Month: March 2023

Match Preview

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY V GUERBNSEY

An enforced reshuffle in the back division this week. Fly half Frank Reynolds is recovering from illness but joins the bench replacements. Lewis Hollidge starts at Number10 and Tom Best returns at inside centre. Scrum half Tom Williams is another making a return after a successful trial for the the England Universities Sevens squad but flanker Sam Rogers misses out because of a ham string strain
Head Coach Matt Corker says: ”Leaving Old Albanians last week empty handed was very disappointing. We started the way we planned, dominating territory and playing at speed. However, we squandered too many opportunities on the OA’s five metre line and in the final ten minutes of the first half we stopped talking to each other and conceded three quick tries.
“The next 39 minutes of the second half was filled with composed attack and we pulled ourselves back to a score behind, before a moment of madness led to us conceding in the last play of the game. Our discipline did prevent us taking full control and some errors at the lineout also made it difficult to punish OA’s when they got on the wrong side of the referee.
“On reflection we did take a big step forward from Bury and the intent in training this week has been exactly what we need.
“Guernsey travel to Canterbury this weekend after a big victory last Saturday against Rochford and a good win against Dorking in recent weeks. This is an important game for us in terms of the league table and I am anticipating another great weekend of National 2 rugby. “

Free Admission For Guernsey

Posted on | by David Haigh

The club is dropping admission charges for Saturday’s game against Guernsey Raiders in a bid to attract wide support from around East Kent for this important fixture. The kick-off has been brought forward to 2.15pm to accommodate Guernsey’s return flight times. Victory would guarantee our place in National 2 East next season.
The Islanders sit one place above us in the table but history is on our side as we have never lost to them at the Marine Travel Ground.

Old Albanian V 1st XV

Two Fatal Lapses

Posted on | by David Haigh

OLD ALBANIAN 35 CANTERBURY 21

by David Haigh
Two Albanian tries in the final two minutes before half time left Canterbury chasing a game which, until those lapses, was wide open. They chased hard, too, dominating the second half but then, incredibly, threw away the bonus point their hard work deserved. The early action had a familiar feel about it with Canterbury dominating possession and territory without making best use of it and then falling behind the first time their defence was tested. After finding a good touch Albanians set up a series of close drives before Nathan Mitchelow plunged over between the posts and Greg Lound converted. Six minutes later Canterbury, again of the front foot, responded and when their forward battering failed to make an impression they whipped the ball wide to make an overlap try for Guy Hilton which Frank Reynolds topped up with a fine conversion. They fell behind again to a smart Albanian try as wing Jordan Evans made the most of a clever chip kick and kind bounce, but with only seven points in it and the half drawing to a close the city side looked comfortable until those fatal lapses. A missed tackle gave Albanians the opportunity to send Jarryd Sage over for his side’s third try and Canterbury quickly folded again. A scramble in defence, a yellow card for Sam Rogers and a catch and drive try which saw Lound nail his fourth conversion did the damage. From that low point the city side set about a repair job in commanding style. They controlled the second half, playing with pace and verve, chipped away at the deficit with two catch and drive scores from prop Billy Young, both converted, and looked on course for even better things. They denied Albanians a score, survived a yellow card for Reynolds and seemed to have secured a losing bonus point. That was threatened when Lound was given a last minute penalty chance which fell short but with the clock showing red Canterbury just needed to make the ball dead. Instead, they attempted to run from their own line. Was it fine ambition or madness; take your pick? The ball was dropped, it gifted Albanians the softest of touchdowns and left the scoreline telling a wildly unrepresentative story.

Canterbury: C.Kingsman, G.Hilton, W.Waddington, L.Hollidge, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, B.Young, E.O’Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.De Vries, S.Rogers, C.Murray, J.Stephens. Replacements: E.Lusher, C.Macmillan, T.Oliver, P.Farrance

View match photos

v Old Albanian - 25 March 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Final Approach

Posted on | by David Haigh

This week really feels like we are on the final approach of the season and we have some important fixtures on the horizon. For us to get the points we want at Old Albanians this weekend, we know we will have to put in a performance. Our focus over the last fortnight has been to reignite our strengths and getting back to the standards that we set in the games against Worthing and Tonbridge.

In our last game against Bury, territorially, we had the start that we had planned for with the first quarter of the game being played in Bury’s 22. We had a very honest review which was led by the players and it was painful to see how many chances we had squandered. We know if our accuracy and ability to execute our plan had been better we would have gone in at halftime with a very different score line. We know what we need to do, Saturday is about doing it.

We also had some news to celebrate this week, thanks to Chris Fullbrook’s knowledge of the league regulations the Pilgrims league table was adjusted and the Pilgrims have been crowned champions. The coaches and players have had a fantastic season and this has been the cherry on the top.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Easter Rugby Camp 2023

Easter Rugby Camp

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

We are pleased to announce dates for our boys and girls U7 – U16s Easter Rugby Camp. The camps will be held on Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th, April.

