With Whitstable finally able to play Canterbury in the other East Kent Cup semi-final, the Folkestone U15's were lucky to be invited to Rye RFC at the last minute to play two games against the home team and Cranbrook (B). Thanks to fixture secretary Ian Fell for finding the team someone to play at such short notice and also to the coaching staff at Rye and Cranbrook for allowing us to gate-crash their match.

CRANBROOK (B) 0 - 52 FOLKESTONE

So the score pretty much tells the whole story especially when you consider that each half was reduced to 20 minutes so all three teams could play one another. From the opening kick-off a determined Tom Carvill took the ball and crashed through the Cranbrook defence for a long run that culminated in a try from short range by prop Tom Snare that set the tone for the next 40 minutes. To say that the Folkestone pack dominated the game would be an understatement. They were simply in a different class today and rattled the Cranbrook forwards who didn't have any answers to counter their size and power. With so much ball the Folkestone backs were able to attack their opposition at will and were led superbly by fly-half James Mead who elevated his game to new levels, scoring a try in each half and orchestrating the play with ruthless efficiency. Further tries by winger Elliot Jones, flanker Ollie Swain and captain Lewis Howland all before half-time sealed the game and left Cranbrook visibly shaken. A few changes were made at the break but the replacement players didn't miss a beat and subdued every attempt by Cranbrook to make a comeback. The two second-half tries were scored by both half-backs with scrum-half Ian Balfour weaving his way through a broken Cranbrook defense to put the stamp on an authoritative performance.

RYE 5 - 41 FOLKESTONE

With only a five minute break Folkestone took to the pitch again to face a Rye team who caught the opening kick-off and moved the ball quickly and decisively to score out wide, taking an early 5-0 lead. This galvanised Folkestone who responded quickly through Tom Snare who scored twice in quick succession to give the away team the lead that was extended further when the increasingly unstoppable Elliot Jones broke tackle after tackle to score a well deserved try that was converted by replacement kicker Jack Davies much to the amusement of his team mates and several of the opposition players who attend the same school. With Folkestone now in command more tries were inevitable and not surprisingly they all came from the pack with Tom Snare securing his third score of the match and hooker Dereck Ashton also going over from close range to put the game beyond any doubt.

With the match winding down it took on the atmosphere of a training session with some players swapping positions for the last few minutes which only confirmed that prop forwards shouldn't play on the wing or at fly-half. Folkestone still weren't done though as number eight Ryan Farrow finally got on the score sheet with a well deserved solo try that was just reward for all of his hard work throughout both games. A final try by prop David Jarvis completed a remarkable mornings work which has surely raised the bar when it comes to judging future performances. Today Folkestone finally realised the potential they have shown glimpses of all season and they did it with at least two of their starting players missing.

Next week we will find out just how good this Folkestone team is as they put their unbeaten run on the line in a statement game at home against Medway who might just be the best in Kent having beaten current champions Cranbrook (A) before Christmas. From what we witnessed today they should go into that game with absolutely nothing to fear.