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Sat 29 Oct 2011 · London 3 South East
1st XVUckfield
Tries: J Morton (2)Conversions: S Fell (3)
21
5
FRFC 21 Uckfield 5
Phil Cooper29 Oct 2011 - 18:43
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Stones miss out on the bonus point
Me and my big mouth! Since joining the club at the start of last season Darren Molloy and his coaching team have changed the mindset of the players and the team is playing better rugby than ever before. So after last week’s big win at Eastbourne and the previous 5 wins I go and mention the dreaded prxxxxion word and today Folkestone supporters endure the worst 40 minutes of rugby seen at the New Burlington in many a season. The home team looked nervous and tense from the start. It was truly awful with Folkestone players aimlessly kicking the ball and possession away. When Folkestone secured possession the passing was woeful so it was no surprise when Uckfield easily caught another silly Folkestone kick on the halfway line and went ahead with a good try after setting up a goo0d overlap. 0-5.
Even the home pack who have been destroying the opposition in previous matches were struggling as the visiting pack took charge and set up good attacking situations for their backs who were attacking the wings with good overlaps. A better team would have scored at least 3 tries in the opening 40 minutes. But eventually the home forwards led by Jack McMurray found a bit of form. They were not at their best but it was enough to turn the game round and Folkestone finally got moving. In the 15th minute the ball found it’s way to Jon Morton who raced to the line. Seeing that he was being lined up for a tackle he unselfishly found his skipper, Richard Lama, with a great pass. Lama’s run and timing was perfect and the visiting defence had no chance of stopping him as he crossed under the posts. Seyhan Fell added the conversion continuing his fantastic run of successful kicks. 7-5.
Folkestone were gradually getting on top but Uckfield’s speedy backs allied with great support play always looked dangerous. Folkestone huffed and puffed at Uckfield’s line but couldn’t breach it because of a combination of super Uckfield defence and sloppy play by the Stones. This sloppiness got worse in the second half when the home team threw away several try scoring chances. But eventually they found a way through the Uckfield defence when Simon Harris took a quick tap penalty feeding it to Lama who powered up the pitch before finding Jon Morton to score. Fell added the conversion. 14-5.
A word about Jon Morton. 2 or 3 seasons ago he was, at best, a 1st XV squad member. He has always had the potential but never the confidence. Deservedly he won the Most Improved Player trophy last season and he has continued that rich form into this season playing some great attacking rugby and tackling superbly.
At the start of this game Folkestone was level on points with Crowborough at the top of the league and home supporters and players knew they had to win this game and earn the 4 try bonus point to stay level. It puts the team under pressure and they are going to have to live with it if they are to find success.
Folkestone’s third try was a beauty. The move started out on the right wing with the ball passed along the line to the left where Fell joined the line from his full back position which gave the home team an overlap and Morton finished the move off in the corner. Fell has always been a very good kicker. This season he has been phenomenal. This latest conversion was way out on the left wing but he struck it beautifully. 21-5.
Now the hunt for the 4th try was on and for the rest of the game the home team were well on top although once again Uckfield looked dangerous with ball in hand and to be honest, although Folkestone attacked the Uckfield line they never really looked like scoring
Crowborough earned a 4 try bonus point win today so with this result Folkestone slip 1 point behind them in the league. Man of the Match for Folkestone was not a difficult call today. Lama, Fell, Will Turner, Richard Puddy and Simon Harris all performed well but I give it to the ever popular Jack McMurray. He led his pack out of the rut and was all over the pitch supporting, ball carrying and getting stuck in. In the line-out he was unbeatable and also managed to steal quite a few Uckfield line-outs.
On Saturday Folkestone have a rest from league duties when they travel to play Old Alleynians in the RFU Senior Vase 2nd Round.
Even the home pack who have been destroying the opposition in previous matches were struggling as the visiting pack took charge and set up good attacking situations for their backs who were attacking the wings with good overlaps. A better team would have scored at least 3 tries in the opening 40 minutes. But eventually the home forwards led by Jack McMurray found a bit of form. They were not at their best but it was enough to turn the game round and Folkestone finally got moving. In the 15th minute the ball found it’s way to Jon Morton who raced to the line. Seeing that he was being lined up for a tackle he unselfishly found his skipper, Richard Lama, with a great pass. Lama’s run and timing was perfect and the visiting defence had no chance of stopping him as he crossed under the posts. Seyhan Fell added the conversion continuing his fantastic run of successful kicks. 7-5.
Folkestone were gradually getting on top but Uckfield’s speedy backs allied with great support play always looked dangerous. Folkestone huffed and puffed at Uckfield’s line but couldn’t breach it because of a combination of super Uckfield defence and sloppy play by the Stones. This sloppiness got worse in the second half when the home team threw away several try scoring chances. But eventually they found a way through the Uckfield defence when Simon Harris took a quick tap penalty feeding it to Lama who powered up the pitch before finding Jon Morton to score. Fell added the conversion. 14-5.
A word about Jon Morton. 2 or 3 seasons ago he was, at best, a 1st XV squad member. He has always had the potential but never the confidence. Deservedly he won the Most Improved Player trophy last season and he has continued that rich form into this season playing some great attacking rugby and tackling superbly.
At the start of this game Folkestone was level on points with Crowborough at the top of the league and home supporters and players knew they had to win this game and earn the 4 try bonus point to stay level. It puts the team under pressure and they are going to have to live with it if they are to find success.
Folkestone’s third try was a beauty. The move started out on the right wing with the ball passed along the line to the left where Fell joined the line from his full back position which gave the home team an overlap and Morton finished the move off in the corner. Fell has always been a very good kicker. This season he has been phenomenal. This latest conversion was way out on the left wing but he struck it beautifully. 21-5.
Now the hunt for the 4th try was on and for the rest of the game the home team were well on top although once again Uckfield looked dangerous with ball in hand and to be honest, although Folkestone attacked the Uckfield line they never really looked like scoring
Crowborough earned a 4 try bonus point win today so with this result Folkestone slip 1 point behind them in the league. Man of the Match for Folkestone was not a difficult call today. Lama, Fell, Will Turner, Richard Puddy and Simon Harris all performed well but I give it to the ever popular Jack McMurray. He led his pack out of the rut and was all over the pitch supporting, ball carrying and getting stuck in. In the line-out he was unbeatable and also managed to steal quite a few Uckfield line-outs.
On Saturday Folkestone have a rest from league duties when they travel to play Old Alleynians in the RFU Senior Vase 2nd Round.
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