Results between the two teams have, over the seven last years, been extremely close.

FOLKESTONE 1stXV 6 BROMLEY 1stXV 21
Saturday 22nd September 2018. London 3SE Report by: Alan Schofield

Results between the two teams have, over the seven last years, been extremely close – however the result of this fixture broke the mould and put Bromley to the top of the table and Folkestone entrenched in the nether regions. Another score line could have read -: Bromley – 3 Tries v Folkestone 3 Yellow Cards, for this was a large part of the story.
Last week I exhorted the supporters not to be glum, but this week they have every reason to be so, increasingly, as the game unfolded. Penalty kicks near to the posts were awarded in the opening minutes, Bromley missed theirs, but Seyhan Fell was unerring. 3 – 0. And thereafter it was a test of strength fought out in mid-field as neither team could break away due to some quick and solid tackling. But after 20 minutes Bromley managed, with the help of a penalty kick, to encamp in the Folkestone 5 metre zone – but such was the determination of the defenders – it took a long series of charges to the line before it was eventually broken – the try was converted 3 – 7.
Kyle Deakin broke clear, with support, against one defender but the pass went astray and the certain try was denied. But Folkestone were playing the game of ball retention and solid defence quite well, and with 30 minutes of play gone, perhaps the score was not a full reflection of the solid defence, the retained possession and ground gained by the home team. Seyhan Fell twice penned Bromley back into hard defence of their line with long and accurate touch kicks, but penalties and handling errors frustrated these developments into points. But when Bromley offended Seyhan Fell was accurate as ever with the penalty kick as half time came. 6 – 7.
Folkestone needed to lift the tempo, but it was Bromley that actually did so - and shortly into the second half two penalties put them to the line and their heavyweight forwards did the rest to score their second try. 6 – 14. Harry Paton relieved Bob Porter in a change to the front row – and The Stones started again to fight back. It was clear, from a couple of runs that Mark Ip-Lloyd and Dan Hillier on the two wings had a lot to offer, but – how to get the ball to them without dropping it seemed impossible!
An excellent move by Adam Tolman, gave Colby Hayward a run who released Kyle Deakin, and then Seyhan Fell and Dan Hillier – but Bromley just stopped it inches short and their fightback came quickly as within 30 seconds Folkestone were defending their line – and this time with dire consequences. Bob Porter was Yellow Carded for bringing down a maul, Martin Murray was off-fielded for a blood injury – and Folkestone had to reshuffle whilst still in hard defence – when there was a moment of madness with a wild off-side, the referee gave Bromley a penalty try and seven points. 6 – 21. Seyhan Fell was Yellow Carded, although with the ball over the try line when he touched down fractionally before the Bromley scrum half. He was deemed by the Referee to have infringed.
Somehow Folkestone managed to hold their defences with 13 men to keep Bromley out, but it was desperate stuff as the team was completely disrupted, Tom Davey came on for Jack Cox and David Jarvis for Colby Hayward. Scott Stewart was Yellow Carded just as Bob Porter resumed after his sin bin – and it was a frenzied situation.
Callum Palmieri and Jordan Godden briefly regained some initiative but errors were multi-fold as Mark Ip-Lloyd and Dan Hillier, on the wings, watched on – unused, because Folkestone could not muster the confidence to run and pass accurately enough. All this, whilst Bromley held their attacking lines and their firm defences to the extent that The Stones having lost their shape, their composure, and their discipline were a beaten team when the final whistle went, the rain continued to fall and the glum faces of the Folkestone supporters matched the leaden skies.
Congratulations to the ground staff especially Billy Bingham and Joe Feeney for presenting a superb pitch for rugby – one of the best in Kent.
An immediate vacancy has arisen for a match reporter for the 1stXV. Although it is not well paid and there are only 5½ regular readers and the Folkestone Herald edits to almost nothing – Alex Ruddock, nevertheless. anticipates a torrent of applications. Therefore, a short list will be considered on Thursday and the decision made thereafter. (Welsh and female applicants will be considered enthusiastically.)
Team: Seyhan Fell (Capy.); Mark Ip-Lloyd, John Eustace, Kyle Deakin, Dan Hillier; Adam Tolman, Callum Palmieri; Martin Murray, Jack Cox, Bob Porter; Colby Hayward, Rob Godden; Liam Trinder, Jordan Godden, Scott Stewart.
Subs: Tom Davey, Harry Paton, David Jarvis.
Scorers: Seyhan Fell 2,2.