Kentish Express Ashford & District
Old foes capitalise on errors
Second-half mistakes proved costly as Ashford let a half-time lead slip against old foes Folkestone at Kinneys Field on Saturday.
Renewing London South East 3 rivalries for the first time in two years, the home side gave a debut to scrum-half Jack Weaver, while Tommy Murray returned to the front row with brother Liam on the bench.
Ashford started well, the pack dominating with the return of Murray in the scrum making an impact and having a galvanising effect on the rest of the forwards.
They secured ball allowing Dan Brown to smash through the line for his first try of the season, well converted by Steve Tanner to give Ashford a 7-0 lead after 10 minutes.
Rhys Fussell probed well with some clever kicking and debutant Weaver looking lively but no more points were scored by the hosts during the first half. Folkestone pulled back three points from a penalty.
Ashford led 7-3 at half-time but playing into the wind, the second half was always going to be about Ashford making smart choices, unfortunately they proved few and far between.
Injuries to forwards Jake Fletcher and Will Welsh seemed to have an effect, especially at the breakdown, with Folkestone winning the battle helped by several penalties.
The visitors took the lead with 25
Canterbury 2A 2 Havering 0, Ashford 0 E London 2, Waltham Forest 2 T Wells 2nds 2, Basildon 1 G Court 0, Blackheath 1 Southend & B 0, Burnt Ash 5 Redbridge & Ilford 1.
Havering v Burnt Ash, E London v Canterbury 2A, T Wells 2nds v Ashford, Gore Court v Waltham Forest, Southend & Benfleet v Basildon, Redbridge & Ilford v Blackheath.
Ashford 2nds 1 Burnt Ash 2nds 2, Gillingham Anchorians 1 Blackheath & OEs 2nds 3, Bromley & Beckenham 4ths 2 Bromley & Beckenham 3rds 1, Maidstone 2nds 8 Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2nds 0, Herne Bay 5 T Wells 3rds 0, Sevenoaks Acorns 2 Holcombe 2nds 3.
Bromley and Beckenham 3rds v Maidstone 2nds, Holcombe 2nds v Ashford 2nds, Tunbridge Wells 3rds v Sevenoaks Acorns, Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2nds v Herne Bay, Burnt Ash 2nds v Gillingham Anchorians, Blackheath & OEs 2nds v Bromley & Beckenham 4nds.
Gore Court 2nds 0 Dartford 7, New Beccehamians 2 Sevenoaks 5ths 2, Kings Alleyns 2nds 1 Burnt Ash 3rds 0, Canterbury 3As 5 Maidstone 3rds 2.
Ashford 3rds v New Beccehamians, Edenbridge v Gore Court 2nds, Sevenoaks 5ths v Kings Alleyns 2nds, Maidstone 3rds v Deal, Dartford v Canterbury 3As, Burnt Ash (Bexley) 3rds v Holcombe 3rds. Ashford foLKEsToNE minutes left, scoring a converted try.
Liam Murray’s introduction provided more experience and a couple of good breaks showed what he will be capable of with more game time.
Ashford bounced back and should have taken the lead, forwards working through the phases with a try looking imminent.
However, the decision to go wide led to the ball being fumbled, letting Folkestone off the hook. Both sides then exchanged penalties to leave the score 13-10 with 10 minutes left.
It proved the last time Ashford looked like scoring with indiscipline and mistakes giving Folkestone easy territory. They scored two penalties to run out deserved winners.
Team manager Lloyd Stokes said: “The positive was our forward pack now looks capable of taking on anyone in this league and once the players learn to eradicate the mistakes and curb the indiscipline, results will come.”
Ashford 10 Folkestone 19, Eastbourne 10 Lewes 13, Gillingham Anchorians 27 Aylesford Bulls 12, Old Dunstonians 36 Park House 20, Pulborough 14 Haywards Heath 10, Thanet Wanderers 52 Sheppey 24.
Aylesford Bulls v Pulborough, Folkestone v Thanet Wanderers, Haywards Heath v Eastbourne, Lewes v Old Dunstonians, Park House v Ashford, Sheppey v Gillingham Anchorians.