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Sat 10 Dec 2016 · London 3 South East
Eastbourne
1st XV
28
29
Tries: B Stringer, M Gardner (2)Conversions: J Mead, J Morton (2)Penalties: J Morton
Captain Jon Morton kicks a 79th minute penalty to win the game by one point!
Alex Ruddock12 Dec 2016 - 00:00
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Folkestone arrived in Eastbourne only 30 minutes before kick off after the coach had failed to turn up and the players having to cram into cars and then run the gauntlet of heavy Christmas shopping traffic around the south coast towns.
EASTBOURNE 1st XV 28 FOLKESTONE 1st XV 29
10th December 2016. London 3 SE Report By: Alan Schofield
Folkestone arrived in Eastbourne only 30 minutes before kick off after the coach had failed to turn up and the players having to cram into cars and then run the gauntlet of heavy Christmas shopping traffic around the south coast towns.
And much later, with 30 seconds left in the game and in the dusk of a winter’s day with, what looked like a mist rising from the ground below the kicker, Jon Morton took three steps and kicked the ball midway between the posts and the game was won 28 – 29!
Bearing in mind all that had gone before, this was rugby at its most exciting as Folkestone were losing 28 – 7 with 18 minutes remaining against the team directly below them in the league table. But strangely Folkestone, it seemed, were the better side. They had more possession, and looked solid in the forwards and well organised in the backs when attacking. Unfortunately for everything they achieved in these departments they counterbalanced with defensive lapses that were nothing more than embarrassing.
‘Bourne had the advantage of wind and slope as they kicked off but whilst The Stones showed solidarity in the forwards, they were unable to defend when the home team transferred the ball from wing to wing eventually scoring under the posts. 7 – 0, thus earning Folkestone the unenviable record of conceding the first points, and the early lead in every game this season - without exception, all within the first 10 minutes from the kick off.
Lewis Howland was yellow carded for a mid-air tackle which did not help the cause, but the fourteen men responded well with a solid period of ball retention and mistake-free inter-passing. They had territorial advantage, only conceding it to hefty defensive kicks helped by a strong breeze. But inroads were made by Adam Tolman, Michael Gardner and John Eustace until play was firmly within the ‘Bourne 10 metre zone. A strong and consolidated forward move forced Ben Stringer over the line close to the posts and James Mead levelled the score with an easy conversion 7 – 7.
More attacks saw Thomo Murray brought down a metre short and Eastbourne, under regular pressure, gave away a succession of penalty kicks and a yellow card in desperate efforts to resist. Lewis Howland, Jon Morton and Adam Tolman kept the ball in hand well. But The Stones lost 80 metres to a downwind kick and Eastbourne seized the moment, with Folkestone going backwards and the backs in confusion, ran over an all too simple try under the posts just before half time. 14 – 7.
The smallest Folkestone contingent of away supporters ever remembered (i.e. three) plus the invited troughers of Alex Ruddock and Mark Santer anticipated Eastbourne being overcome in the second half by the Folkestone forward power and the wind and the slope. But this was not to be.
Only three minutes into the restart The Stones were pegged back in front of their posts and ran off-side giving away an easy penalty kick and three points … or so they thought, as they paused for breath and a look at the darkening sky - as Eastbourne took a quick tap and strolled through to touch down and score seven points instead of three. 21 – 7.
Will Turner replaced Ross Dempsey who had worked tremendously hard for the team, but this did not prevent Eastbourne winning the ball from a line out in the Folkestone half and, finding little opposition, ran 75 metres with barely a hand being placed on them to extend their lead to 28 – 7 after only 46 minutes of the game. It could have been worse but for James Mead making a desperate tackle on a flying wingman, and Eastbourne missing an easy penalty kick attempt from twenty metres out.
‘Moose’ Murray replaced James Archer in the front row after a performance as solid in defence as it was constructive in attack – and again, the Folkestone XV resumed possession, territory and played the better rugby, but Eastbourne resisted, never afraid to give penalties away – as they frequently did. James Mead hurt his shoulder and Kyle Deakin came on to replace him.
