Author: David Haigh

CANTERBURY 42 SEVENOAKS 37

by David Haigh

In boxing terms Canterbury’s first National 2 East victory of the season would have been called ‘a crowd pleaser’ with eleven tries on offer and the result never nailed down until late in the game. The club’s coaches, however, will have viewed it more as a frustrating nail biter as the city side were forced to battle back from an early seventeen point deficit and survive two yellow cards before they edged this Kent derby. For that they can thank scrum half Tom Williams for his hat trick of tries and the reliable boot of Frank Reynolds who converted all six Canterbury touchdowns. Sevenoaks ended the first quarter in total command with tries from Ed Shepherdson and Harry Martin, both converted by Ben Adams who had opened the scoring with a penalty goal. A misfiring Canterbury played into their hands but it was the pack who hauled them back into contention after 25 minutes, winning a penalty close to the posts where Williams sniped over. Number Eight Tyler Oliver was next across the line, making a decisive break and then completing strong forward work. A second Adams penalty goal quickly pegged Canterbury back but greater trouble came when replacement Harry Drane was yellow carded and the city side needed a touch of luck to survive to half time without further damage. Two minutes after the restart, and still operating with a man down, they went in front for the first time, working the close quarter phases before Harry Sloan got the try. It looked like a turning point but then came another sin binning, this time for Eoin O’Donoghue, and the visitors punished it with a second try from flanker Martin. When the hooker returned Canterbury took an important grip and pushed two scores ahead. Williams again found a gap close to the line and then raced clear for this third try to reward O’Donoghue’s break. However, a determined Oaks could not be shaken off and Adams’ astute chip and chase led to a converted try for wing Charlie Corrigan. With six minutes remaining Reynolds sealed what was a very ordinary Canterbury performance with his side’s sixth try, but a deserving Oaks won a second bonus point through an Adams touchdown in the final move of the match,

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

MATCH PREVEW

We didn’t discuss it this season, but a focus for us on our previous two trips to Barnes has been to win the first 20 minutes. Historically, we have had some horrific opening quarters and last year’s first half was one of the worst in my coaching career. On Saturday, twenty-nine minutes in, we were seven points to nil ahead and had controlled possession and territory — exactly what we were after.
We allowed Barnes to score two simple maul tries before half-time and went in behind at the break, even though we felt we had enjoyed the better half. Scoring an early try to retake the lead set up the second half nicely, but we conceded shortly after and then again late on to leave empty-handed.
The real story of the game was our inability to back up the positive moments we created. We made five line breaks where we gained over thirty metres — something to be proud of against a strong defence — but on only one occasion did we maintain possession for more than two phases afterwards. That one time, we scored; against the best teams we must be more clinical and can’t afford to waste the opportunities we create.
We know statistically that we need to end our attack sets on a positive outcome more than 50% of the time to win. On Saturday, we were down at 30% completion, a number that only leads to one outcome.
The players have trained really hard this week and Tuesday was one of the best sessions we’ve ever had. But games aren’t won in the week; the only thing that matters is what we do once the first whistle goes tomorrow.
We welcome Sevenoaks to the Marine Travel Ground, who come off the back of losing by the same margin away to Esher. They, like us, will be looking for their first win and I expect nothing less than the usual competitive encounter this local derby brings every year.
Jimmy Walker makes his first appearance for the 1st XV after joining us a few weeks ago from Australia. Kurt Heatherley also returns to the side for the first time since injuring his shin back in February. I’m looking forward to seeing them both run out at Merton Lane and doing what they do best.
The Pilgrims came within the final play of winning their opening game in Regional 2. Ill-discipline cost them late on, with two yellow cards reducing them to 13 men in the final five minutes. A last-minute try from Battersea snatched victory away at the death. Before then, some strong attacking play had put them firmly in the driving seat.
They travel to Horsham tomorrow still searching for that first win. It’s great to see Garry Jones starting at 13 after missing preseason with a knee injury. He has trained well this week and is raring to go.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH

