CAPTAIN SEYHAN FELL KICKS FOLKESTONE TO A NARROW, HARD FOUGHT VICTORY.

The new year brought the first of the reverse fixtures with Folkestone seeking revenge for the early season defeat at Aylesford in temperatures over 30°C when they wilted under the hot sun. This time, Aylesford lost the game that they thought they might have won had they not committed almost every offence in the R.F.U. Book of Laws in their efforts.

Seyhan Fell kicked five penalties into and with a strong wind blowing across the field. The Bulls transgressed persistently throughout the game, conceding 17 penalties and a yellow card, and with a player of Fell’s capabilities they surely will rue the consequences.

But this is not to diminish The Stones performance that was always a little more inventive and competent than their larger opponents.

Two handling errors by Folkestone took The Bulls into an attacking position early on and they capitalized on this by a quick pass to the charging centre to take a flying dive over the line. The conversion was missed unlike the penalty kick that Seyhan Fell had within two minutes for an off-side decision. 3 – 5.

The Bulls looked dangerous in the first quarter, their forwards were just edging the set pieces and the backs were well organised and perhaps the large home crowd were a little nervous as Folkestone had to absorb some early pressure. But when the Folkestone back row of Stewart, Price and Trinder had possession the opposite applied. Rob Godden made ground down the middle and his brother, Jordan Godden (making a welcome come-back) at scrum half released Palmieri – and the passing movement through Snare, Morton and Faiers pressured The Bull’s line. Jon Morton tried to release Tom Snare into a gap he had created but a deliberate knock-on thwarted the move, Seyhan Fell gave Folkestone the lead with the penalty but the referee must have considered a penalty try, such was the offence. 6 – 5.

The Bulls lost 60 metres with a long kick that went dead, setting up The Stones again in the attacking half of the field. And now, they showed their mettle combining well in the driving mauls and had The Bulls back pedalling – and offending. It seemed that anything would do in desperate defence as penalty after penalty was conceded as Folkestone pressed hard for a try. Even though a Yellow Card was issued the tactics worked as the Folkestone forwards could not hit the elusive try-line. But the backs could – as The Bulls brought men in-field to defend the line – a pass, a kick and Freddy Faiers was alone and free to run through to touch down. But even then, The Bulls seemed to resent this by an unnecessary dig at Faiers after the score, unseen by the referee. 11 – 5.

The second half started with two further penalties to Folkestone, the second for an undisciplined high tackle on Jordan Godden which only served to allow Seyhan Fell to increase the lead to 14 – 5. The Bulls came back strongly but running into Mat Roots and James Archer was not the way forward. Connor Leather was accurate with throws from lineouts and Liam Trinder with Rob Godden’s protection was always a safe pair of hands. Another high tackle and another three points from a penalty was incurred by this increasingly desperate looking Aylesford team – who had the talent but not the restraint to develop it. 17-5.
Folkestone used their substitutes and young Tom MacKenzie made his debut for the 1st XV – Alex Price taking a breather. Dave Jarvis and Dan Hillier came on as Kieran Smith and Thommo Murray were rested.

Unusually, Folkestone conceded a couple of penalties as The Bulls re-grouped and attacked hard – a try claim, (after a second movement on the ground) was disallowed as Liam Trinder managed to slip his hand between the ball the try line, but The Bulls were ready for the ensuing scrum with a planned move, a dwell in the back row, a short pass and a try, but not a conversion. 17 – 10.

And now the game was in The Bull’s hands as they denied Folkestone possession and worked well - striving for the equalizer with forwards and backs strong and determined as they moved closer and closer – until a scrum 8 metres out from the line. Heaving and pushing they won the mini-battle and eight men went down together over the line for a try. The conversion attempt made no allowance for the strengthened breeze and missed well to the right. 17 – 15. Very exciting!

But Folkestone were not going to let this game be taken away from them as they took control of the last five minutes, safely in The Bull’s half, and it was almost inevitable, in the circumstances of the game, that The Bulls would break yet another law – this time holding on to the ball, rather than releasing it. Seyhan Fell sealed the game with a 32-metre penalty kick sailing straight through the middle. 20 – 15.

The Bulls finished with a single bonus point for their efforts and will return down the M20 with plenty to consider, whilst the Stones can pat each other on the back for a deserved win against opponents who were a threat but let themselves down, on this day, with a cavalier attitude as to how rugby should be played according to the laws.

Team: Seyhan Fell (Capt); Freddie Faiers, Jon Morton, Tom Snare, Thommo Murray; Callum Palmieri, Jordan Godden; James Archer, Connor Leather, Mat Roots; Kieran Smith, Rob Godden; Scott Stewart, Alex Price, Liam Trinder.

Subs: David Jarvis, Tom MacKenzie, Dan Hillier.

Scorers: Seyhan Fell 3, 3, 3, 3, 3; Freddie Faiers 5.