Month: November 2025

Match Report: Pilgrims 57 Old Colfeians 41

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Pilgrims 57

Old Colfeians 41

 

After back to back victories the Pilgrims welcomed old Colfeians to the MTG looking to go into a rest weekend on a high and make it 3 in a row. The city side started on the front foot and after a number of strong runs from the forwards, Number 8 Mo Pangarkar powered over next to the posts to give the pilgrims a deserved 7-0 lead.

Old Colfeians had a pack of forwards geared towards a set piece oriented game plan and they showed that when kicking their first penalty deep into the pilgrims 22 and opting for the lineout. They powered over from the resulting maul to level 7-7.

This prompted the Pilgrims to go up a gear and Tom Mackenzie was next to score when he ripped the ball in contact and raced clear to score, 14-7.

They added a 3rd from the restart when Hilton regathered his own chip kick and offloaded to the impressive Masaka who beat the cover to make it 21-7.

Winger Archie English was next to score when forwards and backs combined well to send him over out wide for the bonus point try with Hilton adding a difficult conversion. 28-7.

Colfs showed they were going to be a threat all day when their big pack scored a 2nd maul try out wide to bring the score to 28-12.

AJ Masaka then went on a powerful run after good work from Lister before he sent the supporting English over for his 2nd of the day with Hilton again converting. 35-12

Old Colfeians showed they would continue to be a threat with 2 quick fire tries before half time- the first another well constructed maul try out wide before they chipped in behind and regathered to bring the half time score to 35-24.

 

Pilgrims came out of the blocks quickly knowing it would be more difficult playing up the slope, with man of the match Gus Lister finishing off some fine interplay between forwards and backs to score the first of his 2 tries to make it 42-24.

 

Impressive centre Tom Barton was yellow carded for an accumulation of pilgrims penalties, but Hilton was able to add a penalty goal to help manage the numerical disadvantage to take the score to 45-24.

Colfs made their advantage count by adding a converted score to close the gap to 45-31 before Lister finished a fine break out by Masaka to make it 50-31.

Old Colfeians continued to look dangerous with ball in hand and added 2 further tries to cut the gap to 50-41 before Lister beat a number of defenders and sent Archie English over to complete his hattrick and bring the curtain down on an entertaining and well contested game that finished 57-41.

The Pilgrims return to action in 2weeks time when they travel to Sidcup looking to continue building momentum.

Match Report: Canterbury Women 7 – 10 Hove Women

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Canterbury Women’s 1XV vs Hove 1XV – Match Report

Sunday’s match at Canterbury was more than just a game; it was a celebration of women’s and girls’ rugby. The day kicked off with a fantastic open training session for the club’s Girls section, showcasing brilliant skill, smiling faces, and some fantastic numbers. The girls then formed a flag tunnel to welcome both teams onto the main pitch, before a minute’s silence was held in remembrance.

When the match began, Canterbury received the ball and immediately applied pressure. A strong run from Emily Kent put the visitors in their 22, but Hove’s defense was solid around the ruck, forcing a knock-on and giving Hove their first scrum.

Canterbury continued to threaten, with a line-out attempt for a try being held up. Hove’s kicking game tried to relieve pressure, but fullback Emily Moriarty collected the ball and passed to Lola Yuille-Clough on the wing, giving Canterbury another chance from the line-out.

Defensively, Canterbury’s back three delivered beautiful tackles, while Alice Haywards counter-rucks kept Hove under constant pressure. Kate Rutherford’s reading of the game in the backfield was exceptional, preempting kicks and turning defense into attack. Early disciplinary issues saw a yellow card for Canterbury’s second row Amber Shepherd following a high tackle, and later for Hove’s loosehead, but the team’s intensity never waned.

It wasn’t until the 36th minute that sustained Canterbury pressure resulted in a breakthrough. Player of the Match El Crowe won a penalty at the breakdown, opting for the corner. Excellent line-out work from Lily Philpott, a precise offload from Darcy McMahon and a hard line from Emily Kent set the platform for a series of pick-and-go plays. Forward of the Match Rosie Payne and prop Lizzie Deverson carried strongly, keeping Hove pinned. Canterbury’s fly-half Kate Rutherford seized a quick-tap opportunity, slicing through retreating defenders to score Canterbury’s only try, which she also converted to end the half with Canterbury in the lead.

