Bromley 17 FRFC 5

Darren Molloy had a lot of juggling to do to field a team as 5 of his key players. Seyhan Fell, Adam Tolman, Ollie Brooks, Jonny Morton and Scotty Evans were unavailable and Fell and Morton are Folkestone’s top scorers this season. This meant the Folkestone team saw a raft of changes with some people having to play out of position. In a poor first half they saw most of their attacks snuffed out as the home defence was magnificent. The signs were there in the first minute when Chris Petley made a perfect kick off, high and long enough for the Folkestone players to chase after and, indeed, they won the ball but when they came into contact with the home defence Folkestone were turned over losing possession. This was to happen repeatedly throughout the game. I was hugely impressed with the Bromley defence who won this match with a lot of hard and determined work. Folkestone ball handlers couldn’t exploit any holes in the defensive wall because there weren’t any meaning that sooner or later the Stones ball handler had to take the ball into contact and from that point the ball was turned over. Of all the teams Folkestone have played the Bromley defence was the best I’ve seen this season.
Bromley took the lead after they had a scrum inside their own half on the left wing. Good ball was quickly passed across the pitch to the right winger who breezed past the Folkestone defence. An excellent conversion meant a 7-0 lead.
Folkestone had the advantage of the slope in the first half and they used that advantage to get themselves back into the game. They won a penalty line-out and moved the ball quickly from the left wing to the centre where Chris Petley tried to batter his way through but was held up. Petley, though, managed to reset the ball perfectly and the move continued up the pitch with fly half, Nick Ford drawing the defender before slipping the ball perfectly to Ben Page who had an easy jog to the try-line. 7-5.
Minutes later Charlie Williams received a yellow card. Even the home supporters were dumbfounded by this decision and it was the first of quite a few strange refereeing decisions. From the consequent penalty Bromley took a 10-5 lead.
As the first half came to a close it was clear that Folkestone had wasted the advantage of the slope and would be up against it in the second period. Bromley made it even more difficult with a fine move taking the ball in from the right wing to the centre and a score under the posts. 17-5.
In the second half we saw a much more determined Folkestone but the home defence just would not lie down and even though Folkestone spent long periods in the home 22 the home defence stood firm. The word, “awesome” is used easily these days but using the old meaning of the word, the Bromley defence was, indeed, awesome.
Folkestone huffed and puffed but could not get through.
Man of The Match for Folkestone? Not a big choice but I thought Richard Lama, Will Massey and Rob Hudson worked very hard for the team. Lama must be black and blue as he hurtled his body into the home defence. Massey was his usual self looking for trouble all over the pitch and giving nothing less than 100%. Hudson has been a terrific signing for the Stones. He puts everything into his game and rarely takes a backward step. I’ll give it to Lama because he doesn’t spit all over the pitch and he’s not a ginger.
With Crowborough and Medway both winning today Folkestone appear to be slipping out of the promotion race. They can forget about winning the championship because to do that Crowborough would have to lose their last 3 games while Folkestone score about 100 points in each of their last 4 matches. Second place is still a possibility but Folkestone have to win their final 4 matches and hope that Medway lose at least 1 match. Folkestone’s last match of the season is away at Medway.
On Saturday Folkestone are at home to Eastbourne and need a 4 try bonus point victory to stay in the promotion hunt before they take on Crowborough, Sheppey and finally Medway.

To make matters worse the website photographic team forgot their camera batteries but luckily Mark Brooks and Lisa Godden were in attendance so we should eventually have some photos for you.