5th Jan 2008 - London SE4 League Beccehamian 12 - Folkestone 5 Determination, guts, team-work and sheer bloody mindedness. Beccs pulled a victory out of the bag for returning player/coach Michael Hooke but it wasn’t without its difficulties for the first week of the new year. A total of 7 personnel changes from Thursday morning to Saturday and only 14 men fit to play 5 mins before departing the club the result was nothing short of miraculous and is a credit to skipper Grant Robinson and all who played. Lock Dan Harding playing blind side wing in open play and joining the pack jumping at the lineout starts to explain! As expected and predicted after the corresponding home fixture this was a very close contest, Folkestone are a tough nut to crack at home as many sides have found out already this season being well organised and giving very little away. Beccs started down the slope and with the wind behind immediately took the game to their hosts. The pack controlling several rolling mauls gaining 30 plus yards at a time. Early penalties against Folkestone allowed Hooke to kick Beccs deep into Folkestone territory. After some good home defence Chitty picked up from the back of the scrum taking 3 players with him to score a try after 5 mins, conversion missed, 5-0. Beccs kept up the pressure, the pack working as an effective unit, building the phases and Welch & Hooke kicking for field position. On 20 mins from broken play just inside Folkestone’s half Welch fed Gbemi Fisher who spotted and took half a gap in the defence and broke free, beating 2 defenders and the full back to score under the posts, a fine try just at the right time, converted by Hooke, 12-0. Beccs were in the ascendancy and sensing the slope needed to be taken advantage of still pressed the Folkestone defence although couldn’t make the decisive break. The Folkestone 10 showed his skills again making several breaks and using his torpedo boot to give good field position during both halves. On 30mins Folkestone managed to suck the Beccs defence in and moved the ball quickly wide with players out of position creating an opportunity for their 13 to score a try 15 yards infield, conversion missed, 12-5. 4mins later Folkestone narrowed the gap with a penalty from the fullback, 12-8 – HALF TIME. The second half literally was an uphill struggle and remained a stale-mate in score alone. It will be remembered as one of hard and fierce defence and 6 cards shown by the Referee. Both sides were harshly penalised by the referee who seemed very whistle happy all game, showing 3 yellow cards to Beccs’ Sweeting, Fisher & Welch and 1 astonishing red to prop Matt Appleton for alleged dissent still with 20 minutes left. Not to be outdone Folkestone also got 2 yellows. Fishers’ backtracking high tackle (without malice) aside none of the cards were deserved. For those on the sidelines and reading this report the cards certainly did not reflect the way the game was played which although physical was very fair from both sets of players. At one stage during this period Beccs were down to 12 against Folkestone’s 14 and defended like it was the last game they would ever play. It wasn’t pretty but it was effective from Beccs who refused to give up using the penalties for Hooke to kick upfield against the slope and what seemed like a force 5 gale. Folkestone certainly didn’t want to be beaten throwing everything they had at their visitors. Somehow Beccs held out to ensure they returned to Sparrow’s Den with a well earned win and victory pint or two. Beccs have a week to recover and relax their battered bodies before playing 2nd placed Hove at home on Saturday 19th January.