Eastbourne 17 Folkestone 52

I’m sure readers with longer memories than me will agree that Folkestone have never travelled well so it is one of the many improvements in standards made by coach Darren Molloy and his assistants , Steve Milward, Tom Johnson and Leigh Fitchie that Folkestone do now play well away from their New Burlington stronghold. This was their second consecutive away victory when they have scored over 50 points. Last season Eastbourne comprehensively beat the Stones home and away. Today they were thrashed and if it wasn’t for their 2 try scorers showing real spirit in scoring individual tries it would have been a humiliation.
From an excellent Jon Morton kick off Folkestone charged up the pitch and went ahead in the second minute with a Seyhan Fell penalty. 0-3.
They increased the score eight minutes later after scrum half, Simon Harris took the ball from a home line-out and charged 20 metres up the pitch before handing off to Michal Krizanek who found Richard Lama crashing through to score. Fell added the conversion. 0-10.
Harris was involved in the next score after Folkestone won a scrum against the head in the home 22. He darted for the line but was held up. The ball was reset and just as I was about to criticise what looked like a complete mess of trying to score a try when the ball was kicked away by a home defender up stepped Fell to serenely glide through the home defence to touch down under the posts. He then added the conversion. 0-17.
In the 31st minute superb pressure from Ben Page forced Eastbourne into conceding a scrum on their 5 metre line. Jake Johnson took the ball from the back of the scrum and nobody could stop him as he went over for the third try. I’ll let you guess if Fell added the conversion. 0-24.
Just before the interval Johnson was in again from the back of another Folkestone scrum against the head. Yes Fell added this conversion too. 0-31.
So the 4 try bonus point was secured before the interval. Then came an excellent solo try for Eastbourne but the Folkestone tackling was woeful. 7-31. Folkestone’s only problem appears to be their defence. I’ve seen them defend their try line like lions this season but they seem unable to stop any individual ball carrier who knows how to swerve. Of course it could simply be that they knew they had this game in their pockets but that is a dangerous attitude. If Folkestone are going to be in the hunt for silverware this season they need to sort their defensive line. Eastbourne’s two tries were splendid individual efforts but the big dog legs in the Folkestone defensive line almost eased the scorers in.
In the second half Eastbourne came out aggressively and they scored with an early penalty. 10-31.
Normal service, though, was quickly resumed as the Folkestone pack stormed up the field. In the 22 Rob Hudson carried the ball well before handing off to Johnson who fed Mat Roots to score a prop’s try involving a 3 metre trot before “falling” over the line. I was going to use the words, “spectacularly dived” but the Folkestone travelling support forced my hand. Sorry Mat. Up stepped Fell to maintain his 100% record with a fine kick from the touchline into the swirling wind. 10-38.
In the 55th minute Ben Brooks found himself thundering down the left wing into the home 22. As he was being tackled he passed the ball on to Hudson who advanced toward the line before unselfishly passing to Jack McMurray to score. Fell added his seventh successful kick. 10-45.
The final Stones try was scored by Jak Cox, the hooker turned scrum half. He took the ball from the back of a scrum and saw that he had plenty options either side but he also saw the big hole in the defence and he was in to score. Yet again Fell landed a beautiful kick from the touchline. 10-52.
Then came the traditional consolation try but it was a good one with the home full back going through the Stones defence easily for a converted try. 17-52.
A word for the referee, Mr Pullen. A man I have not always seen eye to eye with! But today he controlled the match very well and allowed the players to play as often as possible.
Man of the Match? As usual Fell’s kicking was superb. The wind was not helpful but his kicking could have been guided by laser it was so good. He also scored a lovely try in the first half. But for me it was Jake Johnson. He made huge yardage carrying the ball and when he wasn’t carrying he was always in support. He spearheaded the pack who as a unit had a superb game. It’s good to see Mat Roots back in love with the game. He together with Alex Green and Richard Puddy in the front row controlled the scrum making sure that Harris got good service.
So six games and six wins for the Stones. They and Crowborough are at the top of the league with ‘Boro in pole position with a better points difference. Folkestone, though, are sticking with them. Remember too that the Folkestone sickbay is packed but coach Molloy will soon have players of the calibre of Drew Woolford and Adam Tolman back in the mix. They have been Folkestone’s top try scorers for the past two seasons. Unfortunately Charlie Williams picked up a nasty rib injury today which is a loss. Since joining from Ashford last season he has been just fantastic. Ashford must be kicking themselves at losing such a high quality player. On the plus side in the pack David Baxter , Ben Flatman and Will Massey all hope to be back on the pitch by December. So Molloy and his coaches will soon have the enviable difficulty of deciding who doesn’t get a shirt.
Many Stones supporters are wondering if this is the year they win proxxxxxx. No I’m not going to discuss it. Yet.