FRFC 40 Crawley 14

Crawley are yet to win a league match this season and have been at the unfortunate end of some horrendous results. Intelligently, Folkestone coach, Darren Molloy did not make wholesale changes to his squad,resting large chunks of his squad. Because for the first 10 minutes of this match it was all Crawley as they pounded the home try-line but the Stones have shown great defence in recent weeks and they did not allow Crawley to break through.
There were rumours before the match that Crawley had signed some new players who were being paid and the Crawley team I saw at the start of this match were very good. One of their coaches told me that the rumour was not true about paying any mercenaries which, in my opinion is good.Some clubs at this level of rugby have started to wave the cheque book. Good luck to them but what happens when the money runs out! I'm glad that Folkestone continue with developing good players through their junior system. Crawley have signed 5 players from a club in a higher division and this was the first time they had been able to field anything like their best starting team. I was impressed. I'm confident they will soon be climbing up the league table. They had pace all over the pitch and were running good attacking lines. It brought the best out of the home defence.
Eventually Folkestone broke out of their own half and we saw a flashing move from right wing to left wing as the home team showed they, too, had pace. The ball was worked out to Ben Brooks on the left wing and he got close to the line but was stopped by excellent defence. But at least Folkestone had lifted the crowd. The crowd at today’s game was enlarged by Moose Murray’s Family Fun Day which saw lots of youngsters coming along with their parents to enjoy the various attractions Moose had arranged for them. Folkestone has always described itself as a family club and today it really was a family club so a big well done to Moose.
Folkestone’s pack was strong again this week and they led the team into the game with some splendid play at breakdowns with Folkestone scrum half, Simon Harris, in great form as he spun the passes out to his backs. They won a penalty which Richard Lama used to boot his team into the Crawley 22. A fine throw from my Man of the Match, Richard Puddy found JackMcMurray. He padded the ball down to Harris who has always been quick to spot gaps in defence and he streaked through pushing off tackles to score under the posts. Jon Morton converted. 7-0.
In the 28th minute Folkestone repeated the trick but this time it was Chris Petley getting his team on the scoreboard. From another penalty line-out McMurray again found his scrum half, Harris who passed on to Scotty Evans really beginning to enjoy himself in the number 10 shirt. Evans is a very clever rugby player and he set up Petley with a good pass which split the defence and Petley was in. Morton added the conversion. 14-0.
Somehow Folkestone had upped their determination and for the rest of the half play remained in the Crawley half forcing them to defend as the Folkestone backs, with Harris especially on good form, went through their party pieces. Folkestone attacks were coming from everywhere. The next score was a beautiful combination of Richard Lama and Jon Morton. The move started on the right wing with the ball going through the hands to the centre where Lama took it on powering into the 22. He made a superb pass to Jon Morton who was coming in from his full back position to join the line and he accelerated toward the try line before passing to Ben Brooks to go on and score. 19-0.
So with 3 tries under their belt Folkestone changed ends looking for the 4th try and the much needed bonus point. Harris was involved again in the next score. He took a quick tap penalty and passed on to Will Turner who set up Ben Brooks down the left wing. Brooks hit the turbo button to roar past the Crawley defence to score. Morton added another conversion 26-0.
Folkestone’s next try came from stealing the ball at a Crawley line-out. The ball was moved across the pitch from right to left before Chris Petley found Morton again coming from deep to score in the corner. Morton then hit a beautiful conversion from way out on the left wing 33-0.
Crawley got into the game turning Folkestone ball over and sprinting down the pitch past Folkestone players who were all set in attacking positions. I’ve always thought one of the easiest times to score a try is when you turn opposition ball over when they are set to attack. Just sprint 20 yards and you’re in and that’s what happened here. 33-7.
Then the referee, the excellent Mr Packwood, showed the yellow card to 2 Folkestone players in quick succession and with Folkestone down to 13 men Crawley found big gaps in the defence for a second converted try. 33-14.
In the past this is the sort of thing to stress the home support but on this occasion Folkestone supporters stayed calm. With just minutes to go they knew the game was won. But not before another score right at the end, this time for the Stones.This time Jak Cox set up the score for Puddy who powered across the pitch pushing defenders off him until he found the gap he wanted and the popular New Zealander was in for his try. Morton added another conversion. 40-14.
So a good result for Folkestone. Once again there was many Folkestone players performing well. At the back Morton was excellent. He is currently in a rich vein of form. Ben Brooks was always a threat down the wing. Harris had a terrific game driving his pack on and setting up a variety of attacks. All of the home pack played well and continually drove their opponents back by anything up to 20 metres. Puddy is the main man though. He is all over the pitch fighting for the ball and joining in the attack. His try at the death was typical him as he bullied his way to the line showing total determination.
This Folkestone squad gets stronger by the week. They are very determined. In all their games this season they have suffered periods when they were under the cosh but the work together to get out of it and work hard all the way to the end of the 80 minutes.
On Saturday Folkestone have a rest from league rugby when they host Andover in the RFU Senior Vase.