Month: December 2023

Match Preview v Henley Hawks

HAWKS WILL TEST US

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY V HENLEY HAWKS

The frozen pitch at Bury may have put the chance to continue our good run of form on hold, but it came at a good time for us. After four physical encounters the opportunity for the players to rest some niggles has been welcomed and training this week has been full of energy. This will be needed this weekend as we welcome Henley who are sitting in fourth.

As part of our review at the end of last season we looked at our final league stats in comparison to Henley. We felt that both our games against Henley were close, we averaged one score behind over the two games, but they won 17 games compared to our 9 and finished fifth compared to our tenth place finish. This season we have been very focused on close not being good enough and we know Henley will be a test of how far we have progressed. If we want to be in the same part of the table as Henley, we need to be able to close out games against good teams, being plucky losers won’t change our situation.

The Pilgrims returned to action away at Ashford with a solid 0-19 win. It is a phenomenal stat that this is the first time in ten games that they haven’t earned a bonus point and It is very easy to forget that this is the team’s first season in this league. Fifth place Bromley come to the Marine travel ground on Saturday to try and halt the Pilgrims unbeaten run.

With both the 1st XV and the Pilgrims at home I’m looking forward to another cracking Saturday at The Maine Travel Ground.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Rugby Club of the Year 2023

Canterbury named top club

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Canterbury was named top rugby club for the second year at the annual Club Awards ceremony in Leicester. It was not the only accolade for the city club on a night when the community game across a wide range of sports is celebrated. Director of Rugby Taff Gwilliam and Head of Player Pathway Nathan Morris were both winners in the Community Heroes category. It was the second year in succession that the city club have scooped up the Rugby Club of the Year award. Club Secretary Sally Taylor and Nathan Morris and his wife represented Canterbury at the ceremony which was hosted by TV rugby commentator John Inverdale.

“This award demonstrates the outstanding contribution by so many people across the club, backed by our commercial partners, who deliver such an amazing product for so many players across all our sections and age groups” said Canterbury chairman Giles Hilton.

Match report v Ashford

Pilgrims Grind Out Victory

Posted on | by David Haigh

ASHFORD 0 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 19

by John Mitchell

On very cold, damp winter’s days like this league position and form goes out of the window and so it proved as the unbeaten Pilgrims had to grind out victory. In the process they scored three unanswered tries, were excellent in defence but missed out on a bonus point for the first time this season. They started well, with fast tempo and a try within minutes. Great all round backs play saw full back Gus Lister join the line and sprint over for the touchdown but Tom McMann failed to convert. Within minutes Gus went close again with another great run and there was continued pressure as Alex Evans and Harvey Furneaux tested the home defence. Scores, however, were elusive as Pilgrims were sucked into Ashford’s tactics, lost ball in contact and made poor decisions. The home side were not short of possession either but could do nothing to break a resolute Canterbury defence where Jake Dengate set the standard with his heavy hits. That early try was the only score of the first half but the team regrouped and came out firing after the break. From the off veteran prop Dan Gill scored a trade mark try, wrestling over from close range, and Tom McMann duly obliged with the conversion. The game continued to be riddled with mistakes and Canterbury straying from the game plan. Then with fifteen minutes to go a penalty kicked to touch, a line-out and an excellent push over try for Brandon Dunkerley – his first of the season – settled the result. McMann converted and there was still enough time left to earn that four try bonus point. But that was not going to happen against a stubborn Ashford side who took control of the set scrums. A shut out away from home is always good, but Pilgrims could have played so much better. There was little to warm us on a chilly day but the result sees Canterbury take a nine point lead at the top of Counties 1 Kent.
Pilgrims: G.Lister, J.Weaver, J.Richardson, S.Trew-Neville, A.Geddes, T.McMann, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, B.Dunkerley, D.Gill, W.Hunt, T.Mackenzie, J.Dengate, H.Furneaux, A.Evans. Replacements: H.Andrews, J.Everratt, H.Valldares
Next game this coming weekend is at home v Bromley at 2:00pm

Game Called Off

First Team Game Called Off

Posted on | by David Haigh

The first team match at Bury St Edmunds has been called off after the pitch was declared unfit. A Friday afternoon inspection confirmed that the pitch is frozen and the forecast overnight and Saturday morning is for more frost. The game will be rescheduled for the New year,

Match preview v Bury St Edmunds

Pleasing the Middle Man

Posted on | by David Haigh

BURY ST EDMUNDS V CANTERBURY

After another five points on Saturday, we are up to 6th in the league table as well as chalking up our fourth win in a row. It has been a long time since we have achieved this and it has been hard earned by the lads on the pitch. That isn’t the whole story though. From a really commanding position, with a 19 point lead after scoring early in the second half we finished defending a five point lead, with a top draw turnover from Jamie Stephens to close out the win. From my perspective the root of the problem in the last 35 minutes was our relationship with the man in the middle. 11 penalties, our normal average for a whole game, and two yellow cards put us under pressure and even after some strong defence sets, we were pulled back due to infringements. One of my favourite coaches I played under always said that the referee was the most important person on the pitch, and we have spoken this week about how to avoid our most common penalties and how to work back from a rocky period. It is important to not gloss over the great tries that we scored, most built on speed and accuracy and the change in our defence. After our reflection at the end of last season this was the main area needing improvement and the players have turned it into a strength. This week sees a test of our credentials at Bury St Edmunds who sit one place above us in the league table and are always formidable opposition on their own ground. Back in our starting line-up after recovering from injury is lock Shay Kerry but we lose flanker Cam Murray who, sadly, has suffered a family bereavement. The only question mark is over the weather as there have been heavy frosts in Suffolk this week. We hope to have an early decision on the fitness of the Bury pitch.

Matt Corker, Head Coach