The second half began with Canterbury in Hove’s 22, but Hove remained dangerous with strong ball carriers and clever running lines. A superb chase by Lola and relentless defense by Canterbury kept Hove at bay for much of the half. Both sides rotated replacements, bringing fresh energy, and Hove’s number 8 showed outstanding running, nearly breaking through multiple times. Scrum-half replacement Lydia Ticehurst and Ellie Desborough made crucial tackles to prevent a try.

As the game entered its closing stages, Canterbury continued to defend heroically. However, with five minutes remaining, Canterbury was shown a second yellow card, reducing Canterbury to 14 players. Despite their determination and disciplined defence, Hove eventually took advantage of the extra space. With the clock ticking down, they pieced together a series of tight carries before moving the ball wide for a well-worked try in the corner.

Throughout the match, Canterbury’s counter-rucking, strong tackling, and tactical awareness were outstanding. Highlights included the fearless tackling of returning fullback Emily Moriarty, and the expert jackling and support work from Emily Kent. The team displayed incredible cohesion, effort, and resilience until the final whistle.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support the day, including our team sponsors KGEN, Player of the Match sponsor Utopia Wealth, Scrum Kitchen for the fabulous post-match food, and Lilski’s Cakes for the delicious cupcakes. The players, fans, and the girls’ section made the occasion truly special.

Though the result was not what we hoped for, the Canterbury Women’s 1XV will rebuild, pull together, and go again.

Player Awards:
* Player of the Match: El Crowe, Presented by Utopia Wealth
* Forward of the Match: Rosie P
* Back of the Match: Kate Rutherford

Our next Home fixture is the second round of the Papa Johns Community Cup against Guildford Gazelles, 30th November! We’d love to welcome all the support and the girls section down to share this day with us.

Match Report: New Ash Green 24- 29 Canons

Posted on | by Becca Williams

By Tom Short

It was a back to back victories for the Canons as the team achieved their first away win of the season with a 29-24 victory at New Ash Green.

 

Canterbury started the game well, moving the ball out wide in the opening minutes to Fady Sheta, who jinked his way through a number of defenders to score underneath the posts.  However, from this point on, the game turned into a scrappy affair, with both teams consistently infringing ang getting on the wrong side of the referee.  Both teams struggled to find consistency in attack, with numerous handling errors or the ref interfering due to foul play.  Eventually NAG broke through to level the scores.  Canterbury prop Lennie West was yellow carded for dissent, and following injury to the front row replacement, Canterbury were forced down to 13 players.  NAG took advantage and scored 2 quick tries to lead 19-7 at the break.

 

Kicked into life by Skipper Ben Jones and returning to a full complement of players, Canterbury finally responded with another Sheta try.  A third followed from the excellent Ollie Jeffery, and the bonus point was secured by Terrell Thomas crashing over from short range.  As the game entered its final quarter, and Canterbury were further reduced to 14 due to injury, New Ash Green pulled a third try back of their own, after having 2 efforts held up by the resolute Canons defence.  A quick break away from Jeffery led to a Fin Osborne try to give the Canons some breathing space.   In the last 10 minutes, NAG grabbed a try scoring bonus of their own, but the Canons held on for victory.  The win means the Canons sit 7th in the Counties 3 table, with a break week next week before welcoming Old Gravesendians to the MTG.

