Folkestone overcome Heathfield in a finely fought game

Heathfield and Waldron 1stXV 27 Folkestone 1stXV 40.
Saturday 5th October 2019. London 3SE. Report by KEVIN GODDEN.

Folkestone travelled away to Heathfield and Waldron; both teams looking to keep up to winning ways, after both teams victorious with high winning scores in last week’s games. With Alan Schofield unfortunately on other duties, Kevin Godden stepped into the breach to record this historic win, while wife Lisa did the honours yet again with her collection of photographs. Also Club Chairman Simon Himbury has provided video evidence which can be seen online at UTube and at some stage the Club Website. Thank you for all your time.

H&W got off to an excellent start playing down the slope with a lacklustre performance from Folkestone for the first 15minutes.
H&W were up 14-0 with some good forwards play, leading to the ball being passed to the backs and alert flyhalf play with a kick behind the Folkestone defence for the first try.
The second try for H&W followed the same pattern with good forward play allowing the ball to get to the outside and round the Folkestone defence.
However, Folkestone did not let this get them down and they started to switch on and play some good tactical and confident rugby. The H&W scrum had been dominating the scrum, but the referee went round to see the H&W openside, and Folkestone started to get some control and dominance in the scrum, which helped to form a good base for the Folkestone attack.
On 18 minutes after some good defence pressure, Seyhan Fell intercepted a pass and ran for a 70 metre try under the posts. Fell converted his own try; this being another good kicking day for him. 14-7.

Play flowed back and forward with good play from both teams with the occasional error. On 23 minutes a penalty for a high tackle was converted by Fell. 14-10.
Folkestone were put under pressure from the H&W attack, but good defence and excellent clearing kicks by Callum Palmieri relieved the situation.
On 33 minutes a penalty for holding on in the tackle was awarded to Folkestone. The kick for touch was flicked back in by the H&W winger but an excellent follow up run by Dan Hillier who caught the ball and ran over for Folkestone’s 2nd try. Unfortunately from the wide angle Fell was unable this time to convert. 14-15.

From good kick off H&W were able to respond with their 3rd try; but not converted. 19-15.
Lewis Howland was substituted following an injury to his shoulder and replaced by Dan Woolford (returning to playing after several years out.) This led to a slight shuffle to the backs. Callum Palmieri going back to scrumhalf with Woolford at flyhalf.
However Folkestone returned the favour; with good pressure from the kick off leading to a line breaking run by Jon Morton; for a try under the posts, as the clock went red. Try converted by Fell. Half Time 19-22.

The second half started off as the first half finished, with back and forth play by both teams. But in the 45min a penalty for holding on in the tackle was converted by Fell. 19-25.
This was however overshadowed by a Folkestone penalty after the kick off and converted by H&W. 22-25.
The game now settled down to a period of sustained pressure from teams with handling errors breaking up the flowing play.
It took until the 58th minute for a maul collapse penalty for Folkestone; converted by Fell. 22-28.

Almost mirroring the first half good patient defence by Folkestone led to an intercept by Thomas Murray who was not quite able to run for the try; but a pass off to Hillier who went over for Folkestone’s Bonus Point try. Fell this time was unable to convert. 22-33.

Substitute time with James Archer and Shane Hills coming on for Dave Ballard and Dan Hillier.

H&W were next to score with their Bonus Point try in the 3rd minute; but not converted. Possibly caused by the changed dynamics following their substitutions. 27-33.

So, with a few minutes left the game was still open; but with good attack and ball retention by all the Folkestone team led to a fifth try by Callum Palmieri, converted by Fell; with the final score of 27-40.

Team: Adam Tolman; Thomo Murray, Seyhan Fell (Capt.), Jon Morton, Dan Hillier; Callum Palmieri, Lewis Howland; Tom Snape, Connor Leather, Dave Ballard; Rob Godden, Colby Hayward; Alex Price, Liam Trinder, Scott Stewart.

Subs: James Archer (on for Ballard at 70min), Shane Hills (on for Hillier at 70min), Dan Woolford (on for Howland at 25min.)

Scorers: Fell 5, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2; Hillier 5, 5; Morton 5; Palmieri 5.

Timeline: Fell 5, 2 (18); Fell 3 (23); Hillier 5 (33); Morton 5 (39); Fell 2 (40); Fell 3 (43); Fell 3 (52); Hillier 5 (63); Palmieri 5 (79); Fell 2 (80).