Team have their work cut out

Hard work and improved fitness will be key to the destiny of Ashford’s season following this defeat at local rivals Folkestone on Saturday.

The result, coupled with Aylesford Bulls’ victory over Gillingham Anchorians, leaves the Kinneys Field side four points adrift at the bottom of London South East 3 going into the break.

Team manager Lloyd Stokes said: “The players will be pushed hard in the new year to prepare for 10 league games which will dictate whether we stay up or drop to Kent 1.

“The desire is there from players and coaches but unless the application matches it, it could spell trouble.”

Looking for a fast start at the weekend, they were behind after only five minutes as the home side’s scrum-half set the tone for the afternoon, in a game he controlled well, darting under the posts for an easy try and conversion.

Ashford responded, exerting pressure on their hosts but the chance was lost as Folkestone Thanet Wdrs . 12 10 0 2 382 178 50 Pulborough ... 12 9 0 3 343 222 45 Lewes........... 12 9 0 3 354 259 45 Folkestone .... 12 8 0 4 378 288 41 Haywrds Hth . 12 9 1 2 298 135 40 Sheppey ....... 12 4 1 7 280 362 25 Eastbourne ... 12 4 0 8 222 313 23 Park House ... 12 4 0 8 216 304 22 G’ham Anch .. 12 4 0 8 279 319 20 Aylesfrd Bull . 12 2 1 9 196 356 13 O D’stonians . 12 4 1 7 278 354 12 Ashford ......... 12 3 0 9 214 350 8

Aylesford Bulls 31 Gillingham Anchorians 7, Folkestone 37 Ashford 19, Haywards Heath 20 Pulborough 7, Lewes 45 Eastbourne 5, Park House 12 Old Dunstonians 7, Sheppey 10 Thanet Wanderers 26.

Ashford v Park House, Eastbourne v Haywards Heath, Gillingham Anchorians v Sheppey, Old Dunstonians v Lewes, Pulborough v Aylesford Bulls, Thanet Wanderers v Folkestone. FOLKESTONE ASHFORD went further ahead, following a five-metre scrum, poorly defended on the blind side.

Folkestone’s hard-running backs looked to stretch Ashford at every opportunity but the visitors continued to lay siege to the Folkestone line and eventually Jack Weaver squirmed over for a converted try to put the visitors right back in the game.

However, more poor defending led to Folkestone scoring another converted try to lead 19-7 with Ashford reduced to 14 men due to a sin-binning. Ashford restarted in positive mood winning good set-piece ball at the lineout which was desperately needed and more than holding their own in the scrum, with props Ben King and Craig Coggle putting in a much better shift.

Despite good possession and glimpses of implementing their new game plan, Ashford lacked the composure to convert pressure into points and were also on the wrong end of several refereeing decisions.

Indiscipline led to numerous penalties, Folkestone converting one of them to increase their lead, leaving Ashford playing for pride.

They were then reduced to 13 with the tide of penalties only going in one direction.

They conceded again before losing another player to the sin bin. But despite it being 12 versus 15, Ashford continued to throw everything at the cause.

They were rewarded by two tries – a second for Weaver, and one by Andy Ticehurst, both fully deserved for the players’ tenacious and never-say-die attitude.

‘Ten league games will decide whether we stay up or drop to Kent 1’

Picture: Gary Browne FM4622536 Jack Weaver goes over for Ashford’s first try against Folkestone

Picture: Gary Browne FM4622549 Ashford find some space to storm forward against Folkestone in the first half of Saturday’s game

Ashford under-15 girls (red and yellow) get in a tackle during their 57-24 win over Sevenoaks in the Kent Cup