FRFC 20 Uckfield 22

It’s easy to watch a game of rugby from the touchline and pick out the moment where it went wrong but it’s not so easy if you’re in the middle of the action and the young Folkestone players learnt a valuable lesson today and that is, first, win the game, second try to earn the 4 try bonus point. Folkestone led 20-3 and they had a penalty in front of the posts. A successful kick would have put Folkestone 23-3 ahead but, instead, Folkestone opted to go for the try obviously thinking that they had scored 2 tries and a 3rd try would have led them to the 4 try bonus point but the attack petered out and in the end Folkestone lost 20-22. It was the decisive moment of the game because afterwards the Stones pushed the self destruct button and Uckfield rallied for a great fightback and a victory that their supporters had already conceded until the final 5 minutes when their team found real inspiration and determination.
Uckfield were first on the scoreboard with a 1st minute penalty with Folkestone levelling 4 minutes later from a Seyhan Fell penalty. 3-3.
It was a messy start with neither team taking charge until the 12th minute when Jon Morton combined with Adam Tolman to free Scotty Evans to cross the line. Fell added the conversion. 10-3.
Evans increased the lead on the 30th minute with a sublime drop goal from just outside the 22. He read the breeze perfectly allowing the ball to curl inside the left hand post. 13-3.
Although the Uckfield pack looked to be on top at scrum and line-out the Folkestone backs were looking dangerous. Jon Morton, at fly half, looked imperious. He began the move for the next try when he burst into the Uckfield half and the defence opened up for him. He had support on either side of him and just 1 defender in front of him. He simply drew the defender and slipped the Ball to Trevor Squire on his left and Squire was in under the posts. Fell added a second conversion. 20-3.
After the interval Folkestone looked to still be on top but they were soon giving away penalties. But as the game approached the 70th minute the home support felt their favourites had done the job. Surely Uckfield couldn’t score 3 tries in the final 10 minutes. But that’s exactly what they did for an inspired never-say-die fightback that even the obviously disappointed home supporters applauded. Their first try came from a line-out drive for an unconverted try. 20-8.
Their next try with just minutes to go came after a procession of penalties put them into the Folkestone 22 and a sparkling move saw them in as the home supporters nervously looked at their watches. 20-15.
With a minute to go all Folkestone had to do was keep possession of the ball preferably in Uckfield territory but from the restart Uckfield moved the ball infield from the right and were soon attacking the home 22. And then, horrendously, for the Stones support their team suddenly forgot how to tackle and Uckfield were over the line just to the left of the posts. The conversion looked to be very kickable but there was a lot of pressure on the Uckfield kicker who hit a beauty and as the ball sailed over between the posts the ref blew for full time. 20-22. That decision not to take the easy 3 points was soon the talk of the touchlines. Let’s hope the lesson has been learnt.
This wasn’t a particularly good game. At times both teams looked to be uninspired and there were some comedy moments as the ball bounced uncontrollably by any of the players. Coach Darren Molloy has a hard job to get his team back up. The New Burlington looks to be more of a sand castle compared to the fortress it has been in recent seasons. In 5 home league matches Folkestone have won one game, drawn one game and lost 3 times. It simply isn’t good enough and some players in the squad have to look at themselves honestly. Only hard work and commitment to the cause will change things for the team. They are a much better team than their lowly league position would suggest but one thing about league tables is they don't lie.There is no doubt they are a talented squad but they are not playing anywhere near their potential. On Saturday Folkestone travel to Pulborough who sit in 3rd bottom position 8 points behind Folkestone. Nothing less than a bonus point victory will satisfy coach Molloy.

Squad:
Will Massey, Ross Carrigan, Tom Carvill, Tim Wood, Pat Smith, Chris Petley, R Bowen, Ben Flatman, Adam Tolman, Jon Morton, Ben Brooks, Trevor Squire, Scotty Evans, Elliott Jones, Seyhan Fell, Moose Murray, Kieron Johnson, Bradley Pearson