FRFC 10 Park House 10

I’ve raved about the Folkestone performances in their last 2 pre-season friendlies and today the pitch conditions perfectly suited their fast running style against the “old school” style of Park House. After the match the Park House squad were delighted with a draw and they deserved it. They could even have won it in the last minute when a penalty kick floated wide of the posts. The Stones left the pitch thoroughly dejected knowing this should have been a bonus point win.

But the match and the result was put into perceptive as on the adjacent pitch Folkestone player , John Lord was fighting for his life after a horrible head injury. Playing for the Vets against Dover Vets, he was knocked unconscious and quick work from paramedic, Mike Gardner who left the 1st XV match to help John and also fireman, Simon Petts kept him alive. The Air Ambulance took John to Whitechapel Hospital and the best wishes of the Folkestone, Dover and Park House clubs go with him.

Reluctantly I return to the 1st XV match. Matches between these two teams have usually been full-blooded, X-Certificate stuff so it was a huge surprise to both sets of supporters when the first 20 minutes was such a quiet affair. Folkestone were on the scoreboard first after a Joe Johnson break. He made 50 metres before being stopped. The ball was then worked quickly from the left wing to the right wing and Ben Brooks was unstoppable. 5-0.

The home support relaxed but, unfortunately so did their team and a passing movement was intercepted by Park House and it was an easy score under the posts. The conversion gavethem the lead. 5-7.

Minutes later a penalty increased their lead. 5-10 and that was the score at the interval.

Now, with the wind behind them Folkestone would surely score the 4 tries needed for a bonus point. My friend, Schofield who knows about wind told me that it was worth 15 points. But the home support was treated to a catalogue of errors. Park House were rarely in Folkestone territory as Folkestone pounded their line. Park House defended their line but, in truth, Stones’ players were throwing away scoring chances repeatedly and it was to the relief of the Folkestone support when in the 73rd minute, Folkestone earned a penalty in the Park House 22. Jak Cox took a quick tap to himself and the ball went to Richard Bowen . I’ve seen this young man play 3 games now for Folkestone and he never fails to impress. He always makes good ground and he did that today to bring the score to 10-10.

In the closing minutes Folkestone again attacked the Park House line with no success and at the very end Park House made their way up the pitch to earn the penalty which would have won them the game. But by that time the home supporters were more concerned with events on the adjacent pitch.

On Saturday the Stones travel to Maidstone and coach, Darren Molloy, will be looking for improvement in every department.
Squad: R Lama, M Murray, W Massey, P Smith, R Carrigan, A Beazley, B Flatman, M Gardner, C Petley, J Johnson, R Bowen, J Cox, S Evans, J Johnson, O Brooks, B Brooks, B Pearson, T Wood