FRFC 10 Gravesend 19

This was a game played in the pouring rain with the wind blowing straight down the pitch which didn't auger well for entertaining rugby...The visitors were bigger in stature than their counterparts yet Folkestone dominated the scrums and had their fair share of the line outs. The home side had been shuffled around (again) but are getting back to the competent unit they were last year.
Folkestone showed promise early on with breaks down the middle by Aaron Robbins, John Eustace and their new Italian import Lucio Dublino. The visitors defence held secure however until a break down the left flank by Jamie Woolford ended up with a penalty which Captain Keiran Smith converted. 3 - 0. Gravesend hit back with a try from a loose maul in the middle of the pitch, to round the home defence and score in the corner for an unconverted try. 3 - 5. A penalty to Folkestone in front of the posts was wasted when taken quickly and an 'attempt' at a drop goal failed miserably.
This was not a pretty match to watch with the wet slippery ball difficult to control resulting in wasted chances and the resulting numerous scrums. Gravesend repeated their first score exactly when they again swept around the blind side for a converted try giving them a lead of 3 - 12.
The Folkestone back three of Nick Ryall, Ceri Ap Bryn and Jamie Woolford put in some try saving tackles and young Joe Johnson relished playing out of position at scrum half. Ryall's burst down the middlelooked to set up a certain score but his final pass went astray. However he made up for it in the next move by taking the ball across field before Matt Roots trundled it forward and Jamie Woolford finished the move with a try which Johnson converted. Half time score 10 -12.
Both sides had chances with penalties but missed all of them and Folkestone had difficulty in capitalising on the possession they were getting from the scrums. Gravesend then put the final nail in the Folkestone coffin when their winger ran in for a try from the half way line to score under the posts making the conversion easy. 10 - 19.
I then left the field as it was still pouring with rain and as the gloom and mist descended the visability deteriorated to such an extent that I could not distinguish players on the other side of the pitch. The score remained the same at 10 -19. Suffice to say the the ball only crossed the left hand touchline TWICE - once in each half..!!!!!

Editor's note:

Steve Hughes wrote the above report and is guilty of desertion. We will be looking for a replacement as we put Mr Hughes out to grass- Local farmers, dont let your sheep out.