FRFC 10 Horsham 27

Last Saturday Folkestone left Bromley feeling cheated by some strange refereeing decisions which saw them lose by a single point. Today there are no excuses for this defeat by Horsham. The visitors were quicker and more determined to win. They played simple rugby looking for the most direct way to the try-line. Folkestone were ponderous and laboured. Some of the Stones play was plain stupid. It was a windy day so passes should have been kept short but too many Folkestoneplayers were “chucking” out long passes which were caught in the wind and twice Horsham’s quicker players intercepted to run freely to the try-line. Near the end of the first half 2 Horsham players were yellow carded, each for deliberate knock-ons yet Folkestone still could not find any space to run into and, instead, took the ball into contact where they were usually turned over as Horsham took command at every break-down. Coach Darren Molloy must have been hugely disappointed at his team’s performance. Last season Folkestone were involved in the promotion fight and were, without doubt, one of the best teams in the division. Currently they lie fourth from bottom of the table with only Park House and newcomers Vigo and Pulborough below them. The home players seem to lack confidence and motivation in their play.

Horsham got off to the better start taking the lead with an early penalty kick. 0-3.

They increased the lead by intercepting a silly Folkestone pass for an easy score. 0-8. Many thanks to Horsham cheer-leader Ben Perts (“as in breasts” he helpfully told me – see what he did there)for confirming the score as I had decided to tuck into my sausage sandwich. Thank you, Ms. Annandale.

As soon as I had devoured my sandwich Horsham were back in the home 22 on the attack and the score was 0-15 with a converted try.

Just before the interval Horsham lost 2 players to the yellow card. Surely Folkestone could score now and they did right at the start of the second half with a quick penalty which found the ball in Seyhan Fells’ hands and he did as he has been coached to do since he was 7, draw the defender and pass the ball, which he did to Richie Bowen playing today on the wing and he flew down the touchline to score in the corner. 5-15. This youngster impresses me in every game he plays and has become a firm favourite with the New Burlington support.

Was this the start of the fightback? No. Although immediately after being restored to a full 15 man team Horsham lost a third player for 10 minutes, this time for stamping in the ruck. It wasn’t nasty but it was a yellow card although most of us old boys love to see a bit of shoe pie. The Folkestone support began to believe their lads could come back. But once again Folkestone ball handlers decided to take the ball into contact and lose it or throw a pass out to nothing but thin air. To make matters worse one of those passes was intercepted for an easy converted try. 5-22.

Horsham deservedly earned a bonus league point with their fourth try earned by their pack. Unfortunately Ben Breasts , sorry Perts, had disappeared so I have no idea how it happened. 5-27.

With minutes to go Richie Bowen made the score a little more respectable with a try in the left corner. 10-27.

Man of the match for Folkestone? Forget it!

On Saturday Folkestone travel to Bromley for a second round match in the RFU Senior Vase. They won’t go much further if they repeat today’s performance. They are a good team. On their day they play sparkling rugby but today they looked jaded and uninterested – something I thought I would never say about any Folkestone team. Fourth bottom in a division that is probably the weakest it has been for many seasons is just not good enough. By contrast Horsham played much better rugby. They knew what they had to do and they did it simply. Learn the lesson Folkestone.

Squad:

Richard Lama, Ross Carrigan, Will Massey, Pat Smith, Moose Murray, Ben Flatman, Tim Wood, Chris Petley, Mike Gardner, Jake Johnson, Lewis Howland, Scotty Evans, Richie Bowen, James Crittell, Seyhan Fell, Brad Pearson, Jack Cox, Ben Brooks