Folkestone needed to win this game having lost the first four league matches of the season.

Folkestone 1stXV. 33 Hellingly 1stXV. 5
Saturday 6th. October 2018. London 3SE. by Steve Hughes

Folkestone needed to win this game having lost the first four league matches of the season. They are second from the bottom of the League and the team below them are their opponents today. Folkestone Captain Seyhan Fell has unfortunately been unable to put the same side out on consecutive Saturdays and this game was no different. On a wet and blustery day Folkestone opened with the wind but it made no difference as Hellingly took the lead in the first five minutes when Seyhan Fell was yellow carded for a knock-on when the visitors were attacking. A try in the corner went unconverted. 0 - 5.
It was obvious from the outset that Folkestone were controlling the scrums with the usual suspects of Martin Murray, Jack Cox and Bob Porter in the front row. With Jack Barton unavailable Colby Hayward was joined by the ever improving David Jarvis in the second row. Scott Stewart, Liam Trinder and Jordan Godden formed the marauding back row.
Folkestone struck back with a well-constructed try when Daniel O'Rourke kicked deep into the corner over the heads of the defence for Thomo Murray to gather and score wide out for Seyhan Fell (now back in the fray) to convert. 7 - 5.
Folkestone were continuing to exert pressure but failed to capitalise through a succession of knock-ons, interceptions or losing the ball in the tackle. The centre of Folkestone's attack was centred around the periphery of the scrum and loose mauls and not once did the ball reach either wing from along the three-quarter line.
Liam Trinder was outstanding in both attack and defence and several of his break away runs put Folkestone into the visitors red zone and Callum Palmieri was able to add to the home score when he scuttled around the base of the scrum to score in the corner and Seyhan Fell added the extra points. 14 -5.
Folkestone were often being put under pressure by the Hellingly line and desperate defence by Callum Palmieri, John Eustace and Adam Tolman was needed to keep them from scoring.
Mark Ip-Lloyd then dislocated his thumb and was replaced by Jon Morton who was returning from injury.
A kick by Jon Morton deep into the visitors half put Folkestone into an attacking position but a timely interception cut the chance short.
Another attack by the home side saw Adam Tolman join the line to break through only to be dragged down under the posts. He popped the ball up to Jon Morton who crossed the line for Seyhan Fell to convert. 21 - 5 on the stroke of half time.
Folkestone then had a reshuffle with Mat Roots replacing Martin Murray, Mark Ip-Lloyd returned to replace Seyhan Fell (who had taken a knock) and the young Mason Colchester-Long replaced Colby Hayward. Adam Tolman drove down the right wing to cross in the corner only to have the referee declare it had been knocked on in the act of scoring. Martin Murray returned to replace Bob Porter just before the Hellingly prop was yellow carded for a high tackle.
Mat Roots was soon into the action after a line out on the visitors five metre line using his superior weight and strength to trundle over the line with the support of the rest of his pack to collect the bonus point for four tries. No conversion. 26 - 5.
Folkestone kept plugging away and several chances were missed through lack of ball retention but the final try was a forwards classic. From a scrum on the visitor’s line Folkestone drove Hellingly off their own put-in at the scrum and Callum Palmieri fed David Jarvis on the burst to see him sell an outrageous dummy to score a try which Daniel O'Rourke converted making the final score 33 - 5.
The Coaches and my Man of the Match goes to Liam Trinder for his tireless grafting and seemingly being in the centre of everything.

Team: Adam Tolman; Mark Ip-Lloyd, Seyhan Fell. John Eustace, Thomo Murray; Daniel O’Rourke, Callum Palmieri; Martin Murray, Jack Cox, Bob Porter; Colby Hayward, David Jarvis; Liam Trinder, Jordan Godden, Scott Stewart.
Subs: Mat Roots, Mason Colchester-Long, Jon Morton.
Scorers: Thomo Murray 5; Seyhan Fell 2, 2, 2; Callum Palmieri 5; Jon Morton 5;Mat Roots 5; David Jarvis 5; Daniel O’Rourke 2.