By Marc Root

Coming off the back of four straight wins, with players returning from injury and with good training sessions during the week, Folkestone had reason to be confident heading into this match. However, Whitstable are a strong team and in the two previous meetings this season each team had recorded a victory, making this somewhat of a decider.
From the very outset it became clear the teams were very evenly matched and that this was going to be a close encounter but Folkestone started well and slightly in the ascendency. The Folkestone forwards have been working hard on their scrummage and they transferred that to the pitch, hitting the first few scrums with real ferocity. This gave the backs possession and they started passing well but unfortunately some drifting running lines put pressure on the final pass.
As the half continued Whitstable started to come back at Folkestone and used their size and power well. This left Folkestone very defensive but unlike the previous match against New Ash Green, Folkestone’s defensive structure was very good. Jack Brooks at scrum half was bossing the forwards well and despite repeated attempts the Whitstable forwards failed to make any serious ground around the fringes of the breakdown.
This was how the first half would then play out, with Whitstable in possession and attacking strongly and Folkestone defending well.
At half time the message was clear. Folkestone needed to up their attacking game and keep a solid defence. It was important to make an early impression on the second half and they nearly did just that. From the Whitstable re-start Jamie Farnes took the ball and carried strongly through a number of tackles, attacking up the middle of the park. He then found James Burton, having an impressive game, who continued the move. Just the final pass outside the opposition 22 let the move down and gave a scrum to Whitstable, but this was a good start to the second half.
The match then settled into the same pattern as the first half as Whitstable dominated possession. It’s difficult in this situation to highlight any of the Folkestone players as all were tackling with huge effort and preventing the opposition from turning the pressure into points. Having said that a special mention should go to James Burton, who was playing a now typically strong game at flanker. Even at this age he has learnt the art of stealing ball and making himself and general nuisance to the opposition, skills that will no doubt serve him well in years to come. Unfortunately, these skills do sometimes mean putting yourself in the line of fire and James was taken off after receiving a nasty cut on his head which ruined his otherwise immaculate highlights!
The match continued in much the same manner until the final whistle drew near. Folkestone’s only hope was a breakaway try and that’s exactly what happened. Greg Bourne at centre found space and accelerated up the pitch, knocking tacklers off their feet. There was some excitement (notably certain coaches getting particularly excited) as he drew the final defender and passed to Dave Pitt-Williams who was supporting well. Pitt-Williams went in under the posts for the try which Bourne duly converted.
Then followed several nervous minutes with Whitstable chasing the game and piling on the pressure. This culminated in a lineout five metres from the Folkestone line. Another mention for the forwards, along with Brooks, who had been stealing lineout ball all game. Whitstable threw in only for Dave Duce to steal the ball which was hurriedly kicked out to end the game.
Both teams really applied themselves in this match but being biased (and as coach I have to admit I am) I have to say that I thought Folkestone earned this victory. Their effort in defence was nothing short of immense.
So, that’s five wins on the bounce but there’s still room for improvement and with numbers at training increasing we hope this won’t be the last.

Folkestone Squad:

Marc Gilbert, Ryan Dunrow, Ali O’Connor, David Duce, Ashley Gilligan, James Burton, Tim Jequier, Seain Way, Jack Brooks, James Taylor, Joe Satchell, Greg Bourne, Dave Pitt-Williams, Pete Silvey, Josh Walton, Jamie Farnes, Billy Monk, Luke Young, Jack Barton, Callum Wallis, Shez Attia