Canterbury 20 FRFC 27

John Kidson must have enjoyed his latest birthday watching a very entertaining game at Canterbury where 4 of the players he imported made telling contributions. Over the years Mr Kidson has arranged the importation of very many players. He finds them accommodation and work to pay for their stay. They pay their own fares and every one of them has added to the culture of the club. They have come from USA, Estonia, New Zealand and Poland. This year he may have found the best of the lot as all 4 of his foreign legionairres starred in this performance. New Zealanders Scotty Evans and Richard Puddy and Czechs, Michal Krizanek and Jakub Kopfiva all made telling contributions in a terrific victory in this now-traditional pre season friendly at Canterbury.
It was good to see a large travelling support follow their heroes along Stone Street and they were rewarded with an excellent entertaining game. Canterbury assistant coach, Lee Jeffery who used to coach the Stones was magnaminous in defeat saying that Folkestone were well organised and hungry for the win. He was right as Folkestone charged into the match from the start. A flowing move from left wing to right wing almost brought a score in the opening minutes but the home defence kept their visitors at bay. But not for long as Folkestone then moved the ball inside and Scotty Evans slipped a pass to Ben Flatman who powered over for the opening try. 0-5. This was Flatman’s first score for Folkestone and he obviously enjoyed himself back in the team after a long lay-off due to injury. Flatman’s return gives coach Darren Molloy another big ball carrier and nothing was going to stop him here.
Canterbury restarted but soon found themselves back inside their own 22 and Folkestone set up the move of the match with a sweeping move from left wing to right wing with Ben Page scoring in the corner. Seyhan Fell hit a superb conversion from the touchline. 0-12.
Folkestone were using the slope and the wind to their advantage and in the centre Ollie Brooks was causing mayhem. He also missed most of last season due to serious illness but tonight he was back to his best punching massive holes and enjoying himself in defence with some crushing tackles. There were quite a few Folkestone players in the running for Man of the Match but to my eyes Brooks was the mainman. Inside him Chris Petley could use him as a decoy while he controlled the show. Petley came of age in last season’s campaign and he is looking good again for this season.
Canterbury, a National League team did not have their strongest team out but they still had quite a few 1st XV players on the pitch and the visiting support knew they were not going to go down without a fight but in the first quarter of the match the home team did not penetrate the Stones 22.
But when they did finally get into the red zone they did what good teams do and scored a good try out on the right wing. 5-12.
In the closing minutes of the 1st quarter Folkestone again swept up the pitch with the ball eventually finding Ben Page on the right wing and he danced in for what he thought was another score for the ref to, instead, disallow it because of a forward pass. Tonight’s official was David Forbes Gower who always encourages good play and keeps his whistling to a minimum. He is one of the good referees who encourage open rugby and tonight his game management was high quality
The 2 teams exchanged scores in the second quarter with first Brooks going close to scoring. The visitors won the ball again and Seyhan Fell, Folkestone’s top points scorer last season, scored his first try. 5-17.
Canterbury reduced the gap with another fine try. 10-17 and it was game on as both teams battled for the win. Just before the interval Ollie Brooks made another fearless run into home territory winning a penalty as the only way Canterbury could stop him was to infringe. Fell added a penalty to his points tally. 10-20.
Half time allowed all the players and supporters to get their breath back. Over the years I have tried to encourage the Folkestone public to visit the New Burlington because, as it was here, the entertainment is top class. Even though Folkestone led by 10 points it was clear that Canterbury were not going to roll over and die and now they had the slope and the breeze in their favour. And sure enough they scored again early in the second half. 15-20.
With minutes to go Canterbury drew level. 20-20. Personally, I thought, that with their experience and quality Canterbury were going to nick it in the end but Folkestone forced their way back up the pitch into the home 22 and quick as a flash Michal Krizanek had the visiting supporters jumping for joy as he crashed over the line to score under the posts. Fell added the conversion. 20-27.
Folkestone coaches, Darren Molloy and Steve Milward saw many positives in this performance. Their team was well drilled and full of energy. Bearing in mind that most of their usual backs were unavailable to play, their replacements all excelled and the passing movements were full of flair and pace. I was impressed by the play of all the players with the debutants showing they are going to push hard for 1st XV places. I was particularly impressed with Rob Hudson who has joined the club from Whitstable. He is set to become a crowd favourite at the New Burlington this season.
Folkestone's next game is another friendly on Saturday against Fellerians at the New Burlington. KO is 3pm. Entertainment is guaranteed.

Squad:
J McMurray, T Page, D Short, A Green, W Massey, R Puddy, J Cox, B Flatman, C Millen, J Palmer, R Hudson, A Randall, W Turner, J Woolford, S Stewart, M Krizanek, J Johnson, J Kopfiva, S Harris, C Petley, S Evans, L Simpson, J Morton, O Walton, O Brooks, B Page, J Webb, S Fell