Gillingham Anchorians 20 FRFC 46

After 2 horrendous performances from their heroes Folkestone’s travelling support went to Gillingham with little confidence. Despite losing the previous week to Bromley Gillingham Anchorians had already beaten Vigo and Horsham and were looking comfortable in the London League after their promotion from Kent 1. But they couldn’t cope with Folkestone’s powerful start as they drove the home team back into their 22. Gradually the smiles returned to the Stones’ players and supporters. Right from the start the Stones pack drove their opposite numbers back in the scrum making lots of yardage. Folkestone looked to be a lot lighter than the home pack but their technique looked to be better. At scrum half Lewis Howland making his league debut was getting a great ride from his pack and he was spraying the ball round picking out his attacking options. The visiting supporters were saying to each other that their lads had to get the opening try and that’s just what they did. Jake Johnson put in a great tackle inside the Gillingham half forcing a turn-over and skipper Richard Lama was on his way to the posts. Unselfishly he offloaded to Ollie Brooks who closed in on the line before passing to his big brother, Ben to score. 0-5.
Minutes later and those smiles were even bigger as Folkestone doubled the lead. They had a line-out on the Gillingham 5 metre line. The pack swallowed the ball and went for the line. Sportingly helping a Gillingham defender back to his feet after being flattened Mat Roots also came up with the ball. At that distance nobody was going to stop him.
The Anchorians showed their class by bouncing back into the game. They had been under the cosh for the first 15 minutes but they broke up the left wing. A clever and accurate grubber kick into the red zone forced the Stones defence to turn round but they were too slow and the home winger nipped in to score. 5-10.
A penalty pulled Gillingham closer. 8-10. Game on.
Unfortunately Folkestone lost full back, Bradley Pearson, to injury. On came Folkestone’s top points scorer, Seyhan Fell, for the first time this season. It’s a great compliment to young Pearson when I say that Fell hasn’t been missed. Pearson has been brilliant for the Stones and it’s going to be an interesting battle to see who earns the 15 shirt this season. The youngster has the skill and the confidence to make it his. Let’s sit back and watch the battle.
Folkestone were still smiling and, more importantly, they were running the ball back at Gillingham. No stupid aimless kicks this week. Folkestone were attacking with real style and confidence. Playing at fly half, Jon Morton, was setting up some great attacking positions with perfectly timed passes to his backs who were running onto the ball forcing their momentum on the home defence. The 3 players who had combined so well for the first try were at it again. Lama, who was back to his best form today, started the move taking the ball deep into the 22. Again, he was supported by Ollie Brooks and, again, he offloaded to big brother, Ben. This time Ben had some work to do with the ball. On the wing he has searing pace but he also possesses a terrific body swerve and he danced, yes danced, his way around the home defence to score under the posts. Bruce Forsythe would have loved it. Seyhan Fell added the conversion. 8-17.
Folkestone’s next try was a beauty. Once again the younger Brooks was involved as he broke out of his 22 turning over a Gillingham attack. He passed to James Crittell who was tight on the right touchline. He sped up the park and kicked the ball perfectly over the defender and the mood of the day told us that the ball would bounce perfectly for his as he rounded the defender and, sure enough, the ball did bounce right into his hands and nobody could catch him. 8-22. This score earning Folkestone a bonus point.
Just before the half time whistle Folkestone’s pack turned the home scrum and from the reset the Folkestone backs were on their way to the line. This time Jon Morton was the scorer after an interchange of passes with Lama and Ollie Brooks. 8-27.
Gillingham got off to a better start into the second half. They won a penalty in the Stones’22 and a quick tap saw them score. 13-27. This game was not over.
Back came Folkestone with Ollie Brooks breaking out of his 22 and taking out 3 defenders before releasing Lama to sprint 60 metres to the line. Fell added the conversion. 13-34.
Gillingham again bounced back and again it was a quick taken penalty tap allowing them to score under the posts. 20-34.
Gillingham were well and truly back in the game. They never gave it up and that determination will serve them well this season. They are not going to lie down. Folkestone knew they had to score next. Another home try would really lift them. But young Howland took control at a Folkestone scrum inside the home 22 passing the ball to Morton who gave it to Ben Brooks and he was dancing again. Fell added another conversion. 20-41.
The try extravaganza came to an end when Folkestone earned a 5 metre try. The ball popped out to Crittell on the right wing and he was over. 20-46.
This was a very entertaining game. Folkestone played some great rugby and so did the Anchorians who never gave up. The Folkestone support enjoyed their day out and the warm and friendly welcome from their hosts. And for me. I fell in love with the game again!
A sure sign of the improvement in Folkestone’s performance was the difficulty selecting the Stones’s Man of the Match. The backs were all superb. Ben Brooks scored a hat trick, James Crittell bagged 2 tries. Lewis Howland and Jon Morton turned it on. Ollie Brooks was superb in the centre and Fell, and Pearson before his injury, were joining the attacking line at every opportunity coming into it at pace. It was particularly pleasing to see skipper, Lama, back to his best. He is an impressive beast as he charges forward with the ball. Today he delivered a skipper’s performance driving his team on.
In fact the whole squad performed today. There were no misfires at all. Jake Johnson continues to think he is a human torpedo and it took at least 2 players to stop him. On his flanks he has the hard working Richard Bowen and Chris Petley. Bowen has taken my eye before. He is a dynamic player and today he and Petley were all over the place spoiling the day for any home ball carrier. It was a tough choice between them but it goes to Petley. He was in the mood to hunt. He charged forward harassing the ball carriers putting in tackle after tackle forcing turn-overs. It was quite a performance from the young man who, under coach Molloy, has converted from a back into the brutal world of the flanker and how he is enjoying himself. He’s not big but he packs a mighty punch.
On Saturday Gillingham Anchorians get the chance of revenge when they come to the New Burlington for a match in the RFU Senior Vase competition. We saw 11 tries today and a lot of good rugby. More of the same will be perfect. Folkestone will have to be on their guard as Anchorians will come at them hard. After their match there was quite a few of their players returning slowly to the changing rooms not enjoying the informal post mortem. Believe me they will be tough on Saturday so come along and roar the Stones on.

Squad:
R Lama, M Roots, W Massey, P Smith, B Flatman, T Wood, C Petley, R Bowen, J Johnson, L Howland,
J Morton, B Brooks, O Brooks, J Crittell, B Pearson, R Carrigan, T Carvill, S Fell

On a sad note, the club will turn out in force to attend the funeral of John Lord on Wednesday 10 . October at Hawkinge Community Centre at 1pm and thereafter at Hawkinge Crematorium and back to the club.
It is typical of a fine club that Gillingham Anchorians chairman, Gareth Knight, in his programme notes made reference to John:
“It is right and proper for me to pause for a moment and pass on the condolences and deepest sympathies of members and officers of Anchorians to the family, friends and clubmates at Folkestone of John Lord who tragically passed away in September. It is at times like these that the family of rugby pulls together and the true spirit of the game shines through.”
Fine words from the fine chairman of a fine club. On behalf of Folkestone RFC, thank you for these kind words.