What a triumph!!  Cup finalists and trophies for the second successive weekend for Folkestone Mini teams

Folkestone Under 7’s completed an extremely successful competitive season at Aylesford Bulls RFC Mini Invitation Festival.  As with the East Kent Tournament at Dover the previous week this festival was to end in finals which is unusual for Under 7’s, but provided the young Stones with an extra incentive for giving their all in every game. Folkestone were pooled with Gravesend, Aylesford, Sidcup and Maidstone, a much stronger mix than so far encountered. The first game was against Gravesend after quite a downpour had unexpectedly found its way through the weekend sunshine. Folkestone had played Gravesend at the Kent Festival winning by a single try in a hard fought game and this was no different, some early errors from both teams and three turnovers before Joseph Faiers ran the length of the pitch for Folkestone’s first try of the day.  Gravesend replied and then Oscar Hughes scored from the restart before a knock on from Gravesend gave Folkestone the opportunity to extend their lead which the Stones took with a marvellous pitch long run and finish from Leon Gurr. Gravesend replied to give Stones a 3-2 half time lead.  Tries were traded in the second half with Folkestone scoring first through Faiers to give Stones a two try cushion, the game was then clinched with Tom Kedwell scoring his first try for Folkestone with a surging run before Gravesend reduced their arrears to 1 try with the last try of the game.  A good win for Folkestone against a good team 5-4.

Second match against Sidcup and Folkestone found their stride, giving Sidcup a lesson in tag rugby with five tries without response before Sidcup found their feet to avoid the embarrassment of an early final whistle, another two from the young Stones either side of a consolation from Sidcup made the final score 7 – 2 to the Stones. Try scorers Oscar Hughes, Joseph Faiers and George James excelled.
Next up were Aylesford and this was an excellent game of tag rugby and a joy to watch with both teams driving forward, passing and defending very well.  Faiers opened the scoring, Aylesford replied, Hughes put Stones in front and then pressure from the Stones resulted in a turnover ending in a Kedwell try to give Stones some breathing space.  Aylesford scored and then Folkestone replied through Faiers after some extremely good support play eventually resulted in a break through a very good Aylesford defence.  Tries were then traded, Aylesford first, then Faiers, Aylesford, Hughes, Aylesford again and then a final try from Faiers to give Folkestone a 6 –4 victory against very well organised home team.

Folkestone’s final pool match was against Maidstone and a victory would ensure a place in the cup final. Folkestone delivered with Hughes getting Stones off the mark, before a long morning in what was now relentless but glorious sunshine saw young legs begin to tire and a few mistakes made, resulting in a burst of turnover before Kedwell ran in Folkestone’s second.  Leon Gurr scored Folkestone’s third before Archie Green finally put the seal on a Stones victory 4 – 3 after some good team support play and a final pass from Jenson Hemmings, both players making up for missing earlier tries when placing the ball down before the line. 

Folkestone’s undefeated run through the pool phase put the young Stones into the cup final against a very good Cranbrook team.  Despite stamina being sapped after a long day, both teams contributed well in a fitting closure to an enjoyable festival.  Hughes opened the scoring, Cranbrook responded then some understandable mistakes ended with Cranbrook taking the lead before Faiers pulled the scores back even at the half time break.  A hard fought second half resulted in three further tries a piece, Folkestone’s scores from Tristan Parmenter with a great surging run and try, Joseph Faiers with a sprint along the wing and try and (one other unrecorded, I think Oscar after being battered again in a tag festival).  The final ended 5-5 and the festival was won jointly between Cranbrook and Folkestone. This was a fitting end as both teams played some great rugby and both deserved their trophies.

An excellent and unexpected  way to finish the season given the standard of the opposition.  Good team work and well done to everybody.

What a great ending to a brilliant season for the Stones Under 8s.  All the training, the moans and groans and the laughs along the way, this young side battled their way through four games in the pool stages, winning all four. First up were a traditionally strong Medway side and after a close game the Stones won by 6 tries to 4. Against the home side Aylesford Stones won by 9 tries to 4 and against Maidstone won by 10 tries to 4. In their last pool game against Sidcup saw another close game with Stone eventually winning by 7 tries to 4. The pitches looked huge compared to the previous festivals but this obviously suited the under 8s as there was going to be no stopping them.  The tries were just coming one after another; some strong running and looking for the gaps and working as a team was just reward for the team as a whole. Winning all their pool games put them through to the Cup Final where they were to play Cranbrook, a very strong side but Stones were up for the game. Some excellent running, dodging and bringing those hips in so the opposition couldn't get the tags off proved to work for a while, but sadly they lost by 10 tries to Cranbrook and 6 to Folkestone.  Everyone was very pleased with the team as they brought home a lovely runner ups trophy  to the Folkestone Club for all to see. The try scorers were Thomas, Dylan, Freddie, James and Callan, but this could not of happened without the whole of the team working together; so well done also to Abbie, Ciaran, William, Sam and Joshua Mcgoldrick. 

Folkestone Under 10s had a mixed day at Aylesford. In their first and second group matches they came up against two well drilled teams in Cranbrook and Tonbridge Juddians (Kent Champions) losing both matches 6-0. Next up was Aylesford B, this was a close match with Finley scoring two early tries before Aylesford came back to level the match, then with the last play of the game Finley made a try saving tackle. Richard picked up the ball and sprinted down the touchline to score the winning try.
 
The final group match was against Gravesend, again another tough match. Folkestone went a try down early on, then they equalised through a great run from Aidan Fagg (scoring his first try for the club). Gravesend edged in front again before Richard scored another fantastic try to level the match. Folkestone finished the match strongly leading to a final winning try from Patrick.

Two wins and two losses meant that Folkestone finished third in their group and went into the Bowl Final against Maidstone. Folkestone played well in the final but came up against a very strong team in Maidstone who ran in six tries.
 
Squad: Barney Mackenzie, Mason Colchester-Long, Aidan Fagg, Samuel Pilcher, Patrick Matthews, Josh Mantle, Josh Walters, Richard Doran, Finley Pleace, Alex Cooke, William Maddison -Roberts, Ryan Weston