STONES U14s WIN TO REACH CUP FINAL

Folkestone U14’s 19 Deal U14’s 12

Sunday 6th December East Kent Cup semi final Report from Paul Turner

STONES U14s WIN TO REACH CUP FINAL Team Photo by Yvonne Turner

In very windy conditions Deal kicked off to see Ted Bean gather the ball and charge forward only to be held up short of the Deal try line. Constant Stones pressure was applied and it was no surprise when Freddie Faiers broke wide and outpaced the Deal defence to cross the line unfortunately the well struck conversion from James Hughes sailed just wide of the posts and Stones were ahead 5-0.

Back came Deal in determined fashion and from their first venture near the Stones line their no8 crashed over the try line under the posts with the conversion being added to put Deal ahead 5-7.

Stones continued to apply pressure with strong runs from Adam Butler, Dylan Barnes and Johnnie Hobbs and newcomer Jake Beal following a 5 metre scrum the ball was quickly fed to Adam Butler who burst through the Deal defence for a try converted by James Hughes giving Stone a half time lead of 12-7.

The second half started and Deal following a line out close to the Stones line fed the ball to their no8 who went over for his second try, the conversion being missed bringing the scores level at 12-12.

Stones were having the better of the exchanges but often missed the opportunity to score by not using the overlap. The Stones thought they had scored only for the referee to conclude that the ball had not been grounded but from the resulting 5metre scrum Johnnie Hobbs made ground and the ball found its way to Adam Butler who scored taking a few Deal defenders over the line with him with James Hughes adding the conversion the Stones were 19-12 ahead.

Stones Tom Whelan won a scrum against the head and the ball was given to newcomer Brandon Miller-Lesley who showed what an asset he will become as he stormed up the field cutting wide and with a try looming only to be bundled into touch.

A good solid performance by the Stones, in what was always going to be a difficult match.

Stones: Johnnie Hobbs (Capt.), Ciaran Hughes, Tom Whelan, William Rayner, Connor O'Brien, Toby Wills, Jake Beal, Connor Raine, Ted Bean, TJ Leather, James Hughes, Dylan Barnes, Adam Butler, James Leather, Callan Little, Tiarnan Canning, Brandon Miller-Lesley, Freddie Faiers, Finley Russell, Tyler Marjoram.