Pilgrims 29 Battersea Ironsides 34

by Dan Gill

The Pilgrims got their season and first foray into Regional 2 under way in an evenly contested encounter which earned them two bonus points. The visitors opened the scoring when some lacklustre Pilgrims defence allowed the Ironsides blindside wing to take a short ball and burst through to score and give the visitors a seven point lead..Pilgrims responded well and after good running from Jimmy Walker and Stan Bull, debutant centre Brayden Smith was on hand to take the final pass and dot down by the posts to give Olly Ashley-Jones a simple conversion
The watching crowd didn’t have long to wait for the next score which again went to Ironsides after more weak centre field tackling led to another converted Ironsides score. The young Pilgrims side again responded positively, and after a series of good drives from the forwards debutant flanker Jimmy Walker picked a good line and ran in unopposed to level things at 14-14.. With half time approaching Pilgrims were caught out when Ironsides took a quick lineout, spread the ball wide. and exploited the space for a converted to give them a 14-21 lead. The break allowed both sides to address their issues and made for an even first 20 mins of before Ironsides extended their lead with a penalty goal. The city side then kicked a penalty deep into Ironsides territory. The lineout was won and the resulting maul was a text book example of set piece execution as hooker Stan Bull touched down for an unconverted score. They were reduced to 14 after Smith received a yellow card but despite the setback, Pilgrims added their bonus point try and took the lead when a tap penalty saw Ruben Kalonji driven over for a converted score. They made their task more difficult when Walker was sin binned for a high tackle, giving Ironsides a simple shot at goal to retake the lead, 26-27. Again w saw a good response and excellent work at the breakdown gave Ashley-Jones the penalty opportunity to restore the lead at 29-27. However, with the clock running down a missed touch kick was punished by Ironsides who kept the ball alive and turned it into the winning try.
Pilgrims: Everatt, Bull, Oliver, Sullivan, Hunt, Walker, Mackenzie, Evans, Lloyd, Geddes, Heatherley, Smith, Fielder, Ingram, Kalonji, Devine, Dengate.

HAVE WE LEARNT?

I think the standard of our preseason fixtures raised a few eyebrows. The three teams we faced were either coming down from National 1, going up to it, or finished 5th last season — all strong sides, but that’s exactly what we wanted.
The only way we improve as a team is by being challenged and stepping up to those challenges. The only way you learn to climb mountains is by climbing mountains, and I’m incredibly proud of how the lads have worked and responded to everything we’ve thrown at them over the past 11 weeks.
Last Friday night, at Blackheath, the scoreline was humbling but the lessons we took from that match were priceless in shaping our preparation. This week’s training has been focused on a few key areas that we know will be vital when we travel to Barnes on Saturday..
Barnes have been one of the most consistent sides in recent years, finishing in the top three for the past three seasons. When we faced them back in March it was the definition of a game of two halves. We started with one of our poorest 40 minutes of rugby but came out after the break and delivered a second-half performance that very few teams have ever managed on their pitch.
Saturday gives us the challenge we need. It’s a chance to test ourselves, to measure our progress and to find out if we’ve learnt the lessons from preseason.
Meanwhile, the Pilgrims kick off their first fixture in Regional 2 South East as we welcome Battersea Ironsides to the Marine Travel Ground. It’s crucial we get off to a strong start and Battersea — who finished 5th last season — will provide the toughest opposition the Pilgrims have faced since before COVID.
It’s also a special day for Mal Graves and Nathan Morris who take charge of their first league game. It promises to be an exciting afternoon of rugby, both home and away.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH

TWO LEAGUE NEWCOMERS

Canterbury will be facing two newcomers in London Welsh and Peterborough-based Oundle in the upcoming 2025/26 season. Both clubs have been promoted from Regional One level and they replace relegated Colchester and Worthing. Also back in the National 2 East mix are Esher who were relegated from National One.
National Two East: Barnes, Bury St Edmunds, Canterbury, Dorking, Esher, Guernsey, Havant, Henley, London Welsh, Old Albanian, Oundle, Oxford Harlequins, Sevenoaks, Westcombe Park.

COUNTY HONOURS

Although the league campaigns have ended Canterbury players are in demand for the County season. County Champions Kent, who started their defence of the title with a 42-5 home win over Hampshire, called on four of our players for the squad which scored a notable victory over Cornwall in the second group game. Kent will now contest the final at Twickenham, on June 21st, against the winners of the Lancashire v Yorkshire match. Wing Garry Jones and hooker Eoin O’Donoghue were in the starting line-up against Cornwall while prop Ollie Frostick and scrum half Tom Williams were bench replacements. Six of our Under 20 players have been selected for the London & South East Divisional squad after impressing in Kent’s two victories on their way to the Divisional final. Congratulations to Owain Collins, Isaac Divine, Bartholomew Johnson, Max McCormack, Andrew Thomas and Ollie Jordan-Smith.