Author: David Haigh

MATCH PREVIEW

For the last two seasons I have left Westcombe Park disappointed that we hadn’t quite done ourselves justice on the pitch. This year felt very different. It’s a tough place to go and play our game, but the players worked relentlessly for the full eighty minutes and showed real control to come away with four points.
The performance was built on the pressure we put Westcombe Park under, the growing maturity of our kicking game this season and an effective maul display. Overturning records that have stood against us has been a clear target this year and, if Saturday taught us anything, it’s that it will always require our very best to do so.
The Pilgrims suffered an agonising finish against Bromley last week, conceding in the final play to lose by three points. After a slow start they had fought their way back into the lead, making the late score a bitter pill to swallow. They now have a rest weekend before travelling to Dartfordians for an important fixture.
This weekend we welcome Dorking to the Marine Travel Ground in a fourth-versus-fifth clash. Our recent games against them have always been matches to remember; we know how important this result is as we head into the home straight of the season. We are still to beat a top-five side this year and with four of them – including Dorking — coming to us before the end of the season the challenge is clear.
No backwards steps. Be better every week. That’s the plan; now we have to execute it.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH

WESTCOMBE PARK 12 CANTERBURY 21

by David Haigh

An assured second half performance, rewarded by three Frank Reynolds penalty goals, extended Canterbury’s winning streak to seven games. The victory, on a sticky pitch, was down to excellent game management and robust defence which saw them control territory and limit ‘Combe’s attacking options. Given the conditions, and the home side’s defensive qualities, this Kent derby was never going to be a try fest and the prime requirement was to make the most of your chances.’Combe did that early on when Canterbury’s failure to clear up loose ball saw Mikel Davies sprint away for the try and Max Brown convert. The response came on thirteen minutes, a breakdown penalty setting up position for a catch and drive score from the prolific Eoin O’Donoghue, his fourteenth of the season, and topped up by Reynolds. When ‘Combe created a similar chance the city side’s lineout steal averted trouble and by the end of an attritional, but absorbing, first session they had taken the lead. Wing Toby Wallace’s deliberate knock on cost him a yellow card and his side a try as Canterbury rumbled over from another driving maul. Tyler Oliver scored and although Reynolds failed with a difficult conversion he made ‘Combe pay for their indiscipline after the break. Canterbury’s expert handling of the fundamentals built frustration in the home ranks and, having failed to make significant progress, they coughed up penalties. O’Donoghue had a second try ruled out for a double movement before Reynolds struck twice in the space of five minutes at the start of the final quarter to open an eleven point gap. A visit to Canterbury territory was becoming rarer but when ‘Combe did get an opportunity, via a penalty award, they made the most of it, spreading ball from a lineout and Wallace diving in at the corner. However. that was all they were allowed as Canterbury rebuilt the pressure and piled on their replacements. A four-one split on the bench, favouring the forwards, was another decision they got right and the win was completed three minutes from time when Reynolds punished an off-side home team with his final penalty kick..

Canterbury: K.Heatherley, A.Moss, H.Sloan, W.Waddington, L.Talbot, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, C.McGovern, J.Stephens, J.Walker, R.Thomas. T.Oliver, Replacements: T.Williams, T.McKenzie, J.De Vries, J.Dengate, C.Macmillan.

SATURDAY PREVIEW

Jamie Stephens was spot on with his summary in our huddle after last Saturday’s game. His immediate review was that it wasn’t our best performance, but it was still a five-point win and we’ve maintained our momentum heading into this week. Any win against an experienced National League side, as Henley are, is still an achievement.
My personal disappointment was that our two previous performances, both away from home, had been of such a high calibre that I wanted us to bring that level back and showcase it on our own pitch, in front of our amazing supporters.
From my perspective, the main reason we fell short of this was our inability to convert when we were in Henley’s 22. This has been a real strength for us in recent games, but on Saturday, we wasted opportunities that could have made the score line look very different. The upside is that it has given us some very clear areas to work on in training this week, and I’m looking forward to seeing the players take another step forward as we head into what is always an intense fixture away at Westcombe Park.

It’s funny how things work out, but we go into this weekend in an identical position to this time last season, with six wins behind us. Last year, it was away at Westcombe Park where our winning run came to an end. We know exactly what it will take to get a result against a ‘Combe side who concede very few points at home and know all too well how to win on their own pitch. It’s going to be a big Saturday.

