Pilgrims vs Vigo

Canterbury Pilgrims 53 Vigo 10

Pilgrims push for Counties Kent 2 honours was boosted in emphatic style as they ran in nine tries and extended their winning run to four games. Only one point now separates them from second placed Dover who they are scheduled to meet at home in two weeks time. In this latest win the city side were looking to make a statement against a team who beat them in the opening game of the season and after an even first quarter, they went about the business in ruthless fashion. Luke Webber got an early catch and drive try but Vigo, kicking effectively for territory, were five points ahead by the fifteen minute mark through two unconverted touchdowns. It was, however, a situation they could not sustain. The first of fly half Ollie Ashley-Jones’ hat trick of tries, which he also converted, recaptured the lead and after that Pilgrims pace, clever handling, and adventure gave them increasing control. Vigo got a yellow card for a late challenge, Ollie Finn and outstanding flanker Harvey Furneaux punished it with tries and at 24-10 the game was slipping away from the visitors at the half way mark. They were given a taste of things to come in the opening minute of the second half when full back Jack Weaver’s penetrating run set up position before Adrian Geddes claimed Pilgrims fifth try. With the city pack in powerful control of scrums and much else it became a holding operation for the visitors. There were frequent injury stoppages, one to repair a good referee who happily survived without damage, but the serious blows were increasingly to the Vigo defence as Furneaux grabbed his second try and Eoin O’Donoghue showed a fine burst of speed to join him on the scoresheet. That try sandwiched two more by Ashley-Jones as he topped off Pilgrims fine afternoon and added three more conversions to take them past the half century and bring his personal haul to 23 points.

View match photos

Canterbury Pilgrims vs Vigo

Images may be subject to copyright – Ken Matcham

 

Match Preview vs Guernsey 3-12-22

Match preview – Guernsey Raiders v Canterbury

Centre Ross Gladdish makes his first team debut at Guernsey on Saturday. The former Blackheath and Westcliff player is In the starting line-up after featuring in Pilgrims victory at Park House last week.  Scrum half Tom Williams is also handed a starting place after recovering from the shoulder injury which kept him sidelined for three months.  Tom Halliday and Ben Cooper move to the bench while the pack is unchanged from the Old Albanian game.  Back row Alex Evans is recovering from illness so has been given another week to regain full fitness before he comes into consideration.

Head Coach Matt Corker says that while he is clearly not happy with the team’s current league position he believes that we are close to getting results.  ‘We have played some good rugby in recent games but we must stop giving sides an advantage through our slow starts”, he said.    “Guernsey away always offers a unique challenge in our season. We are privileged to be able to get on a plane to go and play a game of rugby and the last few games between us have been full of drama. Last season we started strongly, forging ahead 21-0 in the first half. The second half was a very different story and ill discipline opened the door for Guernsey to come back into the game and it took a penalty try in stoppage time for us to earn a draw. The game before that, a similar driving lineout in the last few minutes earnt us a dramatic win in our promotion season. We are taking a strong squad with us this weekend across the water, and I am expecting similar fireworks to our previous meetings.” The Pilgrims have a vital Counties 2 Kent league clash at home to Vigo, one of the three sides who have narrowly beaten them this season. Kick-off is 3pm