This was not a very inspiring game to watch and the elements had a lot to do with it.

This was not a very inspiring game to watch and the elements had a lot to do with it. The ground was saturated and by half time it proved difficult to tell the two packs apart due to the mud. It was cold which affected the handling and a strong wind blew straight down the pitch.
The only good thing about it was that it didn't rain.....
Folkestone required a shuffle around from last week to see two youngsters - Guy Ellis and Fraser Nurse making their debut on either wing with Richie Bowen moving to his favoured position on the flank.
Folkestone played with the wind in the first half and were constantly in the home half but could not break through a determined defence.
However, Sheppey gave away numerous penalties and Seyhan Fell slotted two of them. Two others which were within his range he kicked for touch due to the wind and pitch conditions. Michael Gardner and Tom Carvill put in some storming runs and the driving mauls by the pack were a delight to watch, regularly gaining ten to twenty metres. Chris Petley and Richie Bowen tackled strongly. It was not the day for moving the ball but both sides tried and were only marginally successful in their progress and scrum half Lewis Howland constantly harassed his opposite number. Fraser Nurse was sent flying down the right wing only to be tackled just short of the line. Before half time Sheppey had their No. 8 yellow carded for infringement and in the second half was shown the red card and an early bath. Hence Folkestone played most of the second half against 14 men and then 13 when another Sheppey player spent ten minutes in the bin.
Sheppey, in one of their rare visits to the Folkestone red zone squeezed an unconverted try in the corner. 5-6 at half time.
Initially Folkestone were struggling to get out of their own half against the wind but strong runs by Ben Stringer, Dave Baxter, Jack Cox and Tom Carvill took the play into the home 22 metre area when Adam Tolman fed Michael Gardner who crashed over. No Conversion. 11 - 6. Kieran Smith and Steve Doughty replaced David Baxter and Martin Murray respectively. Michael Gardner and Adam Tolman combined to put Lewis Howland away but was dragged down just short of the line. From the loose maul, Adam Tolman dived in near the posts for a try which Seyhan Fell converted. 18 - 5.
Folkestone were well on top now and only desperate tackling kept them out but then a superb move involving Will Silvey, John Eustace, Jack Cox and Michael Gardner saw Fraser Nurse cross for a try on his debut appearance. Converted by Seyhan Fell making the final score 25 - 5.
A good all-round performance by Folkestone, bearing in mind the conditions. They have quite a young squad, particularly with the inclusion of 18 year olds Guy Ellis and Fraser Nurse, and if this side stays together, then next year looks promising. My award for Man of the Match goes to a group - the back row of Chris Petley, Michael Gardner and Ritchie Bowen.
Team; Seyhan Fell; Guy Ellis, John Eustace, Will Silvey, Fraser Nurse; Adam Tolman, Lewis Howland; Martin Murray, Jack Cox, Tom Carvill; David Baxter, Ben Stringer; Chris Petley, Richie Bowen, Michael Gardner.
Subs: Steve Doughty, Warren Blandford, Kieran Smith.