FOLKESTONE
RFC
Fillies Match Report
FRFC Fillies 5 Aylesford &
Tonbridge 17
The Fillies were always going to be second favourites in this
local derby with the visitors having a particularly strong team, most of who
play for Kent and the SE Region. With the visitors adding 2 new regional
players from Beckenham and Old Dartfordians to their
squad it was going to be a very physical game. To add to the Fillies’ problems
two of the established forwards were unavailable due to injury and a previous
engagement.
From the kick off it was clear that the visitors had a far
stronger and more experienced pack and through them camped in the home team’s
22 for the first 15 minutes. Brave tackling from the Fillies backs, Atkins,
Parker, Howland and Daw wasn’t enough to keep the visitors out. The pressure
was soon converted to points when the Tonbridge prop broke through from 10
metres out to score an unconverted try. From the restart the Fillies applied
pressure on the away team but steady progress was made and the visitors
gradually made their way back into the home team’s 22. Determined defending by the
Fillies caused Aylesford to knock on just outside the 5 metre line but the
scrum was lost and moved to the back of the visitor’s pack where it was picked
up by the number 8 who crashed over for their second try. Two further points
were added from the conversion leaving the visitors leading 12-0 at half time.
One substitution was made at half time but the Fillies were soon
under the cosh in their own half. The visitors had numerous subs to choose from
and the changes didn’t weaken the team. But all credit to the girls as they
stuck at it with brave tackling by Katie Martin keeping the Beckenham winger at
bay. Slowly the girls came back into the match with second row Lauren Price
taking the ball on some 20 metres before being forced into touch just out side
the visitors try line; but the home team were unable to convert this pressure
to points. From the line out Aylesford kicked back into the Fillies half where
centre Howland gathered possession and crashed through tackles to gain fifty
metres, handing off the visitor’s fullback en route. Reaching the opposition 5
metre line she failed to spot supporting centre Hannah Daw and took the ball
into contact. With Aylesford forwards guilty of ‘killing the ball’ a penalty
was awarded to the Fillies 5 metres out. A crash ball was called and Hayley
Morgan went over to score an unconverted try. The Fillies were back in the
hunt, but unfortunately an injury to Hannah Batt
brought about another re-shuffle and some impetus was lost. Megan West, despite
a leg injury, together with Aimee Riley, Morgan and Price did battle in the rucks and mauls and soaked up the pressure. The backs were
also strong in defence and never gave in but could not stop a final score when
the visitor’s forwards rumbled down the pitch, despite brave tackling by Sammy
James, and scored one last try. The end of the game saw them
winning 17-5. All credit to the Fillies who never once gave up on what was an
up hill battle; each girl gave her all and the whole squad can be proud of
their performance.
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