Park House 6 FRFC 55

Folkestone have always found Park House a difficult place to play their rugby. The home side pride themselves on their agricultural rugby bullying visitors into submission. I don’t think Folkestone have ever won a game at Park House and for the first 10 minutes this was running to the traditional pattern as the home team played their confrontational rugby. In the opening minutes the home pack smashed the visiting scrum earning a quick penalty and a 3-0 lead. Folkestone had a large travelling support and there wasn’t many smiling in those opening minutes and it got worse when Park House broke through looking certain to score but the ball carrier, incredibly, ran over the dead ball line allowing Folkestone a 22metre drop out and the score remained at 3-0.
But Jack McMurray then led his pack into the game and suddenly it was Folkestone smashing the home scrum. Folkestone drove up the touchline winning a line-out on the home 22. Will Massey’s throw was perfection as the Stones pack drove for the line in the 25th minute with McMurray peeling off to score. 3-5.
Minutes later and the visiting support were even happier when Richard Lama intercepted a stray Park House pass and passed to Scotty Evans who went over the line unmolested. 3-10.
Everything was now going the way of the visitors. The Stones pack were powering down the pitch and the home team could barely hold them. Chris Petley started the next scoring move with a good pass to Lama who made further ground before unleashing Ben Page down the wing and nobody could catch him. 3-15.
Park House scored a penalty right at the end of the half but already the writing was on the wall as Folkestone led 15-6 at the interval.
It was scorchingly hot on the pitch and both teams enjoyed lots of water during the interval.
Nine minutes into the second half and Folkestone earned the 4 try bonus point with another superb move from another laser-guided throw-in by Massey. This time the ball was passed back to Simon Harris having a great time behind a pack that was very much on the front foot. He passed on to Scotty Evans who timed a perfect delayed pass to Lama in the centre and he scored under the posts. Jon Morton added the conversions. 6-22.
Park House didn’t see much of the ball for the next 20 minutes as Folkestone stepped on the throttle. Page scored his second try after a sweeping left to right move involving Harris, Evans and Lama before the ball going to Page on the wing and his pace took him over the line. 6-27.
Minutes later and Ben Brooks got on the scorecard. Harris and Evans were involved in this one too with Richard Puddy crashing through on the dummy pass which then allowed Evans to set up Brooks on the hour. Morton who had a shaky start playing out of position at full back before, once again, putting in a strong performance, added the conversion. 6-34.
A brief exchange of handbags saw the referee, the excellent Mr Plews, send off a home player, I think, for making one comment too many. Coach, Darren Molloy tinkered with his team at this point substituting Evans, who Is just back from injury and had a tremendous match, bringing on supporter’s favourite, Jack Cox, at scrum half and moving Harris to fly half. It was a seamless change as Cox took the ball out of a Folkestone scrum finding Harris and he joined in the fun scoring under the posts. Morton added the bonus. 6-41.
To make things even more difficult for themselves the home team went down to 13 players when one of their forwards was yellow carded for forgetting to use his arms in the tackle. In the 77th minute Ben Brooks broke out of his 22 kicking the ball up the field. He won the race, passing the ball to Cox who set up Lama for another try. Morton added another conversion. 6-48.
The rout wasn’t finished as Jon Morton, with great vision, launched a crossfield kick perfectly to Page who scored his 3rd try of the afternoon. Morton added the conversion. 6-55.
Assistant coach, Steve Milward, later described it as one of the best performances by any Folkestone team. They ripped the home team to shreds time after time. Including 3 preseason friendly wins Folkestone have now won 7 matches on the bounce. The chemistry and the morale in the team is very impressive. The players are benefitting from the skills of the coaches, Molloy, Milward and Tom Johnson. Ben Page has become a lethal finisher and is enjoying the one to one coaching he is getting from Johnson, who was also a lethal finisher before injury ended his time on the pitch.
Once again there was a lot of players in the short list for Stones Man of the Match. The entire pack played with power and determination. McMurray dominated the lineout with his second row partner, Ben Flatman. Despite Page scoring 3 tries, Lama leading from the front and Harris and Evans turning it on in midfield I’m going for back row, Rob Hudson. This young man has excelled in every game. He is full of energy and power always going forward and always there wherever he is needed.
Unfortunately the ref missed one of the Folkestone tries but the club will appeal about that. It may not be successful but nothing tried, nothing gained. Today’s results see Crowborough and Folkestone at the top of the league. Both teams have won their 4 matches and have earned 3 bonus points.
On Saturday Folkestone take on Crawley who have yet to win a match. So you’d think Folkestone will be chasing a bonus point win. But if you’ve followed this team through the last few seasons you’d know life isn’t that simple. Come along and roar them on. They are providing great entertainment.

Other London 3SE results today:

Crawley 6 Crowborough 66
Eastbourne 10 Bromley 26
Maidstone 27 Medway 25
Sheppey 27 Ashford 26
Uckfield 13 Horsham 10

Crowborough and Folkestone are top of the league each on 19 points. Crowborough have a much better Points Difference. Next come Uckfield and Horsham each on 15 points then Bromley on 13 points, Sheppey on 12 and Medway on 11. Maidstone and Park House are on 5 each, Ashford on 4 while Eastbourne and Crawley have yet to earn any points.

Next Saturday's matches are:

Ashford v Maidstone
Bromley v Uckfield
Crowborough v Eastbourne
Folkestone v Crawley
Horsham v Sheppey
Medway v Park House

Go to http://www.rfulondon.com/ for full details.