Game of two halves

Folkestone 3rds 10 Cinque Ports 1sts 15

Saturday 6th February 2016. Report from Captain Paul Bartlett.

The skipper lost the toss and Cinque Ports opted to play into the brisk wind, from the off the 3rds ran from every play in true friendly match style. Conditions probably didn’t suite this style and several handling errors caused the 3rds not to score early. But eventually the pressure told when Ross Clark scored in the corner finishing a fine move 5-0.

Stones scrum was now on top, and after a succession of penalties near Cinque Ports try line saw a push over try with CDB touching down 10-0.
Cinque Ports rallied just before the break but the 3rds defence stood up well to some hard running in midfield. Half time 10-0.

After the break Cinque Ports used the conditions to full advantage, and their experienced fly half kicked Stones into coffin corner numerous times. This tactic saw them score from quick line outs on two occasions. 10-10.
With fifteen minutes left Cinque Ports scored the decisive try with their full back scoring close to the post 10-15, after a ten minute period of defence and 3rds not being to get out of their own half.

The 3rds threw everything they had in the last ten, but Cinque Ports held on for the win final score to win 10-15.
The 3rds can be proud of their performance against a side a league above, after the match it was mentioned that was one of the toughest match they had played all season.

Team: Ceri Ap-Bryn; Dean Perkins, Dylan Himbury, Steve Brown, Ross Clark; Shane Hills, Kyran Page; Peter White, Gareth Webber, Keith Packham; Kevin Gurr, Jack Lord; Justin Lloyd-Cowden, Paul Bartlett (Capt.), Christopher Donovan-Bayley

Sub: Rob Jackson

Scorers: Ross Clark 5; Chris Donovan-Bayley 5.