By Alan Schofield

The afternoon started with two minutes of reflection on the life and death of Queen Elizabeth – a sombre moment for all the players, staff and spectators.

Aylesford Bulls were promoted from the old South East Division 2 last season having finished the last 4 matches with outstanding victories, scoring 200 points in the process, but they met an inspired Folkestone XV who must have benefited from the narrow defeat against the league leaders in the previous match and whose outstanding defence and decisive attacking play was too much for Bulls, although two very late tries were a consolation for them.

Fifteen minutes of solid defence by Folkestone was rewarded when in their first inroad into opposition territory, winning a loose ball on the half- way line and a quick passing movement through the backs found Callum Palmeiri who interplayed the ball with Charlie Watson, avoiding the defence, with Watson diving over for the opening score. Seyhan Fell converted giving a 0 – 7 lead to Folkestone.

The Bulls had the advantaged in territory, possession and penalty kicks, but this was overcome five minutes later when in another foray into the opponents half, Folkestone worked the ball through a penalty and a remarkable maul by the Folkestone forward that heaved the heavier Aylesford pack backwards for 20 metres before Gregg Wood wrestled the ball over the line and under the posts for Fell to increase their lead to 0 -14.

An early try in the second half with a good three-quarter movement gave the Bulls but they were undone when Sam Williams picked up a loose ball on the half-way line and ran and wriggled, for 30 metres before being hauled down – but the team continued forward into the red zone where the Bulls ran off-side. A quick tap penalty and Scotty Stewart went over strongly from 5 metres to give his side, with Fell’s conversion, a 0 – 14 lead before half- time.

Scotty Stewart, with a sprint that astounded everyone, made a try saving tackle as the Bulls right winger found some space. Changes were made as the hard-working Dave Archer was replaced by Tim Page – with the two subs Luke McAdam and Louis Watson coning on to replace Dan Hillier (injured shoulder) and Scotty Stewart.

Aylesford became slightly disjointed, conceding penalties and loosing some composure whilst Folkestone retained their discipline and went onto the attack with the forwards and backs linking up in a practice ground move with 10 passes taking them forward before Joe Satchell fought his way and stayed upright for the last 8 metres to the try line to score the bonus point try, supplemented by Fell’s conversion to 7 – 28 with 12 minutes left to play.

But Aylesford found some space in the last five minutes and made the score look a little better for them as they ran in two tries from open play – something that Folkestone did not allow to happen in the whole of the game previously.

Nevertheless, the Folkestone win was emphatic and showed the teamwork and skills that have been generated through the summer with coach Rob Dengate, Next week – a home game against Bromley. k.o. 3 p.m.

Scoring: - Try Watson 0 – 5 (16 mins). Conv. Fell 0 – 7 (18). Try Stewart 0 – 12 (37). Conv. Fell 1 – 14 (38)
Try, Wood 7 – 19 (50) Conv Fell 7 – 21 (51). Try, Satchell 7 -26. (67) Conv Fell 7 -28 (68)

Mason C Long James Cousens James Archer Cameron Fiest Ben Stringer Scott Stewart Thomas McKenzie Alex Price Greg Wood Callum Palmieri Dan Hillier Joe Satchell Sam Williams Charlie Watson Seyhan Fell. Subs:- Tim Page Luke Mcadam Louis Watson