Folkestone celebrated Christmas with yet another convincing win over Ashford.

FOLKESTONE 1st XV 37 ASHFORD 1st XV 19
Saturday17th December 2016 London 3SE Report by Alan Schofield

In front of the largest crowd of the season, on a perfect day for rugby and on a near perfect playing surface, Folkestone celebrated Christmas with yet another convincing win over Ashford.
But whilst Folkestone have an excellent average score of 32 points per game they are guilty of giving tries away, usually from their own mistakes, and thus they have an unenviable record of 24 points being scored against them.
The portents were good for the home side as in three minutes Adam Tolman had dodged past three defenders and touched down under the posts for Seyhan Fell to convert and 7 – 0 lead. (This was a significant moment for Folkestone as it was the first time this season they had scored the first points in a league game!) And with The Stones pressing hard they continued to dominate possession and territory electing to take a 5 metre scrum from a penalty awarded for an Ashford offside. James Mead took up the ball, ran round his pack and swung a long pass out to Thomo Murray, on the right wing, to score in the corner. 12 – 0.
Ashford were holding their own in the scrums and won a succession of penalties against a vigorous Folkestone front row to the wrath of many Folkestone supporters who saw the blind side of scrum and the dark arts being performed by the visitors. Taking full advantage they pushed Folkestone back onto their own line where they resisted a series of robust Ashford attempts to score but eventually the opposing scrum half changed direction and squirted through a hitherto solid defence to score. 12 – 7.
Steve Doughty, with a twenty metre charge and then Mike Gardner and Jon Morton took play again into the Ashford 10 metre zone, but again Folkestone were penalised in possession. Adam Tolman recovered the situation with a well-directed kick and Ashford earned a referee’s warning for their nefarious tactics. Ignoring an easy three points, Folkestone took a scrum and lost the ball and conceded yet another three penalties in this now disjointed game. But they defended well and John Eustace set off downfield, making 30 metres before Ashford knocked on. The Stones front row won the scrum easily and James Mead, again running round his scrum, gave a quick pass to a fast running Adam Tolman who beat all his opponents in a 30 metre sprint to the line. Seyhan Fell easily converted and the score went up to 19 – 7 and was easily held as such until half time although James Mead could have had a try if he had been able to get the ball onto the ground.
Jona Manu came on for Billy Crystal and James Lunnun replaced Thommo Murray (with an injured shoulder) shortly after the resumption. Josh Holt was held just short after Adam Tolman had put a ball into the clear area, but again the referee found fault and added to the ever growing number of penalties that disrupted the game. But the Ashford captain was yellow carded for dissent and Seyhan Fell rubbed salt into the wound by kicking a penalty from 35 metres. 22 – 7.
From the kick off Jon Eustace made another of his charging runs, but this time making fully 40 metres knocking players out of his way and earning an impassioned cheer from the large crowd. And this put Ashford, going backwards in the face of some very lively Folkestone forwards, into desperate defence – but the power of eight forwards against seven was too much and Jona Manu scored his third try for his new Club with a final powerful drive through to the line. 27 – 7.
Then a rare moment in rugby as a red card was shown to the Ashford captain for a second yellow card offence of haranguing the referee over his decisions. This is very ill advisable and whilst common in football – will never be tolerated in rugby. Folkestone now cut loose with Jona Manu and John Eustace powering through with Mike Gardner in support throwing the ball out to Seyhan Fell to touch down on the right wing. 32 – 7.
But to the surprise of everybody, the quick and opportunistic Ashford scrum half darted through, after a quick penalty and caught Folkestone napping as he dived over between the posts. 32 – 14.
But any hopes of a comeback were crunched for Ashford as they were reduced to 13 men with another yellow card, doubly penalised, when James Mead ran right, into space and scored Folkestone’s fifth try. 37 – 14. But minutes later - carelessly, again - they allowed a move to the right to go unchecked and some good inter-passing brought a try for Ashford in the final minutes of the game. 37 -19.
It is not my custom to promote Man of the Match, but exceptionally, today, I have to award this to John Eustace who was, from the back row of the scrum, irresistible in attack and massive in defence from the first to the final whistle.
Team:- Mat Roots, Steve Doughty, Bob Porter; Ollie Forbes, Cameron Dallas, Joby Crystal, Jake Ellis, John Eustace, James Mead, Adam Tolman; Josh Holt, Michael Gardner, Jon Morton(Capt.), Thomo Murray; Seyhan Fell.
Subs:- James Archer, Jona Manu, James Lunnun.
Scorers:- Adam Tolman 5, 5; Seyhan Fell 2, 2, 3, 5; Thomo Murray 5; Jona Manu 5; James Mead 5.