The Pilgrims started the year with a bang, beating table-topping Brighton away from home. It was only the third defeat of the season for the league leaders and, after a strong first-half performance, the Pilgrims took control and stayed out in front. Bromley visit the Marine Travel Ground this weekend and the reverse fixture was a closely fought contest, with Bromley scoring late on to seal the win. The Pilgrims are focused on backing up last week’s strong performance, but they know they’ll need to deliver the same level again if they are to get the result they want.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH

CANTERBURY 28 HENLEY HAWKS 21

by David Haigh

There is no such thing as a free lunch this season in National 2 East and Canterbury were made to work hard for a sixth straight victory. In a game which had plenty of industry, but would have brought frowns to a quality control department, they nevertheless scored four tries, claimed maximum points and move up to fourth spot in the league. Against a Hawks side occupying a chair at the lower end of the table, there was little of the city club’s pre-Christmas fluency on display and it was the visitors who were pressing hard for the draw in the final stages. Canterbury made a bright start, with a try after three minutes, as Henley conceded a penalty and Tyler Oliver touched down from a catch and drive. Frank Reynolds converted and, like his Hawks counterpart Max Titchener, went on to add goal points to all the tries. Titchener started by converting an equalising score after 13 minutes when hooker Spencer Hayhow plunged over from a maul, but the game settled into a shapeless affair for the rest of the half. Individual lapses, messy lineout work from both sides were too frequent but Canterbury reached the break seven points in front. That was down to powerful finishing by centre Harry Sloan after a patient build up from the pack, but they missed out on two other occasions while Hawk’s Zack Taylor was in the sin bin. Luke Talbot was held up over the line and then good, scrambling defence forced an error in the same corner. The start of the second half was a repeat of the first, with Canterbury grabbing an early try from flanker Ryley Thomas after Hawks wing Oscar Busby was yellow carded, but sparking a swift reply from Henley. The city side infringed and from the penalty
Hawks worked a try for centre James Leach. At the start of the last quarter the city side found some cohesion, pinned Henley on their own line and scrum half Presley Farrance completed a series of pick and go’s to open a fourteen point gap. However, it was the visitors who took the late initiative and, when Oliver was sin binned, Hayhow struck on 67 minutes with his second try from a catch and drive. Canterbury hung on precariously, but Henley’s serious pursuit of more than a losing bonus point was frustrated in the last play of the game. A penalty award opened the way to a prime attacking position: however, skilful work from Reynolds prevented Titchener’s kick from going into touch and you had to feel that had saved the day.

Canterbury: K.Heatherley, G.Jones, H.Sloan, W.Waddington, L.Talbot, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, D. Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, C.McGovern, J.Stephens, T.McKenzie, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Replacements: C.Macmillan, J.Walker, J.Dengate, A.Moss, T.Williams

SEVENOAKS 17 CANTERBURY 39

by David Haigh

A confident Canterbury continued their march up the league table with a fifth straight victory which was as clear cut as the scoreline suggests. They go into the New Year sitting in fifth place in National 2 East after dominating this Kent derby in all areas. A potentially tricky fixture on paper proved to be a different story on grass, with the city side’s five tries earning them maximum points and denying ‘Oaks a single Christmas gift. They set the tone in the first half, building a 19-3 lead and, when under pressure, defending so well the home side could make no impression. Ben Adams kicked Sevenoaks into an early lead with a penalty goal but it was soon surrendered to a penalty try for illegally puling down Canterbury’s driving maul. That cost them seven points and a yellow card which was punished further by a second Canterbury try. Scrum half Presley Farrance, who knows a gap when he sees one, was the scorer. In the second quarter, the hosts worked hard to win territory but failed repeatedly to tear down the defensive curtain and four minutes before the break, were shown the way by Canterbury’s mobile lock Charlie McGovern. His chip, chase and try between the sticks was converted by Frank Reynolds. Early in the second half the city forwards mastery of the breakdown saw Reynolds add another three points from a penalty and when ‘Oaks finally did find a try it just spurred a clinical response. After Zak Jones’ score, converted by Adams, it took Canterbury only three minutes to strike again. Wing Garry Jones blasted through midfield to bring finishing power and Reynolds quickly followed the conversion with his second penalty goal. For an out played Oaks, 22 points behind, there was no way back, despite Cam Cummings creating a neat, converted try with his kick and chase. But the last word went to Garry Jones as Canterbury moved the ball sweetly through the hands to send him over at the corner. Reynolds then topped off the team’s impressive afternoon with a successful conversion.

