Author: David Haigh

Disappointing First Home Loss

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 40 BURY ST EDMUNDS 43

by David Haigh

A dominant visiting pack, poor discipline and questionable choices all contributed to this narrow Canterbury defeat, their first home loss of the National 2 East season. They made a flying start, with two tries in the first six minutes, reached half time nine points ahead, but were unraveled by two quick Bury tries at the start of the second half. So what went wrong? Three yellow cards, all for technical offences, did them no good – three of Bury’s six tries were scored while players were in the sin bin. Of equal concern will be the team’s performance at the set scrums and in the breakdown areas where they were second best. The quick fire opening brought tries for Harvey Furneaux and Henry Kenny, both converted by Frank Reynolds. A Bury handling error, a kick ahead and a long chase saw Furneaux score. For the second, lovely handling sent Garry Jones clear before his kick was collected by an unchallenged Henry Kenny, but is was Kenny who was first to see yellow. Bury capitalised on the extra man with a catch and drive touchdown from hooker Ollie Walliker and Ben Penfold landed the first of his five conversions. One of too many turnovers lead to wing Andy Denham cutting into the Canterbury lead again with an unconverted try. There was a swift reply, the excellent Jones making the running for Tom Williams’ converted score, before another yellow, this time for Presley Farrance, gave Bury the chance to put Tom Hoppe across the line. On the cusp of half time Canterbury turned a penalty award into a converted try for Eoin O’Donoghue and the lead looked secure, but in the first session of the new half Bury turned the game on its head. In the opening minute a turnover won possession to set up centre Hoppe’s second try and a Penfold penalty goal gave them the lead. On 52 minutes Matt Hema snapped up his side’s fifth score from a poor kicking decision in dangerous territory. At the start of the final quarter, the city side regrouped and a Jamie Stephens close quarter try, converted by Reynolds, brought them back into contention at 35-36. However, an under pressure scrum leaked penalties, front foot ball was sparse, prop Lewis Young joined the sin binners and Hema’s second try followed shortly. Canterbury did find some late momentum but a Jones touchdown was not enough to ease the disappointment, only partly relieved by two bonus points.

Canterbury: P.Farrance, G.Jones, L.Talbot, W.Waddington, H.Furneaux, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, H.Kenny, J.Stephens, C.McGovern, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Replacements: T.Mackenzie, L.Young, J.Dengate, J.Walker, A.Geddes

Key Moments Cost Us

Posted on | by David Haigh

MATCH PREVIEW

Key moments define big games. Fifteen minutes into the second half, we had an attacking lineout in Old Albanians’ twenty-two. One of our best stats from Saturday was that every lineout completed in the OA’s twenty-two ended with us scoring points. This particular lineout, however, wasn’t completed due to a slow lift, resulting in an overthrow. Four missed tackles later OA’s won a scrum on our five-metre line. We then lost a man to a yellow card and conceded a try, giving OA’s a nineteen-point lead. Had we completed the lineout and continued our success in the OA’s red zone, the score could have been 29–24 — a very different game.

The players gave us plenty to be proud of. Thirty-one points is the most that OA’s have conceded this season and scoring five tries away from home against the league leaders is an achievement. But we’re not interested in being plucky losers. We gave a good team too many opportunities and our lineout malfunctioned several times in try-scoring positions. The margins are much finer in games like this, so we know that to come away with a win, we have to be more ruthless.

The Pilgrims, on the other hand, registered their first win of the season with a well-earned 26–17 victory over Dartfordians. They scored a superb try with five minutes to go following an Owain Collins offload and a strong finish from Gus Lister. That put them in front, and a penalty in the final minute sealed the win — also denying Dartfordians any league points.

This win was all the more important as Darfordians still sit one place, and one point, above the Pilgrims after this result. This Saturday we follow up with another important game as the the travel to Old Reigatians who sit bottom of the table. A result tomorrow could see them jump up to nineth in the table if other results go their way.

The 1st XV welcome Bury St Edmunds to the Marine Travel Ground tomorrow in an equally important fixture. Bury also have four wins this season but sit ahead of us thanks to five extra bonus points.