The camp has been generously sponsored by SEC Works Group for the girls and Countrystyle Recycling for the boys

Camp coaching roster

We are very spoilt to have 6 coaches with national league experience in either the men or women’s games:
Tristan King – First team flanker and camp’s S&C coaching extraordinaire
Tommy Williams – First team scrum half and camp’s backs skills coach
Nathan Morris – First team hooker and camp’s lead boys’ coach
Cameron MacMillan – First team prop and camp’s forward’s skills coach
Freddie Caspary-Pearson – First team women’s hooker and camp’s girls lead coach
Cameron Murray – First team flanker and Camp’s breakdown coach
Our coaches are RFU level 2 and 3 qualified, and are all DBS certified.

Timings: 

0900 Drop off
0930 Session 1
1200 Lunch
1500 Pick up

Cost:

Boys – £25 for the day

Girls – £10 for the day

Payable on the day by cash or card.

Register here now for Boys camps and or Girls
Please complete these to guarantee your child’s place.

Get in touch if you have any questions – nathan.morris@cantrugby.co.uk

Club Appoints Director of Rugby

Posted on | by David Haigh

The club has announced the appointment of its first Director of Rugby. Taff Gwilliam, former Head Coach at Medway RFC and currently Director of Rugby of the Kent County representative teams, will join Canterbury on July 1st. “Taff’s appointment will take the club in a new, focused direction as he guides rugby strategy and our community rugby commitment, “said chairman Giles Hilton. “It gives Head Coach Matt Corker the freedom to concentrate on the playing and coaching side and he and Taff will work in close cooperation.”

“I am looking forward to the challenge of taking the club to the next level” said Taff Gwilliam. “I had been thinking of taking a break from rugby but Giles made a compelling argument for me to return. Canterbury is one of Kent’s top clubs with good coaches and players. They have excellent sponsors and supporters and to be involved in growing such a club was too good an opportunity to turn down.”

Welcoming the new appointment Head Coach Matt Corker said: “It’s great that Taff will be involved, bringing his wealth of knowledge to the club. My focus is on giving all players throughout the club the best rugby experience possible and Taff’s appointment is going to help us take a strategic approach to this goal whilst deepening our links with the Kent rugby landscape.”

The new Director of Rugby comes with a strong record of success at both club and county levels.  During his time with Medway he led them to several promotions and his involvement with Kent included three National County Championship finals at both senior and Under 20 levels.

Match report – JUST CHAMPION

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Deal & Betts Lion 3rd 19 Canterbury Zingari 52.

The Zingari gave one of their best all-round performances of the season to cement the Kent Rural C East league title. The Lions started well using a powerful pack to pressure the Canterbury try line before bursting through to open their account. This looked ominous as the city side had to counter the heavier Lions forwards through speed and agility, That opened the way for Will Rayner to break free an go under the posts for his first of his six tries. The city pack found the right formula, their backs feasting on quick ball spread wide early opening up a Lions ragged defence for Will Rayner make two more touch downs. Kevin Stevens, who ended with six conversions, topped them up but next on the score sheet was Jonnie Gaynor. It looked all one way traffic until the Lions forwards worked their way to the city try line and broke through for a converted try. Undeterred, more Canterbury pressure was rewarded when Raynor intercepted and sprinted to the line, and a few minutes later ran through weak tackles to end under the posts. If Canterbury thought they were going to carry on where they had left off, they were mistaken. In the opening minutes of the new half Lions broke free from a maul in midfield for a converted try. Their pack now took on more of the work load but the city defence was up to the job and they eventually got back on the front font. As the game when into the last ten minutes a now visibly stretched the Lions side opened up for Raynor to touch down and Stevens to slot the conversion. Canterbury launched one final attack for their best try of the afternoon, the forwards driving to within a few metres of the line and sending quick ball to the backs where that man Rayner again found the finishing touch.

Match Report - 1st XV V Bury St Edmunds

Match report – 1st XV V Bury St Edmunds

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY 11 BURY ST EDMUNDS 28

By David Haigh

This was Canterbury’s third consecutive loss and after an uninspiring performance they could easily be drawn into the National 2 East relegation battle. The four sides beneath them all have a game in hand and on this poor showing the city side will find it hard to come up with the victory that could make them safe. A lack of finishing firepower once again contributed to their downfall as they failed to turn first half dominance into a meaningful lead. They were ahead by four points at the break but discipline and accuracy deserted them in the second half and Bury strolled home, adding three further tries to their first half opener. That came after Canterbury had exerted all the early pressure but had nothing to show for it. In the fIfteenth minute Bury’s half break made space for wing Mike Stanway and full back Charlie Reed, who never missed from the tee all afternoon, converted the try. Canterbury, despite repeated errors, found a reply with a catch and drive score by Nathan Morris but the only other points came from the boot of Frank Reynolds with two penalty goals, one on the stroke of half time. All that waste was put into perspective when the visitors took the lead just three minutes into the second half. A needless penalty for offside gave them territory, fly half Ben Penfold hoisted a cross kick, Stanway snatched the try and Canterbury were rarely in the game after that. They made life even harder for themselves when Will Waddington and Morris got yellow cards and the nearest they came to another score was a failed penalty shot. Even as the rugby on offer lapsed into the ‘forgettable’ category Bury were never seriously inconvenienced by a side lacking ideas and energy. Reed and their captain Matt Bursey scored the tries which earned them a bonus point win.

