FRFC 25 Tunbridge Wells 12

This was a suprisingly good game to watch despite the fierce cross
wind blowing at an angle across the pitch.
The Folkestone side were a mixed bunch, taking into account the number of injuries, cry offs due to half term and general unavailability, and
therefore took a little time to settle down. They could not get out of
their own half for the first twenty minutes but were able to withstand
all the attacks that the visitors mounted.

However it was Tunbridge Wells who scored first with a simple break through the middle to score under the posts. The wind was so strong that the conversion skewed off to the right and nearly hit the corner flag...

The home youngsters in Duce, Taylor, Godden, Nunn, Slater and the
brothers Ap Bryn were supported by the experienced Burrows (Captain),
White, Stringer, Short, Gurr and Box and began to gel after the half
hour mark.

Runs by Woolford, Simpson, Burrows and Slater took the ball up to the
visitors posts where they won a penalty. Godden took a quick tap and
dived over to even the score. Burrows added the conversion with a drop
kick.

They then scored a second try when Box won the ball against the head in
the Tunbridge 22 metre area for Simpson to feed Cai Ap Bryn who sqeezed into the corner for an unconverted try. 12 - 5

Tunbridge Wells came back, against the run of play, when a loose ball was
hacked down-wind for their centre to win the race for a touch down
which was duly converted. Half time score 12 - 12.

Stringer, Weller and Bass were prominent in the opening stages of the
second half with support from White, Standen, Box and Short. A perfect
kick by Burrows with the wind from his own half saw a line out take
place in the visitors corner and from a break down Burrows dropped a
goal to give Folkestone the lead. Simpson and Woolford ran strongly and
combined to put Nunn into the corner for an unconverted try. 20 - 12

Stringer started the next scoring move by picking up from the back of
the scrum and seeing it fed along the line to see young Taylor score another unconverted try.

Nice to see Jordan Godden back and to view comparatively new players in
Nunn, Slater, Ceri Ap Bryn and Duce. The Thirds are well placed in
their League and if Simon Petts can keep the nucleus of his side
together they should be battling for the top spot.