Folkestone lose by the width of a post after giving everything in a thrilling encounter.

FOLKESTONE 1stXV 31 CROWBOROUGH 1stXV 33
Saturday 30th March 2019. LONDON 3 SE. Report by Alan Schofield.

Folkestone lose by the width of a post after giving everything in a thrilling encounter.

In this penultimate match of an engrossing season for Folkestone against top-of-the-table Crowborough the home attention with the league table was on the much sought after third place in the final table rather than the hope of promotion from a second place.

Let us not, however, forget the perilous state of the league position at the same time last season when Folkestone were in the relegation zone and only saved from the drop into local league rugby by a decision to adjust the teams in the London & South East leagues.

Crowborough came east in the expectation of securing the one point they needed to seal the championship of LSE3 and they went west a few hours later with 5 points and the ‘Gold Medal’. But the home supporters were left with the feeling that some victories are merely defeat wearing the wrong clothing.

The Stones, the most successful team in the league in 2019 eventually succumbed to injuries, a powerful pack and a lack of possession in the second half and it was only in the last minute that they saw victory denied – by the width of an upright.

Crow scarcely knew what hit them as the Folkestone team ripped loose with every player handling the ball in a bewildering series of attacking runs leaving their opponents clutching at air – before Jon Morton, with a beautifully weighted inside pass gave Adam Tolman a clear route to the posts. Seyhan Fell converted. 7-0. From the kick-off Folkestone again, threw the ball left and right – Callum Palmieri put in a long touch kick to space, with Colby Hayward winning the line-out opening up the three-quarters and again, Adam Tolman, broke through a tackle and sprinted clear to touch down for another try, converted by Seyhan Fell, and the scoreboard read 14-0 after 6 minutes of play in which the league leaders barely touched the ball.

Jordan Godden chased a loose ball and was clear to score but for a finger-tip knock-on. But a couple of penalties put Crow into their first attacking position and then the power of their pack showed with a back-row break from a 5-metre scrum and a converted try. 14 – 7.
But retaliation was swift when a high kick from Thomo Murray was fumbled in defence, Scott Stewart grabbed the ball and powered his way down the touch-line before passing inside to John Eustace who crashed over with two men hanging onto him. A superb conversion by Seyhan Fell from far out saw the score move to 21 – 7.

Folkestone were insuppressible in the first half hour and the score probably flattered the league leaders. Mat Roots came clear from a loose scrum and carried four men with him but then a remarkable series of penalties against The Stones almost donated Crow another try, and a yellow card for Mat Roots. David Ballard was brought on necessarily to join the scrum, as Thomo Murray was side-lined but It all gave Crow a foothold within the 5-metre zone and, as they proved previously, this is what they know best as they rumbled the ball over the line for a second try, duly converted. 21 – 14.

Another serious blow for Folkestone came as Liam Trinder injured his shoulder in a hard fall and Kieran Smith came on as Crow tried to take advantage – but Jordan Godden, ever alert, seized the ball in a melee following a line-out and broke straight through the Crow defence, charging downfield at full speed and diving over for a brilliant individual try, converted by Seyhan Fell, that gave Folkestone the bonus point and a 28 – 14 half-time lead.

The second half saw Adam Tolman and Jon Morton both making 40 metres in torsional runs as Crow back-tracked, ran wildly off-side and Seyhan Fell popped over the penalty kick. 31 – 14. Crowborough seemingly had one game plan to keep possession and pick and go and they did succeed with this tactic. Mat Roots was carrying a hip injury, Tom Davey was taken off by physio, Ashley Fry with a shoulder injury and John Eustace was wilting – having only recovered from flu mid-week. James Archer came into the fray, but events had turned against the disrupted home team. Line-outs were lost and ground conceded as Crow took advantage. It was almost inevitable, under the strain of injuries and disruption, that another converted try was conceded – a third identical powerful linking of forwards in the red zone that was indefensible in the circumstances. 31-21.

David Ballard came on as a pale and exhausted John Eustace had to come off the field – but he had put everything into it, as always and deserved a massive cheer from the very large crowd for sheer courage and determination.

A fourth and bonus try from Crowborough came from a long period of possession and emerged from a maul ran fast and diagonally, shepherded by Scott Stewart but still able to touch down out wide, but well converted to bring the score to a nervous 31 – 28. And a fifth try came as a new intensity came into the game, as Folkestone struggled. Territory was lost, and possession conceded and the line-outs were lost as Crow took advantage and threw the ball out wide for the back-ups to follow and touch down. Too far out to convert, but the lead was handed over – 31 - 33.

But gamely, The Stones threw everything that they had left from their depleted resources in the closing minutes encouraged and cheered by their support. Jon Morton made a diagonal run, Adam Tolman took it up and the Crowborough supporters could barely watch – but a final pass went low and was just failed to be grasped. Crowborough defending doggedly, then gave away a penalty 35 metres out and off-centre with seconds left to play.
The kick by Seyhan Fell was strong and long and high – but just faded to the left of the upright to the disappointment of hundreds of home supporters and the relief of the visitors, as victory was denied to a gallant Folkestone team who had given their all – and more, but the disruption caused by injury and illness gave a very strong and capable team the win they needed, the championship and promotion.
Final Score: 31-33.

As the Duke of Wellington said – after the Battle of Waterloo ‘’It was a dam’d close run thing’’

Team: Adam Tolman; Thomo Murray, Kyle Deakin, John Eustace, Seyhan Fell (Capt.); Jon Morton, Callum Palmieri, Martin Murray, Tom Davey, Mat Roots; Rob Godden, Colby Hayward; Liam Trinder, Jordan Godden, Scott Stewart.
Subs: David Ballard, James Archer, Kieran Smith.
Scoring: Adam Tolman 5, 5; Seyhan Fell 2, 2, 2, 2, 3; John Eustace 5; Jordan Godden 5.