Vigo 17 FRFC 40

Sitting at the bottom of the table Vigo need to win their remaining matches to avoid the drop back down to the Kent Leagues so Folkestone’s team and supporters knew this would be a tough game with Vigo fighting hard. For the first 10 minutes they pinned Folkestone inside their own half but didn’t look like scoring as the Stones defence held firm.
In the 17th minute Folkestone broke out of their own half with a series of rucks and mauls which drove the much larger home pack backwards. Folkestone props, Moose Murray and Tom Carvill, were leading the charge and they set their backs a good position on the home 22. Jon Morton took charge of the ball and reverse passed to Chris Petley who made a perfect angle through the home defence to open the scoring. Seyhan Fell added the conversion. 0-7.
Minutes later and the Stones pack was at it again with a number of disciplined pass & goes up the pitch before Morton, this time, unleashed Fell to weave his way to the line. Enjoying himself hugely he added the bonus. 0-14.
It was looking like a matter of time for Folkestone’s next try and the visiting supporters had an air of confidence about them. A word of thanks from the team to those supporters. Once again the Cheriton hordes had made the trip up the motorway to support their lads in a bitterly cold day with the snow coming down throughout the match. They were warmed by their teams’ display.
Since his 18th birthday which allowed him to play in the front row Tom Carvill has been a revelation. This youngster has a real future in this game. Despite being a ginger he is one hell of a player although in the final moments of the first half he tried something that no prop should ever do. Yes, he tried to kick the ball! The ball powered sideways for well over 3 feet and luckily for Carvill Jon Morton was in the right place to make it look a subtle little kick across the home defence. While chortling loudly at the "kick"Jon Morton who has had another terrific season took the ball on towards the try-line and even though Carvill was celebrating the "kick" he somehow got into position to take Morton's pass and dive, sorry, plummet over the line. Fell converted from way out on the right wing. 0-21.
The home team kicked off the second half still working hard looking for their first score. If points were awarded for commitment and determination these Vigo lads would not be in the relegation zone. They battled hard all game. But it was Folkestone who scored next when Richie Bowen burst out of defence battering his way through the home defence before moving the ball left to Luciano Dublino who perfectly timed a pass to Fell on the left wing to score in the corner. 0-26.
A few minutes later and Carvill was, again, showing off, this time with a weird pass to Mike Gardner who blasted a big hole in the home defence before unleashing Dublino to score. Fell added another conversion. 0-33. Dublino ever the Italian gentleman was quick to thank Gardner for such a great assist. Gardner, a paramedic working shifts has to take official leave to train and play his rugby and what a fantastic season he’s having. A real powerhouse in the back row.
With just 20 minutes to go and the match won Folkestone quite visibly relaxed and lost their intensity. Vigo saw their chance to score on the left wing and they took it. 5-33.
Folkestone went back on the attack and were quickly back inside the Vigo 22. The home team tried to play their way out but a poor pass allowed Bowen in and he gleefully scored exuberantly diving over the line. Fell added another conversion 5-40.
Vigo weren’t done though and they scored twice more in the last 10 minutes. They would have deserved a fourth try and the bonus point but they just failed. Good luck to them in their efforts to stay in the division. A good bunch of lads.
Folkestone looked confident throughout this match and the score is a fair reflection on the play. Bear in mind that coach, Darren Molloy, had seven 18 year olds in his squad. They have played their way into his 1st XV through hard work and they have real flair. Despite giving away a lot in weight and experience the Stones pack were on top throughout. They won all their own scrums and line-outs and nicked quite a few from the home team. But it was in the mauls they really excelled driving the home team back every time. The Stones back line was getting some great ball from their pack and were attacking at pace. All in all it was a very good performance which sets the team nicely for their next match at home to Ashford on Saturday. Man of the match? A difficult call. Chris Petley has joined the pack from the back line this season and he, Gardner and Bowen are real pests all over the pitch. Seyhan Fell was imperious flashing up the park from his full back position. Jon Morton leads his line powerful in attack creating space either with incisive passing or pure power as he carries the ball forward and putting tackle after tackle in defence. He's an inspiration to the youngsters around him. Young Lewis Howland was carrying a leg injury today but nobody noticed as he was in control of the game right from the start. He's got a long succesful career ahead of him. Dublino continues to grow in confidence. He scored a try and made another but I was most impressed with his tackles. He really knows how to stop an opponent in his tracks. One tackle probably registered on the Richter Scale. The entire pack were on form and, for me, it was the pack which won the game today. The front row unit of Moose Murray, Will Massey and Carvill did not retreat. Behind them in the row Tim Wood and George Flatman add yet more power and the back row, Petley, Bowen and Gardner are a real nasty bunch!
So Man of the Match. A strong contender was Finlay, the grandson of Club president, Mike O’Sullivan. Finlay demonstrated a perfect tackle on his granddad leaving him flat out and broken. Nine more years Finlay. Keep it up.
But on the pitch it was a battle of the gingers, Carvill and Petley with the former nicking it despite the "kick".

Squad:

W Massey, M Murray, T Carvill, A Bloomfield, G Flatman, T Wood, R Bowen, C Petley, J Perry, T Snare, M Gardner, L Howland, J Morton, R Dagger, E Jones, L Dublino, D Dixon, S Fell