Author: David Haigh

MATCH PREVIEW

Posted on | by David Haigh

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

Luke Talbot

LAST MINUTE LOSS

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ESHER 31 CANTERBURY 24

by David Haigh

A last minute try gave Esher the final word in this competitive pre-season friendly but Canterbury Head Coach Matt Corker could take plenty of positives from the performance of his senior squad. The downside was a facial injury to unlucky wing Alfie Orris who was in powerful form as the city side took control of the early stages and built a twelve point lead. The coaching panel said they will be asking the team to play with real pace this season, and they were as good as their word as the starting lineup put width on their game from the kick-off. It was rewarded by a third minute try from new signing Luke Talbot but the second score came from another area of strength – a pack which quickly stamped its authority on the set pieces and carried hard. They forced a penalty, set up a catch and drive which was finished by hooker Eoin O’Donoghue and converted by Frank Reynolds. Esher has seen little of the ball up to that point but when they finally got the chance they took it smartly with a try and by half time had drawn level through a converted score. With both sides making changes to give all their squads a first outing the second half lacked the fluency of the first 40 minutes but the contest remained tight. Canterbury grabbed an early try as they built pressure and centre Frank Morgan’s strength took him over the line and Reynolds was again on target. Esher came back with an unconverted try, but it was the final quarter that shifted the balance in their favour. A much changed city pack came under pressure and Esher took the lead for the first time with a converted catch and drive score. A similar effort from Canterbury’s new boy, Ryley Thomas, leveled matters at 24-24, and that seemed a fair reflection of the game. However, penalties were given away and Esher forward power won it with the last move.

PRE-SEASON CHALLENGE

Posted on | by David Haigh

The club starta a run of three tough pre-season fixtures on Saturday with a visit to Esher (kick-off 1pm) as they build towards the new National 2 East campaign. They will then take on National One sides Tonbridge Juddians (home) and Blackheath (away) in Friday evening fixtures. Matt Corker’s squad is set to include up to eight new signings, the latest being being former Hartpury College and Ampthill back three player Archie English and Essex Under 20 back rower Ryley Thomas. “With the retirement of experienced players like Tom Best, Danny Herriott and Aaron Cooper we have have been recruiting wisely” says the club’s Director of Rugby Taff Gwilliam. “We are integrating these new players with some exciting young talents from our Youth section who are now ready to step up to senior rugby. Archie English is a product of the Deal & Betteshanger club so for him the move is a homecoming to East Kent while Ryley joins us from the Westcliff club. I am also pleased that we have formed strong links with Saracens Academy and will be helping to develop players like England Under 19 lock Charlie Barker and prop Lewis Young, who are both Kent boys.”

Head Coach Matt Corker says: “And the games are back again. Our first block of pre-season was full of the usual blood, sweat and tears but I have been really impressed with the players level of work. My challenge to them has been to find out how fast we can play. If we are going to play fast, we have to move fast, hence all the running they have been doing! The players have taken this to a new level, and it has given us a great platform to launch into the preseason games.

“The main focus of our pre-season games is for us to learn about ourselves and we can’t do this without playing opposition that will challenge us. I feel fortunate that we have been able to organise such competitive fixtures. In previous pre-seasons we haven’t had three strong games and this season all the teams we play are either coming down from, are going up to or are in Nat 1. This is going to give a great opportunity to test ourselves as we prepare for two big opening fixtures. On the 6th September the first team are away to last season’s league runners up Barnes and the Pilgrims tackle their first ever Regional 2 South East fixture at home to Battersea Ironsides.

We have a big three weeks ahead, I’m looking forward to learning where we are.”

KENT AIM FOR HAT TRICK

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Garry and Eoin In Title Chase

Two Canterbury players, wing Garry Jones and hooker Eoin O’Donoghue, together with new centre signing Luke Talbot, are included in the Kent starting line-up as the county side aim for a third consecutive Division One County Championship title. Also included in Saturday’s squad to meet Yorkshire at Twickenham are replacement scrum half Tom Williams and front row man Ollie Frostick who is named as travelling reserve. Kick-off is 5.15pm, immediately after the England XV v France XV game, and the final is being live streamed.

NATIONAL 2 EAST: 2025/26

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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

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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.

