Folkestone win their last home match with some to spare.

5th April 2014 Report by Alan Schofield
The largest crowd (bolstered by a large VP Lunch contingent) of the season turned out at Folkestone for the last home game to give credit to the successful young Folkestone team and to say farewell to Darren Molloy – the popular coach who has been with the Club for 4 seasons.
The opponents were Bromley - perennially rooted it seems, as Folkestone, - in London South East League Division 3. And in almost every year the double fixtures between the two teams have been closely fought with very narrow margins of victory. Last December it was 3 – 5 to Folkestone, with Bromley missing an easy last minute penalty. Last week Bromley ran strong promotion candidates Ashford to just a 3 point defeat and they were clearly up to turn the tables on The ‘Stones this day.
But The ‘Stones are in the ascendency some 20 points in front of this Bromley side who have already lost 10 games this season. And it appeared they were not going to improve upon this as Folkestone tore into them from the first whistle – and after the opening exchanges, all well within Bromley territory, David Baxter and Tom Carvill made ground up to their opponents 5 metre line, when Will Silvey snapped up a short pass and ran through to open the scoring, 5 – 0.
Fifteen minutes passed before Bromley managed to get into the Folkestone half and it was with the advantage of three penalty kicks in quick succession that they forced a defensive mistake allowing the Bromley fly half to jink through and equal the scores. 5-5.
Unfortunately John Eustace, who had started every game this season in the same position, pulled his hamstring and had to be replaced by Thomo Murray. This will keep John out of the team next week and thus spoil his 100% record. His attacking breaks and rock like defence have been strongly valued by the team.
But now Folkestone smoothly moved into top gear and commanded the scrums, the line-outs, possession and territory. ‘Moose’ Murray led his pack of eight so strongly that Bromley were defending for most of this game. On the few occasions they won possession they were reduced to trying long kicks downfield – but this tactic invariably failed as The ‘Stones either collected the ball and started another attack, or won the line-out with the same result.
Adam Tolman scored the second try after 26 minutes, jinking clear from the back of a winning scrum. 10-5. Within 5 minutes Folkestone were back again in the Bromley 5 metre area, this time the scrum pushing the whole of their opposition back into the in-goal area and it was Chris Petley who put the downward pressure on the ball for a 15 – 5 lead. The Stones failure to convert any of the first three tries was a little costly but amends were made when Will Silvey stepped up to convert the next try within another 5 minutes – this time it was Liam Regardsoe who forced his way over from 8 metres after a lovely inside pass from Adam Tolman to Will Silvey who found Liam in support to score the fourth, and bonus point try for a half time score of 22 – 5.
Any thoughts Bromley might have had for a revival were snuffed within 2 minutes of the resumption as Richard Dagger was fed the ball quickly down the three-quarter line and, with Tom Carvill in close proximity, outpaced everybody to put the score to 27 – 5.
The game was being kept at a fast open pace by excellent refereeing by Mr. Benedict Preece. Bromley were forced into conceding most of the (thankfully) few penalties that were awarded – but when captain ‘Moose’ Murray elected to take a scrum in his own half from a penalty award - instead of a kick to touch - it was seen as rather derogatory to the opposition. Nevertheless it did demonstrate the confidence that The ‘Stones had in their ability to win the ball in all set positions. This they duly did and made 40 metres of ground – probably about the same as a penalty kick.
Ben Stringer and David Baxter in the Folkestone second row both had strong individual runs and with their back row of Chris Petley and Kevin Murray following up quickly, the ball was recycled at speed to the sure hands of Adam Tolman who fed his back line with some good passing. Ollie Walton, that elusive centre, tweaked a muscle and was replaced by Kieran Smith, which led to a re-shuffle of positions. But this only served to confuse the opposition even more. David Baxter put Tolman over, but had a toe in touch, and the constant pressure on Bromley forced them into desperate tactics which saw them reduced to 14 men when Mr Preece brought out his yellow card.
From the resultant penalty the scrum was won and, breaking left, it was Liam Regardsoe who took the short pass to run through near to the posts. Will Silvey converted and when the score went to 34 – 5 The ‘Stones exceeded the 30 point level for the 10th time this season.
A brief attack down the centre by Bromley saw them take play into the Folkestone 22 metre area for the first time in the second half and some quick thinking from a tap penalty caught The ‘Stones off balance, and out of position, and a converted try was scored to bring the score to 34 – 12.
But the game finished, as it started, with The ‘Stones rampant in attack and in the final minute after concerted attacks - Adam Tolman fed Tom Carvill who went over with speed and strength. Will Silvey converted and the final score was 41 – 12 which, although a comprehensive win, was possibly understated as only two conversions were made from 7 tries.
Barring a total defeat from bottom placed Beccehamians next week, Folkestone have now secured a very creditable third place position in the league table. Darren Molloy, and his coaching team of Leigh Fitchie and Marc Spearpoint, have built this young squad into an exciting, fast, strong and formidable amateur unit and have every reason to see themselves in the promotion places next season.
Team: Jack Cox, Richard Dagger, Ollie Walton, John Eustace, Richie Bowen; Will Silvey, Adam Tolman; Martin Murray (M); Steve Doughty; Tom Carvill; Ben Stringer; Liam Regardsoe; Kevin Murray, Chris Petley, David Baxter.
Subs: Mark Bartlett; Kieran Smith. Thomo Murray.