament and Molloy has the problem that every coach enjoys – who to leave out of the squad. The one day event begins at 11am and is always an excellent day out.
Man of the Match today was again another hard call because once again this wasn’t just a team effort, it was a squad effort. But for his hard work at the breakdown and his feistiness all over the park I give it to Rob Hudson who, again, caught the eye.