Dartfordians were the only team that Folkestone had not defeated this season

Folkestone 36 pts Dartfordians 36 pts
15th March 2014 Report by Alan Schofield
The question before this game was - which Dartfordians team was coming to Folkestone this day? Was it the team that ran in 7 tries against Horsham 2 weeks ago – or the team that lost heavily to Gillingham Anchorians 3 weeks ago – or the team that halted Folkestone’s unbeaten run of 6 matches at the beginning of the season.
The team from Bexley were laying 6th in London South-East Division 3 – but three places and eight points behind Folkestone, with a match in hand. Folkestone, however, have had three goods wins in succession against strong opposition – and were playing well.
The Stones had to make seven changes to the side. In came David Baxter; Will Massey; Ryan Farrow; Mat Roots; Jack Cox and ‘Thomo’ Murray. But, interestingly, Folkestone Youth Rugby supplied 17 of the 18 players selected for this game.
Dartfordians were the only team that Folkestone had not defeated this season and they were 0 -7 up in 4 minutes with a 70 metre break through 2 missed attempted tackles. But within a couple of minutes Adam Tolman (fly-half this week) fooled his opposite number with a dummy pass and ran through for a try that Jack Cox converted to bring the score level at 7 – 7.
Folkestone conceded a penalty under the posts to put their opponents in the lead again 7 – 10.
Dartfordians had a very big set of forwards, but Martin Murray and his front five are not without grunt themselves and were able to contain some strong attacks. And it was Murray himself who almost scored from a forward led attack in the opponent’s 5 metre zone – but saw Adam Tolman in close proximity who broke loose and fed the ball for Richard Dagger to score under the posts. Jack Cox had his conversion attempt charged down but Folkestone had taken the lead for the first time, 12 – 10.
Richie Bowen, on the left wing, had two tenacious individual runs and three players were needed to stop him on both occasions. But on the other wing, Dartfordians made a fast 70 metre attack but Richard Dagger made a try saving tackle.
The Stones were gifted another 3 points when the Dartfordians interfered with a quick tap penalty – and the additional 10 metres put Jack Cox’s place kick just in range and a half time score of 15 – 10.
Within minutes of the resumption, Folkestone scored a beautifully worked try, using the ball from the base of the loose scrum and feeding it down the three-quarters for the speedy Richard Dagger to score. Jack Cox converted and a gap opened in the score 22 – 10.
But it was a two minute gap, because Dartfordians struck back straight from the kick-off with a well worked try on the left having used the whole of the width of the field twice – before The Stones ran out of defenders. 22 – 15. That was a setback, but worse was to come for the home team because almost immediately the scores were level after a missed tackle on the right saw them concede a try under the posts and the scoreboard read 22 – 22.
The Stones regrouped when coach Darren Murray brought his subs into play and Ryan Farrow and Mat Roots replaced David Baxter and Mark Bartlett in the scrum. Later, Kieran Smith relieved Liam Regardsoe.
Chris Petley went over, only to be brought back for a scrum. Matt Roots was inches short, but it was Ben Stringer who scored after a series of concerted attacks on the try line to regain the lead with a converted try 29 -22.
This was enlarged upon and when Adam Tolman and Richie Bowen combined for a converted try after 65 minutes, Jack Cox adding the conversion. Folkestone had spent 15 minutes in the opponents half and came away from their efforts with a 36 – 22 lead which was seen by all spectators to be enough for victory.
But in this fast moving and unpredictable game Dartfordians regrouped and a fast attack from the kick off split the Folkestone defence and a try under the posts brought them to a 36 – 29 score –just within reach and they were far from finished! The last 10 minutes of the game was played from end to end with good passing and handling on both sides. Dartfordians had a very good ability to switch attacks from their forwards to their fast wings and with minutes to go an excellent converted try was scored to level scores at 36 – 36.
This was an exciting game, played in good spirit and finishing with a most unusual score that gave each team three points – to maintain their respective places in the league. It was a game where quick thinking and fast running by both sides overcame normally good and consistent defences.
Team: Jack Cox; Thomo Murray, Richard Dagger, John Eustace, Richie Bowen; Adam Tolman, Jordan Godden; Martin Murray (Capt), Will Massey, Mark Bartlett; Liam Regardsoe, Ben Stringer; David Baxter, Kevin Murray, Chris Petley.