Sheppey 18 FRFC 10

Last week I saw this Folkestone squad taken apart and demoralised by an impressive Maidstone team who are on their way to promotion. What a difference a week makes. Still being hindered by a huge injury list coach, Darren Molloy, and his assistants managed to raise the morale and the confidence of the team and the massive sigh of relief on the final whistle from the Sheppey support showed that, with a little bit of luck, they could have come away with a win over the second-placed team in the league. No fewer than 9 players in the Stones squad were under the age of 24 demonstrating that rather than attracting professional players Folkestone prefer to develop local youngsters to start them off in a rugby career.
All season I’ve witnessed Folkestone taking far too long to get into games. Today it took them less than 60 seconds to score and it’s a candidate for Try of the Season. Sheppey kicked off and the ball was in the Stones 22. The visitors passed their way out of the 22 up the left wing and then across to the right wing with Jake Johnson, Will Massey, Moose Murray, Jon Morton, Chris Petley and others all involved in the passing move before Seyhan Fell moved in to score in the corner. 0-5.
Minutes later Sheppey were on the score-board after a series of mauls put them in the Folkestone 22 and was finished off by a clever grubber kick into the corner which was touched down and the try was converted. 7-5.
The game went back and fore for the next 20 minutes and, considering the freezing weather and a ball that resembled a bar of soap the standard of ball handling was excellent. Folkestone’s downfall was the heavy boggy pitch. If the Folkestone backs have a dry, hard pitch they can take on anybody with their pace but a sticky pitch slows them down.
But it was Folkestone who scored next after 10 minutes of pressure inside the home 22 they earned a quick penalty in front of the posts. The pessimists amongst us were shouting for the easy 3 points. Young Chris Petley had other ideas and a lot more belief as he took a quick tap to free Fell for his second try of the match. 7-10.
And that was the score at the interval although just before the whistle Sheppey thought they had scored but the eagle-eyed referee, Mr Pullen, had spotted a forward pass. I’m among the first to moan about the referees but today Mr Pullen’s game management was excellent and he enhanced the match and at half time took the time to inform the home supporters on the touchline about his decision not to give a try.
Not surprisingly with the clouds getting darker and fatigue setting in the second half saw a drop in the quality but both teams were fighting hard. It was Sheppey who made the breakthrough twice with penalties and a try with the last move of the match to win 18-10
Man of the Match for Folkestone? I was tempted to not select anybody as this was an 18 man performance. But I know such fence-sitting does not go down well in parts of Hythe so I’m going for Chris Petley. This season he has been transformed into a classy, hard working flanker. Today, though, because of the injury list he found himself back in the centre and, at times, he appeared to be playing flanker and centre! It was another no-nonsense performance from the popular youngster.
This was a great recovery from Folkestone’s previous match. On Saturday Folkestone entertain Gillingham Anchorians who they have beaten twice this season already so coach Molloy will be driving his men on to victory and to leap-frog their opponents in the league table.
Squad:
W Massey, M Murray, T Carvill, J Perry, T Wood, B Flatman, M Gardner, A Fullerton, J Johnson, J Cox, S Evans, B Brooks, C Petley, J Morton, B Pearson, S Fell, R Dagger, E Jones