Canterbury Hit By Late Blow

Posted on | by David Haigh

OUNDLE 31 CANTERBURY 24

by David Haigh

The last play of the game decided this tight, physical National 2 East contest with the Oundle pack snatching victory through a catch and drive try. It was a frustrating moment for a Canterbury side who surrendered a half time lead but fought back to draw level with seven minutes of the match remaining. As in their previous outing, a home loss to Bury St Edmunds, they established a fourteen point lead in the first half hour but, once again., were unable to make the most of the good work. Ultimately, it was the ability of the home forwards to turn entries into the 22 area into scores that proved the difference. Three of Oundle’s tries came via that catch, drive and mauling route while Canterbury, despite having similar opportunities, could only crack it once. The two excellent tries they scored in the first half belonged to the backs, with fly half Frank Reynolds playing a role in both. Wing Adrian Geddes won the race for his slide kick behind the defence for the first. Five minutes later Reynolds launched a counter attack from his own half, chipping into space before releasing Garry Jones, and with support arriving swiftly Aiden Moss finished behind the posts. Reynold converted both. A shaken Oundle now began to flex their muscles and when a penalty gave them a sniff of the line they mauled Grant Snelling over. That was quickly backed up with a break from their own territory which created a try for James Fear and two conversions from Ben Young brought them level. In the final minute of the half Reynolds stepped up to kick a penalty goal for the city side but once the action resumed the slender three point lead did not last. Oundle found space out wide for wing Tevita Va’enuku to put them ahead and in the 66th minute Snelling made his second touchdown from another effective catch and drive. A yellow card for the home side gave Canterbury their chance of a reply; this time they got their lineout and driving maul working and with Reynolds adding the goal points to Eoin O’Donoghue’s try it was all square and all to play for. But it was Oundle who applied the late pressure and Henry Frost’s score, converted by Young, left the city men with only a single bonus point to take home.

Canterbury: P.Farrance, A.Geddes, L.Talbot, A.Moss, G.Jones, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, C.Macmillan, H.Kenny, J.Stephens, J.Walker, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Replacements: M.Timmerman, C.McGovern, J.Dengate, O.Hewett, O.Collins

Terrell Represents Jamaica Rugby in International Clash Against Gibraltar

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Canterbury RFC is proud to celebrate one of our own Terrell who recently donned the national colours of Jamaica Rugby in an international fixture against Gibraltar. This milestone marks a significant achievement in Terrell’s rugby journey and reflects the dedication, talent, and character he brings to the sport.

Currently a scholar at Canterbury Christ Church University, Terrell balances his academic pursuits with his commitment to rugby at the a high level. He is an part of our senior setup, consistently demonstrating leadership, athleticism, and a deep passion for the game.

Representing Jamaica on the international stage is no small feat, and Terrell’s selection is a testament to his hard work and the support of those around him. The match against Gibraltar was a thrilling showcase of emerging talent, and Terrell’s performance stood out as a symbol of pride, not just for Jamaica, but for everyone at Canterbury RFC.

We are immensely proud of Terrell’s accomplishments and the way he continues to inspire others within our club and beyond. His journey is a shining example of what can be achieved through perseverance and community support.

Congratulations, Terrell

Rest Brings New Energy

Posted on | by David Haigh

MATCH PREVIEW

I can’t remember a time when we have scored six tries and still lost a game. Our attack, which has been a recent focus, has truly come back to life — with the team scoring eleven tries across the last two fixtures. The disappointment, however, lies in conceding forty-three points at home when Bury visited us two weeks ago.
The main causes of our downfall were our discipline and execution. It’s very difficult to win a match when you concede twenty-three penalties and we too often surrendered possession in key areas, which Bury capitalised on. The frustration is heightened by the fact that we started so strongly and went into half-time leading by ten points — having played up the hill. Not my favourite Saturday.
The week’s rest came at a good time and it’s been refreshing to see the players return with renewed energy to what were tired bodies. The only way to exorcise the demons of our last performance is to travel to Oundle and deliver a very different account of ourselves.
Although this is Oundle’s first season in National 2 we are by no means underestimating them. They have a squad full of experience and have made a strong start to the campaign. Our focus is firmly on getting back to our best and ensuring we come off the pitch feeling very different from our last outing.
The Pilgrims registered their second consecutive win of the season, taking all five points away to Old Reigatians. Another strong performance saw them secure the bonus point before half-time, lifting the team to tenth in the table — importantly, outside the relegation zone.
The next few weeks bring some tough challenges for the Pilgrims. First up tomorrow, sixth-place Old Colfeians visit the Marine Travel Ground followed by a trip to second-place Sidcup and then third-place Sutton & Epsom back at home.
We’re hopeful that, in the coming weeks, a number of players will be returning from injury to strengthen the squad. I’m looking forward to seeing the added competition that will bring across both teams.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH