By Richard Thompson

FOLKESTONE 50  SITTINGBOURNE 0

Team List: 1.Brice Dempster 2. Charlie Massey 3. Harry Thornton 4. Lee Howes 5. Mark Howard 6. Alex Randall 7. Charlie Millen 8. Chris Allbrow 9. Jordan Godden 10. Chris Petley 11. Ben Goff 12. Josh Palmer 13. Shane Standing 14. Paul Windross 15. James Page 16. Will Pain 17. Fraser McCloed 18.Tyler Linch

The aim of the game was to maintain the excellent second half performance from the previous week. However, there was probably a little too much confidence following last year’s fixtures which turned into a bit of a try feast.

Sittingbourne started with a lot more confidence than last season and had a very strong pack at the set piece. Folkestone tried a little too hard and for the first ten minutes made a number of unnecessary errors as they failed to keep things simple by being a little over elaborate.

The home team did eventually get into their stride and were turning over regular ball at the loose. With the still conditions they took advantage through good positional kicking by Petley and were presented with numerous overlap chances, but through a little too much greed failed to use the full width and available players. The first try came about after 10 minutes through the wide ball out to Goff and 5 points in the corner. A string of tries quickly followed as the spirited start by Sittingbourne waned. Goff took his second try and successfully converted for the extra 2 points. Shane Standing, still not fully fit took the score to 17 – 0 with one of his typical long runs leaving an easy conversion for Goff in front of the posts. Chris Petley after dictating play for most of the half took the fourth try with the half concluded by a third from Goff who again successfully converted taking the score to 31 – 0.

Changes at half time saw Will Pain going in at flank with Alex Randall moving to wing replacing Paul Windross. Standing was replaced in the centre by Fraser McCloed who seems to find himself in a different position every week. The half started as the first concluded with a quick score and an aggressive try successfully taken by McCloed. Sittingbourne raised the tempo and deservedly achieved increasing territorial advantage as Folkestone let them back into the game. The forwards regained some control and by keeping the ball tight gained good yardage to put them in idle scoring positions for the remaining 2 tries. The first from Charlie Millen and the second a text book No 8 off the back of the scrum by Chris Allbrow. Both scores were successfully converted by Goff and at 50-0 with 10 minutes remaining the opposition accepted the challenge to continue.

Folkestone then went to sleep except on the 3 occasions when Sittingbourne went very close and the defence held with its typical determined manner as if the scores were reversed. Credit must be given to the visitors who showed untiring effort throughout the second half despite the steam roller of scores during the first 35 minutes. An excellent result a head of the next game at home on the 22nd February to local rivals Ashford.