Folkestone travelled to SE London hoping to come away with their first victory of the season.

Folkestone travelled to South East London hoping to come away with their first League victory of the season, however on this bright warm sunny day it wasn’t to be. But there was a lot to take in it was a festival of tries, unfortunately outscored 7 to 5 of them. The better organised OD’s three quarters took the gifts that were kicked to them! Their centres and wingers were fast jinking runners who were able to catch long clearance kicks, inter-pass effectively and be illusive, running through several tackles each time on their way to the try line.
This wasn’t to say that Folkestone weren’t in the game but it took them until the last quarter to really show that they too can score tries. By the end of the match OD’s were looking decidedly anxious, especially when the forwards drove over but were adjudged to have not grounded the ball in the last five minutes, only to score more or less on full time. They were that close to getting the losing match point as well as the bonus try.

The game had started ominously with OD’s scoring their first converted try after two minutes with only the one reply from John Eustace barrelling over with Seyhan Fell adding the extra points after seven minutes to make it 7-7.
OD’s scored another two converted tries in the first twenty four minutes after which the Folkestone forwards started to gain the upper hand at the set pieces and in the loose play, although the lineouts were not as clean. However Callum Palmieri was injured and replaced at fly half by Dan O’Rourke. Massive tackles by Liam Trinder, Scott Stewart and Rob Godden helped to keep the try line secure with some good attacking moves by Jordan Godden, Seyhan Fell, James Mead and Dan Hillier but they were never able to keep the attacks going. In the final minutes of the half OD’s were penalised twice and Seyhan Fell punished OD’s with two well struck penalties so the half finished at 21-13 to OD’s.
Both sides had been heavily penalised by the referee in that first forty minutes which didn’t help OD’s attacking capabilities with several being for being offside.
The second half saw OD’s getting on the scoreboard within two minutes with another try out wide by their left wing, this time unconverted. 26-13. Soon after Folkestone were penalised and OD’s kicked the three points. 29-13.
OD’s suffered another penalty and O’Rouke found touch about 12 metres out from the OD’s try line. From the ensuing lineout Folkestone developed a rolling maul which found it’s way over the line with Jack Cox coming up with the ball, unfortunately Seyhan Fell’s conversion rebounded off the post. 29-18. However, Jack Cox was injured along with Scott Stewart and they were replaced by Tom Davey and David Jarvis.
This was a short-lived comeback as two minutes later OD’s ran through untouched to score a try wide out. 34-18. This was shortly followed by Seyhan Fell scoring a try and converting it to make the score 34-25! But OD’s quickly followed by yet another scintillating run by their backs to score another converted try. 41-25.
A minute later OD’s had increased their lead to 48-25 with yet another score going over virtually untouched and converted. However an OD player was Yellow Carded for an infringement. Not to be outdone after another OD infringement O’Rourke found touch deep in OD’s 22 and from the lineout Folkestone again pushed their way over the line for Jack Cox to score a second try wide out, the conversion failed. 48-30.
With OD’s down to 14 players Folkestone attacked and from another good scrummage Jordan Godden, now flanking, made a break and drove over the line but was adjudged to have been held up. Then in the final minute of play Jordan Godden did get over the line to score with Seyhan Fell converting. 48-37.
In the last 20 minutes the score went from 29-13 to 48-37!!
Folkestone showed that they are a versatile unit but need to pull together and work as a team through out the game, kicking out of hand needs to be tightened so that the ball goes into touch and not to opposition sprinters who are fast illusive runners. The pack started to push OD’s off the ball in both scrums and mauls making it easy for the half backs to get better ball to distribute. The co-ordination of the thrower-in and jumper in the lineout needs to be tightened up. The OD’s showed what could be done with quick hands in the back line and well-rehearsed moves. Hopefully lessons will be learnt for next week home game against Hellingly. KO 14:30.
Team: James Mead; Thomo Murray, Seyhan Fell (Capt.), John Eustace, Dan Hillier; Callum Palmieri, Jordan Godden; James Archer, Jack Cox, Bob Porter; Rob Godden, Jack Barton; Colby Hayward, Liam Trinder, Scott Stewart.
Subs: Tom Davey, David Jarvis, Dan O'Rourke.
Scorers: John Eustace 5, 7min; Seyhan Fell 2, 8min, 3, 32min, 3, 39min, 5, 67min, 2, 68min, 2, 79min; Jack Cox 5, 71min, 5, 75min; Jordan Godden 5, 78min.