FOLKESTONE 61 pts v WESTCOMBE PARK 26 pts

In a high scoring match in perfect conditions for open rugby, Folkestone overwhelmed their south London opponents with a 9 try comprehensive victory, Charley Watson scoring a 4 individual tries and Ollie Smith contributing 24 points with two tries and seven conversions.

In a bright start Charly Watson grub kicked ahead and followed through to touch down and when Alex Price broke through 4 minutes later Watson was on hand to take the pass at speed leaving Park floundering. Ollie Smith converted from the touchline. 12 - 0.

Folkstone lost James Mead after 20 minutes, after a no-fault collision - Kieron Smith substituting, but Folkestone did not lose momentum as they continued to play the ball from wing to wing and with Park stretched over the field Harry Dean sprinted round a desperate defence to score under the posts.

A brilliant piece of individual skill by Ollie Smith was to follow 4 minutes later when he saw a small gap in defence 60 metres out, took a short kick, and then carried the ball all the way to score the try – converting his own effort with ease. 26 – 0.

Park fought back briefly and scored a try following a penalty concession from 5 metres, but this was quickly nullified when James Cousens barged his way 15 metres through a packed defence to score near the posts and, with the conversion, gave Folkestone a 33 – 5 lead at half time.

Ollie Smith opened the scoring after 10 minutes in the second half when he feinted and dummied opponents in the centre field and ran through unchallenged for his second try of the game, followed by another successful conversion, 40 – 5.

But Park fought back and mounted a succession of attacks in the red zone and aided by a total of four penalties, and a yellow card for a high tackle by Ben Stringer, managed to score three tries and 21 points in a period of 10 minutes when Folkestone completely lost the initiative, by missed tackles and failure to clear their lines, allowing their opponents to show that this match was not as one-sided as the score had suggested. The scoreboard now read 40 -26.

But Folkestone were not dismayed and resumed their try spree with Charley Watson fly-kicking into open space and following up at speed to snatch the bouncing ball and touch down. Then Scotty Stewart crashed his way through a packed defence from a 5-metre scrum before the finial effort which saw Charley Watson finish off with his fourth try of the game after some interplay between the backs which left Park confused and well beaten by an athletic and skilled performance by Folkestone. 61 – 26

Scoring: - Try; Watson 3 minute: 5 – 0. Try; Watson (7 mins) Conversion Smith (O): 12 – 0 Try, Dean (23 mins) 17 – 0, conv. Smith (O) 19 -0. Try Smith (O) 27 mins, 26 – 0. Try Cousens (39 mins) 31 – 0 Conv. Smith (O) 33 – 0. Try; Smith (50 mins) 38 – 5. Conv Smith (O) 40 – 5.
Try; Watson (71 mins) 45 – 26 Conv. Smith (O) 47 -26. Try: Stewart (77 mins) Conv Smith (O0 54 – 26. Try; Watson. (79 mins) 59 – 26, Conv. Smith (O). 61 - 26

Team:- Mason Colchester-Long, James Cousens Thomas Snare: David Ballard, Ben Stringer, Scott Stewart, Callum Palmieri, Alex Price: Adam Tolman, Ollie Smith: Harry Dean: James Mead,, Charlie Watson,, Owen Chapman. Jack Hobbs. Subs:- Leon Gurr, Jack Co, Harry Illman.