Folkestone Under 13s took a slightly depleted side to compete in this year’s Kent Festival Preliminaries, hosted at Medway RFC on a beautifully sunny day. With several of the side’s key players missing through injuries picked up during recent mid-week matches it was an opportunity for the remaining players to step up their game and play without relying on the missing boys and everyone put in an extremely creditable performance. However, on the day, the tournament proved just too long and the squad not quite strong enough to progress through to the finals.

In the first Pool game against arch rivals Canterbury it was always going to be a difficult match with the opposition looking for revenge for their recent defeat in the East Kent Cup. Fraser Nurse led Stones out and the whole team played extremely well but were unable to keep out a strong Canterbury team who managed to score two unconverted tries in the twenty minute pool match. With the missing players Stones were always going to struggle in the pack and Canterbury were able to exploit gaps to score their tries. Stones had their moments but were unable to convert any of their promising attacks into points.

The second match was against Dartford who had a large, heavy and intimidating front row which the Stones’ forwards had difficulty containing.  Inevitably Stones took some knocks with Jerome Conge down with a back injury, Charlie Howitt with an accidental finger in the eye and new boy Harry Grant pulling a leg muscle.  Andrew Lester showed great determination with excellent running but the rest of the team struggled to support. Stones finished with only 13 fit players on the pitch but they were congratulated by coach Liberty Watambwa for containing such tough opposition to a score of 17-0.  Robert Gunn, Sam Keet and Jack Parsons all had a good game but were unable to breech the opposition.

The final pool match against Dover was a very tight affair and it was obvious Dover were out to win against what was now a depleted Stones side.  However, Fraser Nurse (captain) scored a quick try which Frankie Morgan converted and then Stones managed to hold Dover for a long period before eventually Dover raised their game, driving the weakened Stones pack up the pitch to score but failing with the conversion, leaving a 7-5 win for Stones.

The Plate semi final against Thanet was a game too far for the Stones. Down to 14 players with Michael Begley off with a foot injury Thanet scored two quick tries before the coaches agreed to finish the game early, with Stones conceding the match to avoid further injuries to some very tired players.

Congratulations go to all the players who put their whole heart and soul into the matches and to the parents who stood, cheered and supported for nearly 7 hours.  The coaches are hoping for some quick recoveries before entertaining Sidcup at home this weekend.