Our improvements in attack are exactly what we’ve been aiming for and we’re seeing real progress. The focus now is on ensuring our defence is relentless and disciplined so we can head into the week off with a win.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH

Late Scores Win Point

Posted on | by David Haigh

OLD ALBANIAN 43 CANTERBURY 31

by David Haigh

The precision and pace of the National 2 East league leaders proved too much for a patched up Canterbury but their competitive qualities earned them late scores and a bonus point. It was the first time Albanians have conceded a bonus point this season, so that was a positive for an injury blighted city squad, but when it came to scoring chances the hosts were far more clinical. Canterbury started well, with a try from Number Eight Tyler Oliver after only two minutes, created from a blindside side move off an attacking lineout. The lead didn’t last long as Albanians clicked into gear and their speed and assured handling saw Alex Noot curve round the defence to leave Elliot McPhun a simple conversion. Before the first quarter was up they had plundered two more tries, through Dan Barnett and Noot again, but from that point the city side seized the momentum. Abanians poor discipline cost them penalties and a yellow card and they were punished by an Eoin O’Donoguev catch and drive try. Frank Reynolds added the goal to cut the deficit to five but in the final play of the half Canterbury gave away a soft try as Albanians wing Jonathan Ilori grabbed an interception and McPhun’s kick pushed his side into 24-12 advantage. The city defence was unpicked again at the start of the second half, with IIore crossing for his second touchdown but another tight driving maul by the city forwards ushered O’Donoghue over to keep them in touch. However, the game began to unravel for Canterbury as the lineout wobbled in good scoring positions and Noot collected his hat trick for the home side after Harvey Furneaux was shown a yellow card. Josh Skelcey took Albanians clear with a seventh try and two McPhun conversions sealed the result. What Canterbury may have lacked in some quarters, however, they redeemed with fighting qualities, line breaks and skill in the closing minutes. Henry Kenny’s close range score earned them that valuable bonus point, Will Waddington touched down in the last play and Reynolds two conversions put a proper reflection on the scoreline.

Canterbury: P.Farrance, T.Barton, G.Jones, W.Waddington, H.Furneaux, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, C.McGovern,J.Stephens, J.Walker, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Replacements: L.Young, T.Mackenzie, H.Kenny, J.Dengate, A.Geddes

OUR BEST IS NEEDED

Posted on | by David Haigh

MATCH PREVIEW

We put a lot of energy last week into getting our attack back to a place where we are proud of it. Scoring 56 points was exactly the reaction that I wanted to see. I thought the players returned to attacking with multiple threats and moving the ball in a positive way that asked more questions of Havant than they had answers for. Charlie McGovern, Tyler Oliver and Harvey Furneaux all scored a brace and Frank Reynolds was perfect off the tee, converting eight out of eight. The only slight disappointment was allowing Havant to leave with a bonus point, but we didn’t deal with their attacking maul well enough to deny them one. Still a very good Saturday with smiles all round.

The Pilgrims came breathtakingly close to registering their first win of the season away at Bromley. They were leading going into the final quarter, but penalties and a failure to execute in the closing stages meant that the game slipped away as they lost 38-30. Despite the result, there were so many pleasing improvements in their performance, setting up this week’s fixture nicely as we welcome Dartfordians to the Marine Travel Ground tomorrow.

If the Pilgrims continue their week-on-week improvements we know the results will come. Dartfordians sit just one place ahead in the table, so this weekend’s result could prove very important come the end of the season.

Meanwhile, the 1st XV travel to face Old Albanians, who currently sit top of National 2 East. They’ve been the in-form team in the league since January and we’re excited by the challenge they pose. Testing ourselves against the best is how we find out where we truly are only our best will be good enough, and our best it will have to be.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH

