Folkestone 1st XV prevailed in the end with exciting running rugby.

Park House 1st XV 17 Folkestone 1st XV 41

8th October 2016. London 3SE Report by Steve Hughes.

After last week’s game against Sheppey when very little went right, the few hardy spectators that travelled to Bromley, were worried that they might experience the same problems. Park House have always been renowned for a heavyweight pack and were not short in the beef steaks (sorry beef stakes) for this match.
Folkestone struggled to maintain any parity in the set scrums but from what ball they managed to gain made better use of it than the home side. Park House kicked a penalty into the corner on the Folkestone 5 metre line from which they gathered, formed a maul and drove the lighter opposition over for an unconverted try. 5 - 0. This was to be the major ploy for Park House throughout the game and gained all three of their tries from it.
The game was exciting and entertaining with both sides throwing the ball around at every opportunity and it was from this tactic that Folkestone proved the more consistent performers. Bearing in mind that Folkestone were being outplayed in the set scrums and the line outs they proved to be the better all round side on the day.
They benefitted from putting fewer players into the rucks and mauls enabling them to spread more bodies into the defensive line and it worked a treat. Park House could not break down the visitors defence however hard they tried and continually played the ball into touch in the Folkestone Red Zone, hoping to win the line out and to drive over the line for a try.
Captain Jon Morton took over the kicking duties and opened the score with one penalty and hitting the posts with another. 5 - 3. Another well worked score from a scrambled scrum saw John Eustace pick out the ball and feed right. This went across the back line to find James Mead joining in from full back and putting Adam Tolman over in the corner. Jon Morton converted 5 - 10.
Folkestone were playing downhill but decided not to use this advantage by kicking but kept moving the ball along the line as often as possible.
James Mead pulled a muscle and was replaced by Jeremie Cowell. Tackling a home player on the left touch line, Folkestone managed to secure the ball and saw it flow through the hands of six players to send Jeremie Cowell up the right wing and into the corner for an unconverted try. 5 - 15 at half time.
Playing up hill made no difference to the method of play that Folkestone had adopted and the forwards were handling like three-quarters, particularly Jordan Godden, John Eustace and Will Melia.
Folkestone were awarded a scrum on the half way line and John Eustace started another move which sped along the line to see Jeremie Cowell put Thomo Murray over in the corner. No conversion. 5 - 20.
Adam Tolman then scored a brilliant individual try (adding the bonus point for 4 tries) when he burst from the base of the scrum, to avoid the flanker and put on the after burners to get around the full back. Jon Morton added the extra two points. 5 - 27.
Folkestone were now full of confidence and focused on moving the ball away from the heavier home pack which was obviously paying dividends. Will Melia was given a yellow card on his own line and from the resulting scrum Park House trundled over for a converted try. 12 - 27.
Folkestone were now enjoying a better time in the scrums but picked up another yellow when Jordan Godden was sidelined. This meant a shuffle so Sam Beech had come off for Bob Porter to prop up the scrum and Adam Fullerton also joined the pack.
Another catch and drive by Park House on the Folkestone line gave them another unconverted try 17 - 27 but for the last ten minutes were not in the game and Folkestone dominated all the loose play.
Will Melia (back on) broke away from the maul on the 22 metre line to barge through the defence to score and Jon Morton to convert 17 - 34.
Folkestone then broke from the back of a scrum to the right for Lewis Howland to score wide out which Jon Morton converted making the final score 17 - 41.
My Man of the Match was Adam Tolman for his vision and ability to see the weaknesses ahead of him. The pack were magnificent in the loose despite being outweighed and out jumped. The Folkestone three-quarters warmed the cockles of the spectators hearts in a display of handling ability which was not expected after last week’s game against Sheppey.

Team: Martin Murray, Steve Doughty, Will Melia; Kieran Smith, Cameron Dallas; Sam Beech, Jordan Godden, John Eustace; Adam Tolman, James Lunnun; Lewis Howland, Stephen Morgan, Jon Morton (Capt.), Thomo Murray; James Mead.
Subs: Bob Porter, Jeremie Cowell, Adam Fullerton.
Scorers: Jon Morton 3, 2, 2, 2, 2; Adam Tolman 5, 5; Thomo Murray 5; Jeremie Cowell 5; Will Melia 5; Lewis Howland 5.