24th Nov 2007 - London SE4 League Beccehamian 30 - Folkestone 10 On a chilly but dry afternoon Beccs proved they were too strong for a well organised Folkestone team running out 4 trys to 1 winners at Sparrows Den. After exchanging early penalty goals Beccs opened the try scoring on 10 mins following a line-out inside the Folkestone 22, some neat drives and recycling the ball for prop Nick Hayler to bulldoze his way over the line from 5 yards out, coverted by fly half Jim Bryan to give Beccs a 10-3 lead. Folkestone quickly responded following a midfield break from the Folkestone 10 (who kicked well and controlled his back line all afternoon) and kicking to the corner, the pack did the rest with a catch and drive over the line for a try in the corner, the Folkestone full back levelled the scores at 10-10 with a very well taken conversion from the “wrong side”. The 2nd half belonged to Beccs with a hat-trick of trys from full-back Neil Paige and a solid team performance. Most notably after over a year’s absence number 8 Gareth Baxter’s pick up and charges gained yards for his team. The 2nd try 10mins into the 2nd half started just inside the Folkestone half. Several phases of forward play and slow ball released to the backs required quick hands from Bryan & Kemp putting Paige in the gap who accelerated and broke several tackles to score under the posts, converted by Bryan, 17-10. On 55mins Folkestone’s lively scrum half was yellow carded for illegal use of the boot and given 10mins to cool off. Aiming to capitalise Beccs pack took control and with Bryan’s laser guided sweet right boot gained valuable territory. On 60mins inside Folkestone’s half Paige seeing nothing on with 3 Folkestone players ahead and no cover defence chipped over the top and had the pace to beat all back-peddling opposition to score his 2nd try in the right corner, conversion missed, 22-10. Still while down to 14 men Bryan kicked a penalty for Folkestone being offside to extend the lead and Beccs control of the game, 25-10. Backup to full strength, with the light fading, and both sides still keenly contesting every breakdown the Beccs pack were working as a unit and enjoying themselves. Just 8mins left a 5metre scrum for Folkestone on their own try line and chasing the game their backs (who looked quick & dangerous all day) attempted to run from under their own posts. Beccs alive to the threat put pressure on and gave them no option other than to touch down and pass possession over to a Beccs attacking scrum. Another Baxter pick up and recycled phases from his colleagues in the pack laid the platform for Bryan to complete a well worked backs move finishing with an excellent floating pass over the approaching defenders to Neil Paige who scored in the left hand corner to complete a well deserved hat-trick. Beccs perhaps should have had several more trys, on another day it could have been more costly, this return fixture down the M20 in the 1st week of January is likely to be such an occasion. Beccs next league fixture is a local derby away to Bromley on Saturday 1st December in what is bound to be a very physical and close encounter.