First Half Blast

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 56 HAVANT 26

by David Haigh

A commanding first half show from Canterbury, which saw them run in five tries, set up this decisive bonus point victory. It left Havant looking for consolation prizes, a late score earning them a valuable point, but for much of this National 2 East clash they were distinctly second best. The city side were positive from the off, putting width on their game at every opportunity, but it was a hard carrying pack that made the first breach and ended up doing most of the scoring. The visitors held out for nine minutes before Tyler Oliver powered through the tackles to make the first touchdown and the pattern was set. Canterbury took in their stride a yellow card for Presley Farrance, showing defensive nous and grabbing a second try as Ryley Thomas profited from Charlie McGovern’ s neat offload. The visitors were then plunged into real trouble by two further tries only two minutes apart. There was a second for Oliver and one for McGovern, after Jamie Stephens break had punched yet another hole in Havant’s defences. With Frank Reynolds perfect conversion rate the Hampshire side were vanishing in the rear view mirror and before half time the backs joined in the spree. Wing Harvey Furneaux won the chase for Reynolds slide kick but Havant finally mounted a reply through a catch and drive try from Archie Cleave, converted by Joel Knight. However, at 35-7 the game had gone away from them and eleven minutes into the second half McGovern got his second try, following a break by Eoin O’Donoghue. Havant pulled one back through Scott Thomson, converted by Jacob Knight, but at the hour mark prop Lewis Young finished some heavy pounding of the visitors line with Canterbury’s seventh try. Injuries forced a reshuffle in the city ranks so when Furneaux made the final touchdown in the75th minute he was operating as an emergency flanker. Canterbury’s adventurous approach did carry risks and errors in the closing five minutes allowed Havant the benefit of a bonus point. That came from two catch and drive tries for Sean Shepherd , one converted by Jacob Knight, but it was a small light at the end of a rather long tunnel.

Canterbury: P.Farrance, G.Jones, L.Talbot, W.Waddington, H.Furneaux, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, C.McGovern, J.Stephens, J.Walker, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Replacements: T.Barton, O.Hewett, L.Young, J.Dengate, H.Kenny

OUR FOCUS ON ATTACK

Posted on | by David Haigh

MATCH PREVIEW

When going away to any team, especially one of the top three, having a good start is crucial. Applying enough pressure to force three yellow cards in the opening stages is the definition of a strong start and the players came out of the blocks in challenging conditions to turn the heat up on Dorking.
In that opening quarter we had ample chances to be 21 points ahead but lacked the ruthless edge we showed the previous week, converting our pressure and field position into only a seven-point advantage. That lead was all but nullified in the final play before half-time when a missed tackle allowed Dorking back into the game.
In the second half we lost the scrum battle and couldn’t show the right pictures to the referee, despite the lads best efforts to regain parity. Combined with our inability to maintain possession long enough to rebuild the pressure we had in the first half, Dorking were able to pull away, leaving us with a disappointing final scoreline. Disappointing, but lots of learning.
Tomorrow, Havant visit the Marine Travel Ground, sitting just one place ahead of us in the table. Our focus this week has been on reigniting our attack into the dangerous weapon it has been for us previously. We know the team we are when that part of our game is firing and it’s something we take great pride in.
Regardless of last Saturday’s result, the Pilgrims continue to make improvements in their performances. The group is working hard and the game against Brighton was exactly the kind of challenging fixture we wanted. The players are developing both individually and collectively every week. They head to Bromley tomorrow with a few returning faces, all hungry to secure their first win.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH

NEW RECRUITS

Posted on | by David Haigh

WELCOME OWEN AND TOM

Two new players are named in the first team squad for the home game against Havant. Owen Hewett (Tonbridge Juddians) and Tom Barton (Blackheath) join us on loan deals to help relieve a growing injury list in the senor squad back division. Centre Harry Sloan is the latest to be ruled out after sustaining a rib injury at Dorking. He joins Alfie Orris, Aden Moss, Frank Morgan and Kurt Heatherley on the sidelines.

Second Half Slump

Posted on | by David Haigh

DORKING 31 CANTERBURY 7

by David Haigh

Canterbury were blown away in the second half at windswept Dorking. In a game of a remarkable eight yellow cards they failed to push home their dominance when wind and slope worked in their favour and a narrow 7-5 half time lead never looked enough. The home side, who put in a tremendous defensive shift when down to thirteen players in the early stages, made no mistake when they had the advantage and emphasised their control after the break with four tries. Canterbury’s early dominance of territory, and two Dorking men in the sin bin, gave them the opportunity to build a meaningful lead. However, their persistence in attacking on a narrow front and an excellent defence confined them to single try from Number Eight Tyler Oliver, converted by Frank Reynolds. Putting more faith in the back division might have paid better dividends but the only other scoring chance was a failed penalty shot. Dorking not only survived but shortly before half time produced a try of their own with full back Max Coyle making the running before Tom Hardwick got the touchdown. They were quickly on the attack in the second half and a yellow card for Olly Frostick, Canterbury’s second at this point, cost them a penalty and a close range try from Will Scholes, converted by Hardwick. Once they were in front Dorking tightened their grip as they dominated the set scrums and denied the city side any real momentum. They set their backs free to create a try for wing Will Sanders and renewed forward pressure won a penalty try when Canterbury collapsed a maul on their own line. There was one small glimpse of redemption for the city side but a desperate ankle tap denied Tom Wiliiams a score before they conceded a converted try to Tom Howe in the last play of the game. It left a disappointing Canterbury not only counting the cost of a defeat that sent them down to ninth place in the National 2 East table but also a mounting injury list after losing centre Harry Sloan in the first half.

