Folkestone 12 vs TWRUFC 1st XV 20

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Match Report

Despite the tail end of a storm creating difficult weather conditions with a swirling wind making it hard to judge the movement of the ball through out the game, Thanet Wanderers managed to extend their unbeaten run at Folkestone on Saturday.  

It wasn’t the most positive start to the game for the visitors as they gave away a number of penalties giving the home side both possession and an advantageous position deep in Wanderers half. However, solid defence from Thanet kept a clean sheet with Folkestone being held up. Thanet gained a scrum just past half way and Ben Cannon picked up from the base and released Tom Walton who opened the scoring with a try after just nine minutes.  

Folkestone gave away a number of penalties over the next few passages of play but Thanet were unable to score from these opportunities. Following a Folkestone line-out on 17 minutes, which was overthrown into Walton’s hands, Wanderers scrum half  dashed thirty metres through the home defence to score his second try of the game, giving Thanet a 10-0 lead.  

The next passages of play saw neither side able to take control of the game and most of the action took place in the midfield. A number of penalties against Thanet saw a penalty scrum awarded to the hosts who took full advantage of the field position to score a converted try. Thanet were issued with a team warning from the referee due to the number of infringements they had committed so far in the game.  

Late on in the first half Folkestone threatened Thanet’s line again after a number of missed tackles by the visitors, but following some good defence Wanderers were able to clear their lines and move away from the danger area. Thanet ended the half on a high as they disrupted a Folkestone scrum on the home sides’ five metre line allowing Callum  Doody to score, leaving Thanet 15-7 ahead at the break.  

Thanet’s resolve was tested immediately the second half began as Danny Clement was shown a yellow card for killing the ball within a minute of the restart. This was a result of the warning given to the team in the first half. Folkestone used the man advantage to keep Wanderers pinned deep in their own half, but it still took most of the ten minutes of Clements’ yellow card before they scored their second try of the game. The hosts, Having closed the points gap to three points, were looking to keep on the front foot. This was soon quashed as Cannon took advantage of a knock on to crash over the line to score his second and Thanet’s bonus point try with just under an hour of the game played.  

Thanet continued to pressurise the home side but were unfortunate not to score out on the wing as the last pass went astray. Thanet were reduced to fourteen men again when Lenny brown was shown a yellow card for coming in at the side. Hoping to finish the game on a high Folkestone piled on the pressure but were thwarted by Thanet’s defence. 

A good 20-12 win on the road for Thanet despite the conditions. Both kicking and line out duties were challenging due to the blustery weather. Although Thanet did take advantage  of scoring opportunities when they arose and continued to maintain their shape throughout the game. 

Tries:

Conversions:

Penalties: None

Drop Goals: None