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Sat 06 Apr 2013 · London 3 South East
1st XVAshford
Penalties: B Pearson
8
28
FRFC 8 Ashford 28
Phil Cooper6 Apr 2013 - 22:18
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Bragging Rights Go Up the M20
The Folkestone clubhouse was packed with guests to say thank you to retiring chairman, Andy Dagger in his last Vice President’s Lunch. Many tributes were paid to Andy who has worked tirelessly in the best interests of the club. The derby match against Ashford; Folkestone’s last home match of the season further increased the crowd. Ashford have had an excellent season are set to finish no lower than fourth in the league. In contrast Folkestone have had a poor season by their standards and currently lie 9th in the league. But earlier in the season Folkestone travelled to Ashford and beat them 19-16. The home team were eager to do the double over their rivals but they just never got going and Ashford deservedly won this game 28-8.
Ashford played a simple game with their backs making accurate passes to their runners joining the line at pace. The home supporters were disappointed in the tackling but, in fact, the Ashford runners got through because they were attacking at pace and the Folkestone defenders couldn’t get their hands on their opponents! When Folkestone had the ball they tried too many long misspasses which were not accurate and usually didn’t reach their destination stopping the Folkestone attack before it could gain momentum.
Ashford were first on the scoreboard after 2 poor kicks saw the ball land in the safe hands of the Ashford right winger who romped to the line. 0-5.
The Ashford lead was doubled a few minutes later as they attacked up the wing avoiding home tacklers. 0-10. Ashford should have scored another try when they went up the left wing unmolested but the ball was dropped. Was this the sign of a change on Folkestone’s luck? Unfortunately, no as from the resultant scrum Ashford surged forward for a 0-15 lead.
In the 25th minute Folkestone scored their first points with a long range Bradley Pearson penalty into the wind. 3-15.
10 minutes later Pearson attacked down his left wing and came close to scoring. He earned a scrum inside the Ashford 22 and the Folkestone backs showed what they could do when they kept the play simple. The ball flashed across the park from left wing to right wing. Joining the attack from his full back position Seyhan Fell created an overlap and he perfectly timed pass to Elliott Jones on the right wing to drive over the try-line. 8-15.
Any ideas of a heroic comeback were soon quashed as Ashford mounted a series of attack along the home 5 metre line. The home team defended their line well but it was surely just a matter of time before Ashford found a hole in the defence and it was under the posts which allowed them to score a converted try. 8-22.
The “heroic comeback” didn’t materialise as Ashford closed the match with 2 late penalties and a deserved 8-28 victory.
Compared to the last few thrillers these two teams have served up this was a poor typical meaningless end of season game. Ashford were clearly the better team and their simple uncomplicated rugby was the right approach today. Man of the Match for Folkestone? I have to say that I am getting concerned with coach, Darren Molloy as he is clearly showing bias to the “Gingers” in the Folkestone squad. Prop, Tom Carvill, was once again in the short list but this time Darren gave the award to Chris Petley. Petley despite being a Ginger has had a remarkable season and has converted from being a fly half/centre to back row where he and his colleagues, Richie Bowen, Tim Wood and Mike Gardner have become a team within the team as they hunt together. In fact Wood plays in the 2nd row as well and he quietly gets on with his game. He has become a star in the line-out where he has a great understanding with hooker, Will Massey. Today because of injuries Petley was in the back line and was a constant threat to Ashford. Actually wherever he plays he is a constant threat to the opposition.
A word, too, for referee, Rob Ward who was making his debut at the New Burlington.His game management was excellent and he calmly enhanced the match keeping it moving on.
On Saturday Folkestone travel to, old chums, Park House where they have another chance to move up the league if they can beat the South London lads and if Gillingham Anchorians lose to Horsham in their final game of the season.
Squad:
W Massey, M Murray, T Carvill, T Snare, A Bloomfield, Flatman, G Flatman, T Wood, R Bowen, M Gardner, L Howland, J Morton, B Pearson, C Petley, L Dublino,E Jones, R Dagger, S Fell
Ashford played a simple game with their backs making accurate passes to their runners joining the line at pace. The home supporters were disappointed in the tackling but, in fact, the Ashford runners got through because they were attacking at pace and the Folkestone defenders couldn’t get their hands on their opponents! When Folkestone had the ball they tried too many long misspasses which were not accurate and usually didn’t reach their destination stopping the Folkestone attack before it could gain momentum.
Ashford were first on the scoreboard after 2 poor kicks saw the ball land in the safe hands of the Ashford right winger who romped to the line. 0-5.
The Ashford lead was doubled a few minutes later as they attacked up the wing avoiding home tacklers. 0-10. Ashford should have scored another try when they went up the left wing unmolested but the ball was dropped. Was this the sign of a change on Folkestone’s luck? Unfortunately, no as from the resultant scrum Ashford surged forward for a 0-15 lead.
In the 25th minute Folkestone scored their first points with a long range Bradley Pearson penalty into the wind. 3-15.
10 minutes later Pearson attacked down his left wing and came close to scoring. He earned a scrum inside the Ashford 22 and the Folkestone backs showed what they could do when they kept the play simple. The ball flashed across the park from left wing to right wing. Joining the attack from his full back position Seyhan Fell created an overlap and he perfectly timed pass to Elliott Jones on the right wing to drive over the try-line. 8-15.
Any ideas of a heroic comeback were soon quashed as Ashford mounted a series of attack along the home 5 metre line. The home team defended their line well but it was surely just a matter of time before Ashford found a hole in the defence and it was under the posts which allowed them to score a converted try. 8-22.
The “heroic comeback” didn’t materialise as Ashford closed the match with 2 late penalties and a deserved 8-28 victory.
Compared to the last few thrillers these two teams have served up this was a poor typical meaningless end of season game. Ashford were clearly the better team and their simple uncomplicated rugby was the right approach today. Man of the Match for Folkestone? I have to say that I am getting concerned with coach, Darren Molloy as he is clearly showing bias to the “Gingers” in the Folkestone squad. Prop, Tom Carvill, was once again in the short list but this time Darren gave the award to Chris Petley. Petley despite being a Ginger has had a remarkable season and has converted from being a fly half/centre to back row where he and his colleagues, Richie Bowen, Tim Wood and Mike Gardner have become a team within the team as they hunt together. In fact Wood plays in the 2nd row as well and he quietly gets on with his game. He has become a star in the line-out where he has a great understanding with hooker, Will Massey. Today because of injuries Petley was in the back line and was a constant threat to Ashford. Actually wherever he plays he is a constant threat to the opposition.
A word, too, for referee, Rob Ward who was making his debut at the New Burlington.His game management was excellent and he calmly enhanced the match keeping it moving on.
On Saturday Folkestone travel to, old chums, Park House where they have another chance to move up the league if they can beat the South London lads and if Gillingham Anchorians lose to Horsham in their final game of the season.
Squad:
W Massey, M Murray, T Carvill, T Snare, A Bloomfield, Flatman, G Flatman, T Wood, R Bowen, M Gardner, L Howland, J Morton, B Pearson, C Petley, L Dublino,E Jones, R Dagger, S Fell
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