Ashford 0

Folkestone 40

FOLKESTONE followed up last week's impressive performance against Maidstone with an even better one against local rivals Ashford at Kinney's Field.

Ashford made the better start with excellent rucking in the opening minutes.

But they had problems getting through the Stones' central defence where Richard Lama, Simon Harris and John Eustace stopped the home side in their tracks with some big hits.

When Adam Tolman kicked clear into the home 22 after 10 minutes or so, it signalled the end of Ashford's attacks until early in the second half.

The Stones backs have always been full of flair and pace and Ashford found it difficult to contain them.

The opening try came after Eustace created space for Harris to jink through past a couple of defenders before finding Tolman with a superb that eased pass which eased Tolman over the try line.

Joe Hull added the conversion and the visitors led 7-0.

Ben Brooks was desperately unlucky to have a score ruled out, but it wasn't long before the visitors scored a terrific second try.

Kiwi Hull started the move in his own half with a pass to Jake Johnson who fed the ball on to Lama who found Drew Woolford wide on the right.

Woolford was 60 metres from the try-line but he roared past the home defence to score under the posts.

Again Hull converted.

Johnson – a product of the club's youth section – did not play last season but is now back at the club and pushing hard for a place in the first team squad.

Brooks had made an early case for try of the season against Maidstone and so did Woolford with this score.

New coach Darren Molloy must be enjoying the lethal finishing power of these two excellent players.

The big crowd were enjoying some great entertainment.

Ashford never gave up but were under constant pressure.

They tackled well but Folkestone's pedigree was obvious with superb transition play from their forwards out to the backs.

The central defence worked well and when Ashford set any rucks or mauls Folkestone simply turned them over with Leigh Fitchie, Moose Murray, Scott Stewart and Jack McMurray especially effective.

The visiting backs were playing with pace and flair and very few teams would have stopped them in this form.

Hull won possession just inside the Ashford half and responded to Woolford's call for the short ball.

This time the speedy winger only had to race 40 yards to the line for his second try of the day.

Hull added another conversion and the Stones led 21-0 by the break.

Ashford mounted five minutes of pressure on the visitors' line at the start of the second period, but they never looked like scoring as the Stones' cover defence was quick and strong.

And Tolman turned defence into attack, running from deep up the right to find the try hungry Woolford.

But Woolford showed he isn't selfish with a splendid inside pass for Trevor Squire to touch down.

Chris Petley added the conversion.

Again coach Molloy had taken a big squad to this game, giving him another chance to see his new charges.

To get them all on the pitch he had to have a bit of a substitutes' merry-go-round which disrupted the play.

One of the subs, Jordan Godden came on for his 1st XV debut at scrum half.

This young man – who suffered a horrendous head injury which kept him out for the final part of last season – had a very, very good match. Looking confident with the ball, he so nearly scored himself, but nevertheless up the last two tries with clever play.

First, Godden found Squire with a super pass inside the Ashford 22 and then he took the return and passed unselfishly fro Jak Cox to touchdown.

Petley's conversion extended Folkestone's lead to 35-0.

And, for the final try, Godden set up two rucks which sucked in the home defence allowing Folkestone to queue up for the score.

The ball went wide to Ben Brooks who, this time, made sure the referee saw him emphatically touch-down out wide on the left to complete the 40-0 victory.

Stones: R Lama (Capt.), J McMurray, T Ermel, J Martin, C Sangiuseppe, J Cox, L Fitchie, B Flatman, D Ballard, S Stewart, M Murray, J Johnson, M Gardner, A Randall, J Hull, S Harris, B Brooks, J Eustace, A Woolford, A Tolman, T Squire, C Petley, J Godden, J Morton

Fixtures: (Sunday, August 29) Shepherd Neame Spitfire 15-A-Side Tournament at the New Burlington Field – starts 10.30am