With an average of 30 points per match this season Dartfordians seemed to have attacking rugby at their heart and faced with a heavy defeat in the reverse fixture at Bexley the Stones tried to meet the challenge with a reshuffled team, Matt Roots and Scotty Stewart returning to the scrum and Tom Snare supplementing the three-quarters.

In dire conditions that made the previously pristine pitch into a quagmire the rain fell in torrents accompanied by a heavy and cold cross field wind. Nevertheless, both teams put in a superb effort and produced a match that exhausted their determination and physicality to the last whistle.

Darts penetrated the Folkestone line twice whereas they held their own line intact – just. But the final score did not reflect an evenly and well fought game by both sides.

Folkestone were put to defence immediately after the kick-off with Darts’ forwards hoping to dominate, as did in the previous fixture, but resistance was impressive by the home team until one mistake after 12 minutes of continuous pressure yielded a try to the visitors won wholly by the forwards. Folkestone retaliated well as Darts were themselves forced into a period of defence – only relieved by 3 penalties conceded by over-enthusiasm, however when Darts were finally pinged for offside in front of the posts Callum Palmieri took an easy 3 points. 3 – 7.

James Mead made a diagonal run, followed by grubber kick forward that stretched Darts to the limit and winning the ball in the 5-metre zone Folkestone headed infield with intent, only to be thwarted by an off-slide decision against Darts that brought Palmieri 3 more points from the penalty kick. 6 – 7.

Although the rain eased slightly as the second half started, the effects of the downpour on the pitch was dreadful. Darts, as in the first half, started intense attacks on the Folkestone line – resisted and countered before the referee decided a maul has been pulled down, close to the try line, and awarded a penalty try 6 – 14.

Folkestone switched positions around with the interchanges of the three substitutes but still could not break through the Darts solid defence although forwards and three-quarters were striving to do so. And, whist in defence themselves the Stones tackled and spoilt with equal zeal. Only when they were penalised in front of the posts in the last five minutes did the resultant score dismay the small crowd and the acceptance of defeat. 6 -17.

And it was somehow inequitable that in, the final minute of the match, Darts produced the only perfectly executed three quarter movements of the game that was able to outnumber and outpace the exhausted cover defence to extend their lead to 6 – 22.

The Folkestone squad showed that they are now adjusting to the markedly higher standard of rugby in this division and the team spirit is undaunted.

Scores. Pen. Palmieri. 3 – 7. (21). Pen. Palmieri. 6 -7 (35)

Team:- Archer, Cox, Roots, Mackenzie T, Smith K, Stewart S, Wood T, A Price, W Abel, C. Palmieri, B.Hillier, T Snare, J Morton, J Mead, S Fell. Subs. Wood G. Stringer B. Hughes O.