FOLKESTONE
RFC
Fillies Match Report
Beckenham / Old Alleynians / Southwark Tigers 5 FRFC Fillies 30
The girls’ second fixture was played at Beckenham RFC against a
combination of young ladies from Beckenham, Old Alleynians
and Southwark Tigers. It appeared at the start that it would be a difficult
game as the opposition not only looked bigger but they had more girls to select
from. The game started with the Fillies kicking to the home team who instantly
released their inside centre with an amazing turn of speed. Fortunately the
visitors were awake and Parker was able to make a fine tackle driving the
opposition into touch. From the line out the home team again got the ball to
their big centre who took the ball into contact but
lost the ball as it was ripped out by captain Howland who passed to Davies only
to be stopped by a high tackle from the opposition. The penalty was taken
quickly and fed to prop Morgan who made good yardage before being overwhelmed
by numerous girls from the home team. The ball was moved out by Atkins to Parker,
Howland and Daw and an excellent passage of recycled ball took the Fillies to
within 5 yards of the opposition try line. Good rucking
by second rows West and Price made the ball available for Morgan who crashed
over in the corner to open the scoring. Digby was
unable to add the conversion. The Fillies dominated from very early on, with
the rucks and mauls being secured in text book
fashion. With the ball being freely available the backs were soon making
inroads into the home defence and the Fillies’ second try came from a well
worked move with prop Batt and hooker Paice working hard to secure a scrum against the head. The
ball was moved quickly through the backs’ hands to full back Digby to score in the corner. She was unable to convert her
own try. From the restart the Fillies ran the ball back to the home team’s half
and again good rucking ensured clean ball for the
backs who were dominant. Stand off Parker made a great
run up the far wing and off loaded to winger Kerri Morgan who popped it up to
West, out to Paice who scored in the corner. 15-0 to Stones at half time.
Changes were made at half time to try and give all the team
playing time. Riley came on at number 8 and Davies moved up to front row for
injured Batt. Jules Martin replaced Kerri Morgan on
the wing. Folkestone opened the scoring in the second half with a well worked
try starting from a Fillies’ scrum. The ball was moved out to the backs and on
to winger Katie Martin who made a good 30 yards before being brought to ground.
Again the ball was recycled and this time found its way to outside centre Daw
to race through the gap and score, making it 20-0 Folkestone. With Folkestone
enjoying long passages of play the forwards were able to use their superior rucking and mauling to keep the home team pinned in their
own half. A Beckenham spectator was heard to comment that maybe the Fillies
would like to give their first team a lesson or two! The next try came in the
form of further excellent forward work with a now fired up Riley and West and
Price driving the opposition out of the rucks. The
ball went out to the backs, Digby cut inside and off
loaded to Batt and out to prop Morgan. The home side
failed to stop her despite numerous attempted tackles; her strength breaking through
the tackles and she scored to the left of the posts. The try was unconverted
but the score was now 25-0 to Folkestone. With only a few minutes remaining the
Fillies introduced two new players, Samantha and Victoria James on each wing. In
the final minutes the home side took a consolation try with a combination of
their best two players; scrum half O’Connell and the big centre, linking up to
score in the corner but the Fillies still had gas left in the tank and from the
restart Parker scored a great solo try scorching down the right wing to touch
down in the corner. The final whistle meant that the Fillies had won 30-5.
Their next game is at home on Sunday
25th November against Aylesford and Tonbridge and following that
their next away game is against London
Irish on Saturday 15th
December where the Fillies will
be taking part in a curtain raiser prior to the full international
Chloe Abi Sammy
Three of our Magnificent Fillies Squad
Support Folkestone
Rugby Football Club