Folkestone lose again to Thanet, this time in the League

Folkestone 1st XV 14 Thanet Wanderers 1st XV 31
Saturday 24th September. London 3 SE Report by Steve Hughes

My good friend Scuffers has temporarily relinquished his position of Chief Scribe to Folkestone RFC while he hunts for a new quill...and has therefore delegated the responsibility to me to report on this match.
Folkestone met Thanet in the first match of the season, which was a Shepherd Neame Kent Shield game played at Thanet. Folkestone were without eight of their first team players which resulted in them coming second....
Therefore the boys were looking to this game to extract revenge, but their optimism was quenched in the first ten minutes when Thanet kicked a penalty in front of the posts and then ran in an easily converted try to give them a ten points lead. 0-10.
It was a strange game as Folkestone must have had 80-20 of the territorial advantage but could not transfer that advantage into points.
They were all at sea in the first quarter but may be excused that due to the team having changed considerably since its selection on Thursday night. They were without Seyhan Fell (their points kicking machine) and Adam Tolman in the three quarters and Chris Petley, Jiggles Ellis and Sam Beech in the Pack.
Once they had settled down they gave as good as they got and only quality defending by Thanet kept them from scoring.
John Eustace took the ball out of a loose maul in the Thanet red area, fed Jona Manu (the new Fijian Centre for Jon Morton to put Josh Holt away only for him to be dragged down in the corner.
In one of their rare sorties into home territory Thanet scored again near the posts after sustaining substantial pressure on the Folkestone linen and the conversion gave them a 17 point lead.Half time score 0-17.
Thanet increased their score when a scrum developed into a loose maul near the Folkestone line for the referee to signal a try under a pile of bodies. Another successful conversion made the score 0-24 and Folkestone looked under the cosh. Jon Morton as Captain, rallied his troops and again increased the territorial advantage with strong running by Stephen Morgan and Jona Manu. Folkestone were holding their own in the scrums but lost out in the line outs and it was a puzzle to see them kick for touch from penalties rather than tap and go or apply the 'up and under'.
Doug Wood replaced Jack Cox on the wing and James Archer replaced Kieran Smith.
Thanet went further ahead and secured a bonus point when from a loose maul on the home line the ball was fed to the visiting centre who sliced through the Folkestone defence to score near the posts for an easy conversion. 0-31. Thanet were attacking from their own 22 area when Josh Holt intercepted to use his speed to score under the posts for Morton to convert and Folkestone were back in the game 7-31. Daniel Woolford, his first game for the 1st XV for some time, replaced James Lunnun (who has a prolific left boot and gained large areas of ground for Folkestone) at outside half and his first touch of the ball resulted in a try. Thanet kicked out of defence for Daniel Woolford to field it and promptly kick ahead to see the ball bounce kindly for Jona Manu who was following up and sprinted in under the posts for Jon Morton again to convert. 14-31.
There were no further tries but the game continued in its intensity but time was not on Folkestone's side and conceded defeat to a well-balanced and well drilled side.
Players of note were John Eustace, now settling in to his new position of No.8, Will Melia as tigerish as ever and Ben Stringer and Mike Gardner helping out with the heavy work. The three quarter line has both speed and commitment and a steadying influence in Jon Morton as Captain.

Team: Jon Morton; Jack Cox, Stephen Morgan, Jona Manu, Josh Holt; James Lunnun, James Mead; Mat Roots, Steve Doughty, Thomas Snare; Ben Stringer, Kieran Smith; Will Melia, Michael Gardner, John Eustace.
Subs: James Archer, Daniel Woolford, Doug Wood.
Scorers: Josh Holt 5; Jon Morton 2, 2; Jona Manu 5.