Back
Sat 14 Dec 2013 · London 3 South East 
1st XVAshford
Tries: J GoddenPenalties: J Morton
8
22
This match heralded the start of the second half of the season for Ashford, and with Folkestone, a game in hand, needing a victory to bring them onto level terms with their closest rivals.
Alex Ruddock15 Dec 2013 - 16:25
Share via
Ashford showed themselves to be fully capable of containing anything and everything that Folkestone could muster.
14th December 2013. London 3 South East
By Alan Schofield
This match heralded the start of the second half of the season for Ashford, and with Folkestone, a game in hand, needing a victory to bring them onto level terms with their closest rivals.
Ashford had been well beaten in the earlier fixture on their home ground with The Stones running in 41 points. But since then they have recovered to top the table having earned an impressive 10 bonus points on the way.
In gloomy conditions on a heavy pitch– and in front of the biggest crowd of the season – it was unfortunate for the home supporters that Ashford showed themselves to be fully capable of containing anything and everything that Folkestone could muster.
The Stones were on the defensive from the kick off when a series of determined attacks saw an enthusiastic Ashford prematurely celebrating tries that never were. Resolute defence by the whole of the Folkestone team managed to keep a clean scorecard – just!
A series of handling errors, forward passes, penalties and free kicks made for a disappointing first 30 minutes but Ashford, unlike Folkestone, were always prepared to try to play a running game – and they were rewarded with a well-rehearsed move in the backs to create the space for an easy run in - and for a deserved 0 – 5 lead.
Within 2 minutes this was doubled to 10 points when from the re-start a 60 metre break was allowed to be made down the right for the Ashford No 7 to run through unopposed.
To their credit The Stones came back immediately and the final 10 minutes of the first half saw Adam Tolman, Jordan Godden and Kevin Murray all come close. The forwards, led by the irrepressible ‘Moose Murray’ at this stage, were proving to be the equal of their opponents but Ashford were not for yielding.
The home side did give their supporters some hopes when the second half started in much the same way but Jon Morton missed with a long penalty attempt – only to succeed in opening the scoring from 35 metres when Ashford immediately conceded another penalty to keep in touch at 3 -10.
Ashford’s restart was a long kick down the right which was quickly switched with a cross field move, involving all their backs, to the left wing and an unopposed run in for their third unconverted try and a 3 – 15 score line. This was a setback for the Stones determined efforts to get back into a position from which to consolidate.
Dave Baxter and Kevin Murray were substituted with Steve Doughty and Will Turner after 45 minutes of play, But Steve Doughty’s appearance was short lived as he sustained an injury which brought on Warren Blandford.
The mid period of the second half saw Folkestone desperately seeking ideas to bring them back into the game – but so many of these were marred by basic errors. Whilst Ashford were playing the open type of rugby that Folkestone so successfully utilised in the early part of the season. They worked for and deserved a bonus point when, from another break through the Folkestone defence, the now subdued crowd saw the full back join the line to score the fourth try with the nearest opponent 15 metres away. This gave Ashford an unassailable looking 3 – 22 score line.
There were memories of old brought back when The Stones quickly set up an attacking position in their opponent’s 22 metre zone. Ashford were again penalised for holding down a player after the tackle and Jordan Godden decided to take a quick tap and ran strongly at the opposing forwards, taking them with him to score a good individual try. The conversion failed and there was no time left for Folkestone to try to recover.
The clean, hard and well fought game was blemished in the final minute by a crude and unnecessary punch thrown by an Ashford forward which resulted in a red card.
Paul Harding, the worthy referee, ended the match with a score of 8 – 22 giving Ashford a deserved 5 point victory to consolidate their position at the top of the division. Whilst Folkestone, following this result, have sunk from third place to sixth place in the league table, are left to wonder what has gone wrong since their six match unbeaten run to start the season.