Somehow The Stones shook themselves into realising the score did not reflect the play and started a series of assaults against the now tiring opposition who were not helped by a second yellow card for a foul tackle. In a move involving eight Folkestone players thirty metres were gained before Michael Gardner took a short pass from Adam Tolman and dived over for a try in the 62nd minute that, third choice place kicker, Jon Morton nervously converted. 28 -14.
And immediately from the kick off The Stones worked the ball downfield with impressive teamwork – Will Turner and Billy Crystal in the thick of it - forcing play into the far left corner with Eastbourne in frenzied defence – too frenzied as the referee awarded Folkestone a penalty try for a high tackle on Josh Holt as he went to touch down. Jon Morton converted from in front of the posts and the score was 28 – 21 with 15 minutes remaining as 14 points had come within 5 minutes.
Eastbourne still had a clear lead but were ragged in defence with only 14 men against a rampaging Folkestone XV. Cameron Dallas tested them to the limit with a twenty metre barge. Ben Stringer was imperious and Eastbourne offended yet again – earning a third yellow card. The Folkestone fourth and bonus point try was almost inevitable as Lewis Howland took the ball up to the line and Michael Gardner in close support snapped it up and crossed over. 28 – 26. But more drama was to come as Jon Morton, (could he have been nervous?), missed a good opportunity to equal the scores.
With seconds remaining and Folkestone resuming their domination John Eustace, Michael Gardner and Adam Tolman made a move centre field that had Eastbourne in disarray as they came wildly off-side. Yet another penalty was duly awarded to Folkestone, on the 22 metre line at an angle to the posts when Jon Morton performed his match winning effort. 28-29.
An interesting side note to this adventure was that undertaken by Cribbo who insisted on driving a convoluted route through country lanes to West Sussex taking in no less than 23 pubs where he had previously dined, and losing his way frequently. He is of course well known for these peregrinations which is why, no doubt, Hughsie, Trolley and Glenn all found excuses not to go with him!
Next week – the local derby against Ashford (K.O. 2.00 p.m.) and the Christmas V.P. lunch
Team:- 1. James Archer 2. Jake Ellis 3. Bob Porter; 4. Ben Stringer 5. Cameron Dallas; 6. Joby Crystal 7. Ross Dempsey 8. John Eustace; 9. Lewis Howland 10. Adam Tolman; 11. Josh Holt 12. Michael Gardner 13. Jon Morton 14. Thomo Murray; 15. James Mead
Subs: 16. Martin Murray, 17. Will Turner, 18. Kyle Deakin.
10th December 2016. London 3 SE Report By: Alan Schofield
Folkestone arrived in Eastbourne only 30 minutes before kick off after the coach had failed to turn up and the players having to cram into cars and then run the gauntlet of heavy Christmas shopping traffic around the south coast towns.
And much later, with 30 seconds left in the game and in the dusk of a winter’s day with, what looked like a mist rising from the ground below the kicker, Jon Morton took three steps and kicked the ball midway between the posts and the game was won 28 – 29!
Bearing in mind all that had gone before, this was rugby at its most exciting as Folkestone were losing 28 – 7 with 18 minutes remaining against the team directly below them in the league table. But strangely Folkestone, it seemed, were the better side. They had more possession, and looked solid in the forwards and well organised in the backs when attacking. Unfortunately for everything they achieved in these departments they counterbalanced with defensive lapses that were nothing more than embarrassing.
‘Bourne had the advantage of wind and slope as they kicked off but whilst The Stones showed solidarity in the forwards, they were unable to defend when the home team transferred the ball from wing to wing eventually scoring under the posts. 7 – 0, thus earning Folkestone the unenviable record of conceding the first points, and the early lead in every game this season - without exception, all within the first 10 minutes from the kick off.
Lewis Howland was yellow carded for a mid-air tackle which did not help the cause, but the fourteen men responded well with a solid period of ball retention and mistake-free inter-passing. They had territorial advantage, only conceding it to hefty defensive kicks helped by a strong breeze. But inroads were made by Adam Tolman, Michael Gardner and John Eustace until play was firmly within the ‘Bourne 10 metre zone. A strong and consolidated forward move forced Ben Stringer over the line close to the posts and James Mead levelled the score with an easy conversion 7 – 7.