CANTERBURY: L.Talbot, G.Jones, H.Sloan, W.Waddington, H.Furneaux, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, C.McGovern, J.Stephens, J.Walker, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Replacements C.Macmillan, A.English, L.Young, J.Dengate, H.Kenny

FINDING WAYS TO WIN

Posted on | by David Haigh

MATCH PREVIEW

I’ve said it before – there are only good teams in our league and every week presents a different challenge. Against Westcombe Park we certainly rode our luck at times and they will feel they left chances behind at Merton Lane. But what mattered was that the players found a way to put another win in the bank.
The team never gave up and when we needed to be ruthless we were. The clearest example of this was our work inside their twenty-two: three visits, three tries. Over recent seasons we’ve been on the receiving end of that level of clinical finishing. To be on the other side of it shows how the players have built an understanding of how vital it is to do the right thing at the right time.
I also have to highlight the lads’ defensive effort. Westcombe Park’s final try came from a cross-field kick, but the defensive set that preceded it lasted three minutes and eighteen seconds. To put that into perspective, most teams in this league would do well to hold out for half that time. The fact that our players doubled it shows just how much representing this club means to them. As coaches we can give the players technical input, but they bring their own desire to the table. When it hurts you’ve got two choices – and this group consistently chooses to dig in for each other and go to difficult places to fight for wins.
Last season’s win at Dorking was a big moment for this squad, and it took a performance of equal size to achieve it. Judging by Dorking’s social media, they’ve had this fixture circled since preseason. We know exactly what it will take to repeat last year’s result – and these are the exciting games every player wants to be part of.
The Pilgrims return to action this weekend after a short break, hosting Brighton at home. Injuries are starting to mount across the squad but the depth and ambition of our group mean we can still put out a determined, competitive side. New faces continue to put their hands up and I’m excited to see them take another step forward this weekend.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH

Late, Late Derby Victory

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 30 WESTCOMBE PARK 23

by David Haigh

A Kent derby that went down to the wire saw Canterbury snatch their third consecutive victory with a try from the last play of the game. That grandstand finish took the city side to fifth place in the National 2 East table but a battling ‘Combe outfit, which has now lost three matches in the final minute, must wonder how they can get across the line. They might have won this one had they not dropped a pass in the closing stages, but failure to exploit three Canterbury yellow cards and crack some excellent defending frustrated them.. A dismal start by Canterbury left them trailing by thirteen points in as many minutes. Failing to secure the kick-off they were swiftly punished with a try from former city centre Kyan Braithwaite. Charlie Fatoma converted and poor discipline presented him with two penalty chances which were duly dispatched. Canterbury had rarely left their own half but on eighteen minutes they produced a classy response. Attacking down the left, Frank Morgan and Harry Sloan handled sweetly before Tom Williams’ pace took him clear to the posts. Frank Reynolds converted and, importantly, never missed another kick at goal all afternoon. A close range try from Combe’s talented scrum half Mikel Davies put them temporarily back in the driving seat but at the break they were ahead by only five points as Reynolds calmly sliced the lead from two penalty chances. He kicked a third a minute into the new half but renewed pressure and an astute cross kick saw Ben Fryatt grab another unconverted score for the visitors. It was the work of a mauling Canterbury pack that brought the scores level, with hooker Eoin O’Donoghue making the touchdown, but in the final quarter they invited trouble when illegal tackles saw Mo Pangarker, Sloan and Williams banished at various stages for ten minutes. ‘Combe, however, missed their opportunity, gave away penalties and late on fourteen man Canterbury took their chance as they set up another powerful attacking maul. At the bottom of the pile as it drove over the line, as so often, was O’Donoghue.

Canterbury: L.Talbot, F.Morgan, H.Sloan, W.Waddington, H.Furneaux, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, L.Young, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, C.McGovern, J.Stephens, R.Thomas, M.Pangarker, T.Oliver. Replacements: J.Walker, C.Macmillan, G.Jones, K.Heatherley, D.Huntley.