Team: Richard Dagger; Alex Randall, John Eustace, Jon Morton, Richie Bowen; Adam Tolman, Jordan Godden; Martin Murray, Jack Cox, Tom Carvill; Scott Stewart, Kevin Murray; Chris Petley, David Baxter, Michael Gardner.
Subs: Warren Blandford, Steve Doughty, Will Turner.
Folkestone 8 Ashford 22
By Alan Schofield
This match heralded the start of the second half of the season for Ashford, and with Folkestone, a game in hand, needing a victory to bring them onto level terms with their closest rivals.
Ashford had been well beaten in the earlier fixture on their home ground with The Stones running in 41 points. But since then they have recovered to top the table having earned an impressive 10 bonus points on the way.
In gloomy conditions on a heavy pitch– and in front of the biggest crowd of the season – it was unfortunate for the home supporters that Ashford showed themselves to be fully capable of containing anything and everything that Folkestone could muster.
The Stones were on the defensive from the kick off when a series of determined attacks saw an enthusiastic Ashford prematurely celebrating tries that never were. Resolute defence by the whole of the Folkestone team managed to keep a clean scorecard – just!
A series of handling errors, forward passes, penalties and free kicks made for a disappointing first 30 minutes but Ashford, unlike Folkestone, were always prepared to try to play a running game – and they were rewarded with a well-rehearsed move in the backs to create the space for an easy run in - and for a deserved 0 – 5 lead.
Within 2 minutes this was doubled to 10 points when from the re-start a 60 metre break was allowed to be made down the right for the Ashford No 7 to run through unopposed.
To their credit The Stones came back immediately and the final 10 minutes of the first half saw Adam Tolman, Jordan Godden and Kevin Murray all come close. The forwards, led by the irrepressible ‘Moose Murray’ at this stage, were proving to be the equal of their opponents but Ashford were not for yielding.
The home side did give their supporters some hopes when the second half started in much the same way but Jon Morton missed with a long penalty attempt – only to succeed in opening the scoring from 35 metres when Ashford immediately conceded another penalty to keep in touch at 3 -10.
Ashford’s restart was a long kick down the right which was quickly switched with a cross field move, involving all their backs, to the left wing and an unopposed run in for their third unconverted try and a 3 – 15 score line. This was a setback for the Stones determined efforts to get back into a position from which to consolidate.
Dave Baxter and Kevin Murray were substituted with Steve Doughty and Will Turner after 45 minutes of play, But Steve Doughty’s appearance was short lived as he sustained an injury which brought on Warren Blandford.
The mid period of the second half saw Folkestone desperately seeking ideas to bring them back into the game – but so many of these were marred by basic errors. Whilst Ashford were playing the open type of rugby that Folkestone so successfully utilised in the early part of the season. They worked for and deserved a bonus point when, from another break through the Folkestone defence, the now subdued crowd saw the full back join the line to score the fourth try with the nearest opponent 15 metres away. This gave Ashford an unassailable looking 3 – 22 score line.
There were memories of old brought back when The Stones quickly set up an attacking position in their opponent’s 22 metre zone. Ashford were again penalised for holding down a player after the tackle and Jordan Godden decided to take a quick tap and ran strongly at the opposing forwards, taking them with him to score a good individual try. The conversion failed and there was no time left for Folkestone to try to recover.
The clean, hard and well fought game was blemished in the final minute by a crude and unnecessary punch thrown by an Ashford forward which resulted in a red card.
Paul Harding, the worthy referee, ended the match with a score of 8 – 22 giving Ashford a deserved 5 point victory to consolidate their position at the top of the division. Whilst Folkestone, following this result, have sunk from third place to sixth place in the league table, are left to wonder what has gone wrong since their six match unbeaten run to start the season.
Team: Richard Dagger; Alex Randall, John Eustace, Jon Morton, Richie Bowen; Adam Tolman, Jordan Godden; Martin Murray, Jack Cox, Tom Carvill; Scott Stewart, Kevin Murray; Chris Petley, David Baxter, Michael Gardner.
Subs: Warren Blandford, Steve Doughty, Will Turner.
Further reading