The first game of the New Year saw Folkestone taking a trip to Broadstairs to play the formidable Thanet Wanderers who have a history at a much higher level than in London & South East Division 3.

4th January 2014 London 3 South East.

Report By Alan Schofield
The first game of the New Year saw Folkestone taking a trip to Broadstairs to play the formidable Thanet Wanderers who have a history at a much higher level than in London & South East Division 3. But a series of relegations have now brought them to a level where they are now proving to be very competitive.
Folkestone narrowly won the first encounter but Thanet, before this game, were in second place in the table, 6 points better than Folkestone and 5 places higher in the league.
Weather and pitch conditions were atrocious – and so unlike the game in September which favoured the nimble, free running Folkestone team against a heavier opposition. And so the positions were reversed to give Thanet the advantage at the kick off.
But The Stones were up for this game and immediately from the kick off Thanet had to defend a series of determined attacks and 5 metre scrums. Fell narrowly missed a penalty attempt and 12 minutes passed before Thanet visited their opponents half in a long flowing movement only stopped feet short of the line by a desperate ankle tap by Seyhan Fell.
It was now Thanet’s turn to test the Folkestone forwards and in a succession of strong attacks on the line they eventually, after 17 minutes, forced a pushover try for a 5 – 0 lead. The response was swift with Will Silvey intelligently kicking downwind into the corner where the opposition were tested by Will Turner, and then by Richard Dagger. But it was John Eustace who touched down only to be brought back for a forward pass which was judged in relationship to the player and not the trajectory of the ball. Within 5 minutes this was judgement was repeated in a close passing attacking movement. On another day both these could have been easily judged fair passes – and the game would have had a different aspect.
Again the restart was a spirited effort from The Stones and Richie Bowen forced his way through three tackles on the left wing only to be brought down short of the line.
A superb and deserved try was achieved by Seyhan Fell after Thanet were pegged back again by an accurate field kick by Will Silvey which was failed to clear properly, Fell snatching it from the air on the touchline and strongly running through the defence to make the half-time score 12 – 5.
Now Thanet had the wind advantage and they immediately used this tactic to press the Stones but Ben Stringer and Will Turner combined twice to deny them. But a handling error gave Thanet a scrum 8 metres out from which their heavier forwards scored another pushover try which was converted. 19 – 5.
This was the 5th pushover try that Folkestone have conceded in the last two matches.
Steve Doughty sustained a shoulder injury which brought on Tim Wood and Kieran Smith then replaced a very dirty and tired Ben Stringer.
Thanet converted a penalty to increase their lead to 22 – 5 but the game was electrified by a magnificent try when Godden, Turner, Morton, Eustace and finally Fell mesmerised the opposition with their movement and inter-passing. This brought the score to 22 – 10 with Folkestone on top at this stage.
A bizarre set of circumstances saw Folkestone playing the last 10 minutes with 13 men. Jack Cox had been yellow carded and Steve Doughty’s injured shoulder meant the front row had been depleted so that uncontested scrums were ordered. The laws state that if the injured player cannot be replaced then the team forfeit one player. Tactically this was preferred by the Folkestone coaching team.
It was unfortunate that this weakness could not prevent a final try by the strong Thanet team and a final score line of 27 -10.
On a muddy pitch, in rain and very bad light both teams are to be congratulated, along with the referee Mark Sleet, for producing a good game of rugby. It is indisputable that the final score flattered the Thanet team – but taking all things into account, they were slightly the better team on the day.
The Folkestone forwards worked tirelessly but with three senior players, and some weighty experience missing, they had to contend with a good Thanet pack. Perhaps it was this alone that made the difference?
On this day, such was the total team spirit of The Stones, it is difficult to nominate a Man of the Match, but Will Silvey earned this by consistently good passing, good handling and good kicking.
The only hiccups to an otherwise enjoyable day were two incidents that are worthy of reporting. Firstly Alex Ruddock decided to take on the role of back seat guide on the journey to Thanet – as a result of which a loyal band of Folkestone supporters were taken on a charabanc tour of the country lanes of Kent, through tempest and flood, on an interminable journey that rendered the driver to a quivering wreck. (However actually arriving before the 1stXV having left after them! Ed!)
A second very unpleasant incident occurred in the Clubhouse after the game when your match reporter happened to win a large amount of money in a competition to guess the final score. His fellow travellers and supporters turned on him like a snarling pack of hounds demanding copious drinks and a share of the proceeds. His birthright was questioned and he was subjected to continued hostility promoted by the seething and unhealthy jealously that money can promote. C’est la vie. (Having forecast a Thanet win!! Ed.)
Team: Seyhan Fell; Richie Bowen, John Eustace, Jon Morton, Richard Dagger; Will Silvey, Jordan Godden; Steve Doughty, Jack Cox, Tom Carvill: Martin Murray (Cpt);Ben Stringer; Ollie Forbes, Chris Petley, Will Turner.
Subs: Kieran Smith, Kevin Murray, Tim Wood