CANTERBURY 46 WESTCOMBE PARK 33
by David Haigh
This all-Kent clash produced twelve tries and a bonus point victory for Canterbury but the game was never properly settled until the final quarter. The city club went into the break sitting on a 29-14 lead, extended it in the first minute of the second half, but were then reeled in by a competitive ‘Combe side. Going into the last twenty minutes the lead was down to six points and awkward questions were being asked. Canterbury, however, found the right answers through the strength of their pack, which earned a try for Jesse Vries and, five minutes from the end, a second touch down by Garry Jones. The day did not start promisingly for the city club, when an injury to Harry Sloan in the warm-up forced a late reshuffle of the back division. They fell behind to a try from ‘Combe lock Maclaren Crawford, converted by Oscar Daniel, before establishing control. When The visitors failed to clear a kick/chase, Ryley Burden rewarded forward pressure with a try converted by Lewis Holliidge. With confidence now high, two more followed, both converted; Burden again from a tap penalty, and hooker Lucas Eule from close quarters after a penetrating run by wing Max Campbell. The visitors pulled one back, using the strength of their maul before releasing Tom Burman and Daniel adding goal points, but Canterbury stretched away again. Olly Ashley-Jones slotted a penalty goal and the elusive Campbell wriggled free to set up Garry Jones. It was Jones who set the tone in the new half, making the break which led to Oliver’s early touchdown and push the lead to twenty points. That comfort zone, however, was not to last as ‘Combe won penalties and set out to repair the damage. Tries by forwards Calum Harris and Najee Mundicha, plus Daniel’s conversions, put them back in business. A yellow card for Jones did not help Canterbury’s prospects and they suffered anther blow when a serious looking injury sidelined full back Kurt Heatherley. But it was now they showed character, getting on the front foot with the De Vries try, Hollidge kicking his fourth conversion, and Campbell making the running for Jones second and clinching score.’Combe got a last minute try from Nick Sydororwitz, but had to settle for a losing bonus point.
Canterbury: K.Heatherley, M.Campbell. G.Jones, W.Waddington, A.Ashley-Jones, L.Hollidge, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, L.Eule, C.Macmillan, R.Burden, J.Stephens, M.McCormack, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Repl: T.Williams, A.Boye, J.De Vries, S.Rogers, O.Frostick
