FRFC 34 Faversham 17

Players in all three matches held at the Burlington Fields today observed a minute silence in memory of John Lord who died a fortnight ago playing in a Veterans game. The previous weeks games had all been cancelled as a mark of respect for John.
Folkestone 3rds (the Development Squad) consists of Coach Keith Howlands Under 18 Squad plus four old hands in Peter White, James Perry, John Eustace and Keith Howland himself. Under 18 players cannot play in the front row hence the injection of senior players.
This was a great day for open rugby and it was obvious from the first minute that this young Folkestone side were going to throw the ball about which consequently contributed to an excellent open and entertaining game. Unfortunately Captain Tom Snare had to leave the field after 2 minutes to be replaced by Simon Rooney. The first flash of endeavour saw Jacob Cooke stride up the right wing only to be brought down in the corner. James Mead and John Eustace combined as a half back pair to let the ball flow and give the home threequarters ample opportunity to show their capabilities. My only criticism of these youngsters is that they try to do that little bit extra whereas a pass at the right time would have gained them greater rewards.
Initially there was slight indecision in their structure but when they realised that playing against a senior side was not that much different (except for the size of the opposition), they got on with it and gave a performance worthy of note.
Eustace kept trying to crash through the centre and tackling anything and everything and the centre pairing of Elliot Jones and Jacob Cooke was a revelation. Faversham could not get out of their own half and then a curving, swerving run by flanker Fraser Hendy opened the score with a try which Mead converted. 7 - 0
The running, overlapping and looping by the youngsters was a pleasure to watch and within no time the ball flew across the line to Ryan Farrell to score which Mead again converted. 14 - 0.
The only problem Folkestone had was coping with the size of the scrum against them but held their own in the line out and in the loose.
Faversham finally got into the home half with a long distance penalty kick and Folkestone conceded a push over scrum which was not converted. Hendy then scored his second try with a beautifully constructed move by the threequarters. No conversion. 19 - 5. Faversham were now beginning to put presssure on the youngsters but they didn't give an inch and some senior sides could take lessons from their tackling. However, the visitors created an overlap and squeezed into the corner for another unconverted try. 19 -10.
Were the youngsters beginning to buckle???Not on your life and the score stung them into life and a line out won by White flew along the line for Jack Dodson to score in the left corner. Eustace then crashed through the middle and made forty yards before off loading to Elliott Jones who literally fought his way over from fifteen metres out to score and unconverted try. 29 - 10. Mead then broke down the right and fed Jacob Cooke on his inside who flew in for another unconverted try. 34 -10
Faversham hit back with a converted try (34 - 17) but could not deny this young Development side an excellent and well deserved win in their first League match of the season.