Canterbury: K.Heatherley, G.Jones, H.Sloan, W.Waddington, L.Talbot, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, C.McGovern, J.Stephens, J.De Vries, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Replacements: C.Macmillan, T.Williams, J.Dengate, O.Hewett, T.McKenzie

MATCH PREVIEW

In my time at the club, we have never won away at Esher, and don’t be fooled by their current league position. They are still a strong side that has suffered a bad run of injuries — something we can certainly empathise with. The difference in this group in recent weeks is that, no matter what happens, they remain composed, stick to our plan, and win the physicality battle. Going 14–0 down in just over five minutes would rattle some teams, but the players showed how much they have grown, closing the gap almost immediately before delivering a ruthless second-half performance. Getting better every week is our sole focus, and the players continue to deliver improvements across all areas of our game.
The Pilgrims recorded another excellent home victory, scoring the winning try with a minute to go despite receiving an early red card and being reduced to 12 men at one point. They have now won five of their last seven matches, lifting them to eighth in the table. It is gritty performances like last Saturday’s that have been at the heart of the recent change in results. In a tightly contested Regional 2 South East, only ten points separate 11th and 4th, so we know we must continue to pick up results to remain in this part of the table. The Pilgrims travel to Gravesend for their final game of 2025, looking to maintain their current trajectory.
The 1st XV travel to Sevenoaks for our Christmas derby, which is always a fiercely competitive fixture. The players are well aware of what it will take and are fully focused on finishing the year on a high.
As this is the final fixture of 2025, it is also a good time to reflect on the past 12 months. Looking across the men’s teams, it feels like everything is moving in the right direction. The Canons and the Pilgrims are both adjusting well to their new leagues, and the first team has built momentum with the opportunity to finish the year on a winning run. None of this would be possible without the unrelenting support we receive from the club’s sponsors, volunteers, and supporters. From myself and all the teams, we are incredibly grateful to you all. I hope you are able to enjoy a very Merry Christmas, and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH

ESHER 29 CANTERBURY 33

by David Haigh

A text book lesson on how to dig yourself out of deep holes, then take command, saw Canterbury extend their winning run to four games and lift themselves into the top six of the National 2 East table. In an outstanding second half performance, they came from fifteen points behind, scored three tries and showed both discipline and composure to close out the game. The first test came early in the day as Esher scored twice in the opening five minutes. Number Eight Leo Thornton broke tackles to set up the first of three touchdowns for wing James Botterill and Esher swooped again, exploiting a handing error before Connor Ganley powered over. With two conversions from Alex Wainwright a shaken city side had urgent repair work to do and started with a ninth minute try from scrum half Tom Williiams, who sniped across from their first serious attack. A Wainwright penalty goal made life harder, but at the end of the first quarter Alfie Orris speared through the Esher defence and Frank Reynolds’ second conversion brought balance to the scoreline. It was either side of half time that trouble brewed again for Canterbury through the dangerous Botterill. His tries in the 35th and 45th minutes, plus a Wainwright conversion, took Esher into a 29-14 lead; the first score from a good move, the second down to Canterbury’s failure to deal with a kick from Pierre Thompson. It was from this point, however, that an impressive City pack took charge of the key areas and it brought well deserved rewards. A Garry Jones run built pressure leading to a Tyler Oliver try. Next, came a magnificent driving maul where wingman Jones joined in to claim the score. With both tries converted Canterbury were still a point behind but their focus never wavered. Nine minutes from the end, skipper Jamie Stephens rounded off his pack’s close quarter power with the fifth try to complete one of the best wins of the season.
Canterbury: L.Talbot, G.Jones, A.Moss, W.Waddington, A.Orris, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, C.McGovern, J.Stephens, J.Walker, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Replacements: H.Sloan, J.De Vries, P.Farrance, L.Young, C.Macmillan

CORKER’S VIEW

Last Saturday, I told the team that we only want to take forward steps from here—and the win over Guernsey was certainly another one. In what was arguably our best performance of the season, we restricted them to a single intercept try and kept them scoreless for the entire second half. We scored five tries of our own, four of which began from possession inside our own half, with the other score a well-taken maul try. It was clear how proud the players were, especially as they brought to life several areas we’ve been working hard on in training. It was also great to see players returning from injury making a strong impact.

The Pilgrims came within a last-minute conversion of earning an away draw at Beckenham, and had we been more clinical in the first half, could have taken even more from the match. The team is really beginning to understand what it takes to win at this level and the growth in performance has been evident. The next step is improving our execution in key moments, particularly in the opposition’s twenty-two. This week we welcome Horsham to the Marine Travel Ground. Horsham have only one more win than the Pilgrims and the reverse fixture earlier in the season — our first away game — was one where we felt we didn’t show our best. We’ll be aiming for a very different performance this time.

The 1st XV travel to Esher looking to make it four wins on the bounce. It hasn’t been a successful venue for us in recent years; we know the level of performance required to earn a result that keeps us moving forward.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH