HASTINGS & BEXHILL 1stXV 39 FOLKESTONE 1stXV 29
Saturday 15th September 2018 London 3SE Report from Alan Schofield
Let’s not be too glum – the ‘lads’ played well, scoring four tries!
After the manipulations that allowed Folkestone remain in the South East Divisions – and quite rightly, after winning 41% of their games, one wondered, after last week’s results when Folkestone generously (or carelessly?) handed Vigo a victory, when they only had to kick the ball out of play to win themselves –or whether the first win in six months was ever to come.
Continue to worry, my loyal 5½ readers, no doubt supported by the small team of supporters who had spent the two hours prior to kick off in practical expression of their deep devotement to Dionysus. The ‘lads’ gave their best but were beaten on the day by a slightly better all-round team.
A last-minute re-shuffle forced coach, Darren Molloy, to put in a relatively lightweight front row, and with a sprightly, but lightweight, scrum half – Hastings seemed to have a weight advantage. This, plus a play-effecting breeze gave the home team an advantage as Folkestone kicked off – and scored a try! With the ball holding up in the wind Folkestone seized it and ran right, switching through the backs to the left wing – gaining ground all the time. Back to the centre-field 10 metres out and Adam Tolman reversed a pass to Jack Cox barging in at speed to crash over. Seyhan Fell converted with a ‘snooker’ shot. 0 – 7.
The Stones looked good in the opening clashes, but when Hastings had the ball it was easily seen that the backs, in particular, were a formidable combination of skill and speed. Hastings kicked a penalty goal but were put under pressure from high kicks into the wind that were often knocked on. 3-7.
Adam Tolman put a long kick into space on the right-wing forcing Hasting to put the ball into touch, and from the resultant line out and maul – Callum Palmieri put an accurate pass back into the hands of Adam Tolman, who dived over to score. 3 – 12. Soon after Seyhan Fell slotted a penalty. 3-15.
Immediately the retaliation came when the aforementioned Hasting’s three-quarters started a movement that was too good for The Stones to defend by running and passing for 65 metres to score under the posts – and the following this try up with another penalty goal the half time score was only a wind assisted 17 – 15, but the harbingers were disturbing the bowels of the Folkestone supporters.
Hastings broke through a second time in the opening minute of the second half – missed tackles and fast running were too much to cope with – and now, the score was 24 – 15 and looking ominous. Folkestone tightened their play up and had a period of good possession and ball retention – but it was difficult to make ground against a stalwart defence. Jordan Godden with John Eustace and Liam Trinder did well, and Adam Tolman’s kicks, using the wind, pegged Hastings back. Jon Morton had a dart that three men had to stop whilst Jack Barton and Scott Stewart, as ever, were quickly in support.
But the optimism was stemmed when Hastings backs, again, showed they were a formidable combination, but credit to Folkestone as the cover defences managed to keep them out. It was a triple penalty blow that put Hastings into the 5-metre zone, when a scrum and a nine-man maul couldn’t be stopped for Hasting’s push-over try – and now it was damage prevention with a 29 – 15 score line.
Colby Hayward and Dave Jarvis came on to relieve the hard working Scott Stewart – and the tiring Callum Palmieri, as Jordan Godden went to scrum half. But Scott Stewart was quickly back in action as Steve Doughty picked up a neck injury and was replaced.
The winning score enabled Hastings to open up and this they did running in a fifth try with two outrageous dummies that Folkestone fell for. 36 – 15. But when Folkestone came back at them through good work by Jack Cox and Rob Godden, with brother Jordan Godden (in physical and vocal support) Hastings were not averse going off-side to prevent a breakthrough, the referee, who is to be complemented on an excellent performance, produced the first, and only yellow card of the game.
The Stones pressed hard, and the reward was well deserved when, with a succession of attacks on the Hastings line – Liam Trinder was just short, as was John Eustace. A minor brouhaha followed whilst Jordan Godden scooped up the ball and passed to Tom Davey who scored, crashing through from short range. Seyhan Fell converted. 36 – 22.
A Hastings penalty took the score to 39 -22, but the demand on The Stones was to score a bonus point try – which they did in the final minute as Adam Tolman kicked from defence for Daniel Hillier, on the left wing, to run on to, picking it up brilliantly and sprinting 60 metres to score under the posts, Seyhan Fell adding the extra two points. 39 – 29.
This was an excellent game of rugby. The final score was a fair reflection and the distribution of the 68 points showed that Hastings were the worthy winners, but Folkestone were not far behind in every aspect of this entertaining competition. Two tries for Hastings were conceded too easily by hesitant defending – and this ultimately was the difference. There was no need for Cribbo and young Ruddock to look so glum.
Next Saturday Folkestone play their old adversaries, Bromley – and there’s a bit of history to rectify, after the astonishing series of tendentious decisions that led to their narrow defeat last season.

Team: Seyhan Fell (Capt.); Daniel Hillier, Jon Morton, John Eustace, James Mead, Adam Tolman, Callum Palmieri: Jack Cox, Tom Davey, Steve Doughty; Jack Barton, Rob Godden; Liam Trinder, Jordan Godden, Scott Stewart.
Subs: David Jarvis, Colby Hayward, K. Smith.
Scorers: Jack Cox 5; Seyhan Fell 2, 2, 3, 2; Adam Tolman 5; Tom Davey 5; Daniel Hillier 5.