More attacks saw Thomo Murray brought down a metre short and Eastbourne, under regular pressure, gave away a succession of penalty kicks and a yellow card in desperate efforts to resist. Lewis Howland, Jon Morton and Adam Tolman kept the ball in hand well. But The Stones lost 80 metres to a downwind kick and Eastbourne seized the moment, with Folkestone going backwards and the backs in confusion, ran over an all too simple try under the posts just before half time. 14 – 7.
The smallest Folkestone contingent of away supporters ever remembered (i.e. three) plus the invited troughers of Alex Ruddock and Mark Santer anticipated Eastbourne being overcome in the second half by the Folkestone forward power and the wind and the slope. But this was not to be.
Only three minutes into the restart The Stones were pegged back in front of their posts and ran off-side giving away an easy penalty kick and three points … or so they thought, as they paused for breath and a look at the darkening sky - as Eastbourne took a quick tap and strolled through to touch down and score seven points instead of three. 21 – 7.
Will Turner replaced Ross Dempsey who had worked tremendously hard for the team, but this did not prevent Eastbourne winning the ball from a line out in the Folkestone half and, finding little opposition, ran 75 metres with barely a hand being placed on them to extend their lead to 28 – 7 after only 46 minutes of the game. It could have been worse but for James Mead making a desperate tackle on a flying wingman, and Eastbourne missing an easy penalty kick attempt from twenty metres out.
‘Moose’ Murray replaced James Archer in the front row after a performance as solid in defence as it was constructive in attack – and again, the Folkestone XV resumed possession, territory and played the better rugby, but Eastbourne resisted, never afraid to give penalties away – as they frequently did. James Mead hurt his shoulder and Kyle Deakin came on to replace him.
Somehow The Stones shook themselves into realising the score did not reflect the play and started a series of assaults against the now tiring opposition who were not helped by a second yellow card for a foul tackle. In a move involving eight Folkestone players thirty metres were gained before Michael Gardner took a short pass from Adam Tolman and dived over for a try in the 62nd minute that, third choice place kicker, Jon Morton nervously converted. 28 -14.
And immediately from the kick off The Stones worked the ball downfield with impressive teamwork – Will Turner and Billy Crystal in the thick of it - forcing play into the far left corner with Eastbourne in frenzied defence – too frenzied as the referee awarded Folkestone a penalty try for a high tackle on Josh Holt as he went to touch down. Jon Morton converted from in front of the posts and the score was 28 – 21 with 15 minutes remaining as 14 points had come within 5 minutes.
Eastbourne still had a clear lead but were ragged in defence with only 14 men against a rampaging Folkestone XV. Cameron Dallas tested them to the limit with a twenty metre barge. Ben Stringer was imperious and Eastbourne offended yet again – earning a third yellow card. The Folkestone fourth and bonus point try was almost inevitable as Lewis Howland took the ball up to the line and Michael Gardner in close support snapped it up and crossed over. 28 – 26. But more drama was to come as Jon Morton, (could he have been nervous?), missed a good opportunity to equal the scores.
With seconds remaining and Folkestone resuming their domination John Eustace, Michael Gardner and Adam Tolman made a move centre field that had Eastbourne in disarray as they came wildly off-side. Yet another penalty was duly awarded to Folkestone, on the 22 metre line at an angle to the posts when Jon Morton performed his match winning effort. 28-29.
An interesting side note to this adventure was that undertaken by Cribbo who insisted on driving a convoluted route through country lanes to West Sussex taking in no less than 23 pubs where he had previously dined, and losing his way frequently. He is of course well known for these peregrinations which is why, no doubt, Hughsie, Trolley and Glenn all found excuses not to go with him!
Next week – the local derby against Ashford (K.O. 2.00 p.m.) and the Christmas V.P. lunch
Team:- 1. James Archer 2. Jake Ellis 3. Bob Porter; 4. Ben Stringer 5. Cameron Dallas; 6. Joby Crystal 7. Ross Dempsey 8. John Eustace; 9. Lewis Howland 10. Adam Tolman; 11. Josh Holt 12. Michael Gardner 13. Jon Morton 14. Thomo Murray; 15. James Mead
Subs: 16. Martin Murray, 17. Will Turner, 18. Kyle Deakin.
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