Canterbury; C.Kingsman, G.Hilton (rel T.Halliday), W.Waddington, L.Hollidge, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper (repl T.Williams) C.Macmillan (repl B.Young), N.Morrris, E.Lusher (repl D.Herriott), D.Irvine, J.Stephens, H.Furneaux (repl S.Rogers), C.Murray, T.Oliver

View match photos

v Bury St Edmunds - 11 Mar 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Match report. Maidstone v Canterbury Pilgrims, 11th March

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

 

Canterbury Pilgrims achieved Promotion at the first attempt in a new league, Counties 2, made up of 1st XV teams and 4 top level clubs 2nd XV’s, A great achievement. Pilgrims travelled to once mighty Maidstone and needed a bonus point win to stay in second place, and guarantee promotion to Counties 1. A league with only 1st XV’s in, where they will play local sides, Ashford, Thanet and Deal and Betteshanger, hopefully on a Friday night under lights! Pilgrims only just scraped a team together, but still a very good one! The first half was more like a war of attrition! 85% of the time the Pilgrims were playing in the opposition half, but things would not go their way. Some excellent play, some fantastic passing, excellent support, strong tackling and more, but the first points on the board game in first half overtime! A Horrendous head high tackle on Presley Farrance went unseen, and some other decision were not going in favour of the visitors! Just before half-time Maidstone had a player yellow carded for a dangerous tackle, from the penalty Jesse De Vries drove over for a converted try, that he took himself, 0-7 to Pilgrims at half-Time. Adam Malik, who had been having a good game, was injured early in the second half. Ollie Finn immediately scored a try, which Jesse failed to convert, 0-12. Good inter-passing by the visitors started to stretch the home side. Tom Ashley-jones was put away out wide after excellent open play rugby, this time Jesse slotted from out by the touchline, 0-19. James read then had a collision with a Maidstone player, but was deemed to have fouled him! Pilgrims were down to 14 as a Yellow card was shown, James came off with a broken nose! During this time Maidstone scored an excellent try out wide, but could not convert. 5-19 Jack Green came on for Adrian Geddes, and Dan Hill, making a welcome return, came on for James Read. A strong move, called ‘Bulldozer’ saw Alex Evans scores a try, duly converted by Jesse De Vries 5-26. Presley, who had another good game, got the ball to Ollie Finn to score his second try, 5-31. Maidstone rallied in the last few minutes, but could not stop the pilgrims gaining promotion, the home side still need to get a point in their last game to avoid relegation. We wish them well. Canterbury play their last game of the league season this Saturday at home v Old Dunstonians. A win by a massive score, like 80-0 could see them take the title, but as they have lost twice to Dover, second is a fantastic achievement and there is going to be a party after the game to celebrate their achievement. Come along and watch Pilgrims at the Marine travel ground, kick off 3:00, on the 18th.

The Marine Travel Ground is going to be the place to watch top rugby next year with the 1st and 2nd teams both playing at a very good level. If you are a player, perhaps you should think about joining before it is too late!

Won 5-31 (H-T 0-7). Ollie Finn, 10, Jesse De Vries 5+6(11), Tom Ashley-Jones, Alex Evans, 5.

 

Match preview - 1st XV V Bury St Edmunds

Match preview – 1st XV V Bury St Edmunds

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Will Waddington returns to the squad after injury and replaces Sam Sterling who has been given a three match ban after his red card in the Barnes game.
Last week Barnes showed why they are third in the league. Another slow start and we were four tries down at half time. We can not give good teams a lead of this size and after two good scores early in the second half we showed that we were able to fight our way back. This was stopped in its tracks by errors in possession and ill discipline and the final scoreline left us feeling that we hadn’t given a good account of ourselves.
With five games to go we have talked about how we want to feel at the end of the season and the players are united in wanting to be proud of their performances and finishing the season on a high.
Saturday brings a milestone for one of our players and it will be great to see our captain, Jamie Stephens, run out for his 100th performance. I first met Jamie when I arrived in Canterbury and was coaching at the Langton. To see him progress from school rugby, to breaking into the first team and then to become the youngest first team captain has been a pleasure to be a part of. His achievements, in such a short time, are testament to his hard work and strong character. We are very lucky to have him as a key part of our club and whatever he decides to go on to achieve I know he will attack it in the same manner. It’s also a good excuse for us to all buy him a beer as well!.

Mett Corker, Head Coach