FRFC 28 Sheppey 23

After last week’s defeat, their only defeat of the season Folkestone had to bounce back and win today. And not just a win, they had to earn a bonus point by scoring 4 tries. The fact that they did it is testament to this team’s determination and commitment because, in the first half especially Sheppey showed they were up for a physical challenge. The difference in confidence in each team was apparent from the start. Sheppey had amassed 91 points in their previous game while Folkestone left Crowborough defeated and also confused by many of the refereeing decisions which went against them,
The first few minutes was end to end stuff so the home support roared their delight when Richard Lama and Seyhan Fell broke out of their 22 sprinting down the right wing for Fell to open the score. He added the conversion. 7-0.
Sheppey came straight back at the home team moving the ball to the left wing and they got themselves on the scoreboard. 7-5.
Sheppey took the lead after a powerful scrum saw them over the line for a converted try. 7-12.
The next score came at the end of the half and it was worth the wait. Folkestone had a line-out on the Sheppey 22. The ball went from Simon Harris to Scotty Evans. He then had the Sheppey defence and most of the spectators looking for the ball which Evans had apparently just offloaded and then suddenly Ben Brooks appeared from nowhere to take the ball from Evans cutting a line through the visiting defence and over the line. It was 15 seconds of pure magic and one of the simplest and best tries I’ve seen anywhere. Fell added the cponversion for a half time score of 14-12.
To be fair to Sheppey they looked the better team in the first half and right at the start of the second half they took the lead. 14-17.
In previous seasons Folkestone would have fallen to pieces in this sort of situation but coach Darren Molloy and his assistants, Steve Milward, Leigh Fitchie and Tom Johnson have built determination into this squad and they now do not give up. Folkestone took the lead with a bit of individual magic and also that new determination. Seyhan Fell picked up the ball inside his own 22. He moved up the wing and then kicked the ball forward into the Sheppey 22. The Sheppey defender looked to have the situation under control but Fell had not given it up and he chased and chased at pace. And to make matters worse for the Sheppey defender Jack McMurray was also coming toward him at speed. It was enough to unsettle the defender and somehow Fell got to the ball to score. It was the sort of try which some people may describe as lucky but Fell made his own luck and hurtled up the wing showing total determination. It was brilliant. Of course he iced the cake with a fine conversion. 21-17.
Sheppey also showed their determination with a penalty which made the score 21-20. Which meant that the next try would earn a bonus point, and with just minutes to go, probably the victory. It went to Folkestone after another bit of magic from Evans who, this time, set up Jon Morton to score. Fell added his 4th conversion for a 28-20 lead.
Sheppey came back and reduced the deficit with the last kick of the game, a penalty. 28-23.
Man of the Match? Reading this report you might think it should go to either Fell or Evans who were superb but for me Evans’ New Zealand compatriot, Richard Puddy, had another terrific game. Playing on the flank he put in tackle after tackle not taking a backward step and also making good yardage carrying the ball forward putting the Sheppey defence on the back foot. And a word, too, for David Baxter. This was his last game and the support was willing him to score and he so nearly did in the move which lead to Folkestone’s final try. He drove for the line and was just inches short for what would have been an emotional score but instead he set the ball perfectly for his team to keep on attacking. The big forward has suffered from horrendous injuries for many many seasons and has always battled his way back into the squad. He will be a sad loss to the squad and I certainly hope that after a decent rest he gives it another go. He has been a terrific player for his club.
Sheppey have been promoted into this division from the Kent division. In previous seasons the promoted teams have gone straight back down but Sheppey andn Ashford who were also promoted have done enough already to stay up and they have both earned some good victories. On Saturday Ashford come to the New Burlington looking for revenge for their 1 point defeat at the start of the season.
So at the halfway point of the season Folkestone are in second place in the league. It’s their best start for many years and they’ve played some great rugby. Two of their scores today were worthy of a much higher league. The whole team have worked hard in Training and they fully deserve their lofty position.
At the start of today’s match Folkestone were 7 points behind Crowborough in the league but Medway’s 16-13 victory over the leaders, Crowborough leaves the Stones 3 points behind Crowborough and 2 points ahead of third placed Medway. So this fight is a 3 way battle with Crowborough, Folkestone and Medway looking for every point they can get. Maidstone are in 4th place but 14 points behind Medway. Stand by for more twists and turns in the second half of the season. As Folkestone chairman, Andy Dagger said after the game, “it’s going to be an interesting second half of the season.”

Squad:
R Lama, M Murray, W Massey, P Hodges, M Roots, T Naylor, D Baxter, J McMurray, R Puddy, R Hudson, M Gardner, S Harris, J Kopriva, S Evans, B Brooks, J Morton, B Page, S Fell