Folkestone come from behind in the first half and post a spectacular win.

FOLKESTONE 36 pts. v LEWES 10 pts
Saturday 22nd October 2016 London 3SE Report from Alan Schofield
Entertaining rugby is the keyword of Folkestone RFC and before this game they had run in more points this season than any other team apart from the strong Thanet set up. But their defence, so far, has been a little leaky.
And today, for the fifth time in six games, Folkestone let in a very early try, after 2 minutes, by careless defending. 0-5. Lewes were buoyed by this early success and so they remained for 80% of the first half. But time after time the home side threw themselves into a massive defensive effort to resist what looked like a very strong and high-calibre team. Play barely went out of the Folkestone half for the first 40 minutes as Lewes threw in attack after attack. So confident were they that twice they elected to take scrums instead of penalty kicks directly under the posts – and twice they were denied their try by superb tackling. Even when John Eustace was yellow carded for a tackle that slipped higher than was acceptable, Lewes could not penetrate what must have seemed like a brick wall to them.
Seyhan Fell created a little bit of relief when he slotted a long range penalty, but this was quickly trumped when the visitors put together a massed attack on the home line and eventually managed to roll a maul and touch down for a second try. 3-10. And the barrage continued with the home spectators relieved that Lewes were at least being contained with only 10 points on the scoreboard.
But in the minutes before the half-time break there was a hint of a little glimmer of hope as the forwards won a couple of loose scrums, Sam Beech nicked a ball from the line out and Jon Morton and Thomo Murray were both denied by mistakes as Folkestone mounted a brief counter attack. Half Time 3-10.
After the break and playing against the wind The Stones resumed at 3 – 10 down and immediately turned the game upside down. It was attack from the restart whistle with Will Melia, Keiran Smith and Ben Stringer all making ground before releasing the ball to Adam Tolman who fed long and spinning passes from scrum half to Jon Morton and Steve Morgan. Well placed kicks from Seyhan Fell and Jon Morton turned the visitors, who were unable to regain the lost territory with the Folkestone forwards rampant in following up. Ross Dempsey replaced Ben Stringer and immediately made his presence felt by wrestling the ball away and bringing the strong running Jona Manu into attack instead of defence.
Tom Snare and Jona Manu linked again to put The Stones firmly into the opponents 22 metre zone and from a scrum Jordan Godden won the ball, passed to Adam Tolman who made to throw his usual long pass out to Jon Morton – but completely wrong footed the whole of the front 10 defending players when he did not release the pass, but cut back to the left, found a gap and ran through to score under the posts. 8-10. This was a superb individual effort that brought a tremendous cheer from the home crowd. Seyhan Fell duly converted and the score was level at 10 – 10.
The self-belief in the Folkestone team was palpable after they had gone through the attrition of the first half and all 15 players were now visibly up for a win that had seemed so unlikely. The forwards won ball after ball and backs moved and passed with confidence. But Lewes are a good team and they also were far from defeated. Seyhan Fell had a strong run down the left but was tackled short of the line, but he kept the ball in play with Jona Manu taking it up, with Tom Snare on his shoulder – a short fast pass put Tom Snare away and with his strength and speed could not be stopped and another try was scored. 15-10. Seyhan Fell increased the lead to 17 – 10 with an easy conversion.
The whole game had changed at this point. Folkestone were rampant and suddenly Lewes seemed to lose their confidence. Veteran Bob Porter having replaced the injured Steve Doughty in the front row was in the thick of the action, but it was Sam Beech, Jordan Godden and Jon Eustace, who controlled the back of the scrums and mauls. Steve Morgan showed his power in the centre when he went on a 40 metre power run dragging two tacklers with him for the last 10 metres. Lewes were being run ragged but instead of slowing the game down, they showed either determination or rashness when they ran the ball out from their own line - but not far, as the full back was seized by Will Melia and Thomas Snare. The Stones put a foot in touch on the counter attack that gave Lewes a line out but only 10 metres out. Sam Beech snatched the ball in the air and quickly fed Adam Tolman who put his head down and simply charged through a full defensive wall to score his second try. 22-10. Again Seyhan Fell added the extra point. 24 – 10.
Lewes were completely beaten only two minutes later when Jona Manu took the ball at speed, 40 metres out, after a series of fast accurate passes, - and he brushed through despairing tackle attempts to make the bonus point fourth try, again converted by Seyhan Fell. 31-10.
From the restart The Stones forwards won quick possession twice with Adam Tolman, throwing the ball left and right – with fast accurate passing – and confusing the opposition. It all finished with a brilliant forwards and three-quarters move with the ball passing through at least eight pairs of hands before ‘Thomo’ Murray finished it off with a quick side step and run through to score the fifth try for the home team. 36 – 10.
This outstanding win by a whole team effort put Folkestone into third position in the table – only a point behind Thanet. Next week, the long trip to Haywards Heath, but after two very impressive performances coach Leigh Fitchie will be taking an intrepid team on the coach with him.
Team: Seyhan Fell; Thomo Murray, Jona Manu, Stephen Morgan, Josh Holt; Jon Morton (Capt.), Adam Tolman; Thomas Snare, Will Melia, Steve Doughty; Kieran Smith, Ben Stringer; Sam Beech, Jordan Godden, John Eustace.
Subs: Bob Porter, Cameron Dallas, Ross Dempsey.
Scorers: Seyhan Fell 3, 2, 2, 2, 2; Adam Tolman 5, 5; Thomas Snare 5; Jona Manu 5; Thomo Murray 5.