Four For Eoin As Tom Says Farewell

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COLCHESTER 33 CANTERBURY 50

by David Haigh

Canterbury’s season ended as it started, with victory over a Colchester side which has failed to survive its first experience of National 2 East rugby. In an entertaining, but messy affair which produced thirteen tries, the city club started well, were rightly punished for making simple errors either side of half time, but then wrestled back control with three tries in the last eleven minutes. The player who enjoyed himself most was Canterbury hooker Eoin O’ Donoghue who scored four of the team’s eight touchdowns, the best a 50 metre sprint which killed off all those perceptions of plodding front row forwards. He opened the scoring from a trademark catch and drive after seven minutes and further tries followed for Garry Jones and Henry Kenny. Despite the league’s leading goal kicker, Frank Reynolds, having a rare off day, the lead looked comfortable. Colchester pulled one back when good work by their lively scrum half was completed by Brett Cutbush and converted by Jack Edwards, but O’Donoghue’s second, supplemented by Reynolds, earned the bonus point. It was in the closing stages of the half that Canterbury went into slipshod mode and paid the price. A neat offload put Danny Whiteman across the line seconds before the break and Edwards conversion cut the lead to eight. The city side made a poor start to the second half and an Edwards try drew Colchester closer. The pressure became suffocating when both Garry Jones and Danny Herriott found themselves in the sin bin and against thirteen men Colchester took the lead with a converted try from Cameron Kerr. O’Donoghue came to the rescue, scooping up a dropped ball and setting off for his long distance score, converted by Reynolds, but the pressure was still on. A Haydn Sykes’ try and Edwards’ conversion saw Colchester go back in front but Canterbury now showed their staying power as they regained control of possession. O’Donoghue got his fourth but the most popular try of the day was set up by Tom Best, playing his 319th and final game before going into retirement. It was a kick and chase which Tom Williams finished off under the posts. With Reynolds substituted, Best converted the try. A catch and drive saw prop Cameron Macmillan close out the game with the final touchdown and Best’s successful kick ended his distinguished club career on a winning and scoring note.

Canterbury: A.Moss, F.Morgan, H.Sloan, T.Best, G.Jones, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, H.Kenny, J.Stephens, C.Thomas, C.McGovern, T.Oliver. Replacements: D. Herriott, W.Waddington, W.Calder, J.De Vries, C.Macmillan.

View match photos

v Colchester - 26 April 2025

Photos may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

SEASON OF PROGRESS

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AN OUTSTANDING SATURDAY

Sponsors Day is always a special occasion at CRFC, as we take the opportunity to thank everyone who supports us. With second-place Dorking making the trip to The Marine Travel Ground, the stage was set for a brilliant Saturday of rugby.

My challenge to the players has been clear: finish the season by playing your best rugby. This is the business end—the month when league positions are decided—and the only way to finish strong is to secure results. The performance the players delivered summed up everything that’s been positive about this season. They scored some outstanding tries, wrestled back momentum after going behind, and finished on top against one of the best sides in the league. It was, without doubt, a Saturday to remember.

Our focus has always been on getting better—week to week, and season to season. The win against Dorking secured a fourth-place finish, and that achievement is a clear marker of the progress we’ve made once again.
Over the past three years, that progression has been clear: finishing tenth with a third of our games won, then seventh last season with a 50% win rate, and now heading into Saturday guaranteed fourth, with the chance to claim our eighteenth win and a 70% win ratio. It’s been another season full of great memories, with last weekend’s game against Dorking right up there among the very best. Our focus on improvement won’t change and the continued growth within the squad makes next season a truly exciting prospect.

The success we enjoy on the pitch doesn’t happen in isolation — it’s the result of countless hours and the tireless energy of so many individuals across the club and our rugby programme.

This season, 35 players have represented the 1st XV, and our ability to develop players consistently relies heavily on the Pilgrims, who play a vital role in our player pathway. The Pilgrims finished another season as champions and, due to recent rule changes, will compete in Regional 2 South East from September. The opportunities this presents for players in our men’s program cannot be overstated. Achieving back-to-back titles was always going to be a challenge, which makes this success even more special.

Since taking the reins, Jon Foster has revitalised this crucial part of the club. He’s transformed the Pilgrims from a side that, post-COVID, sometimes struggled to field 18 players into a vibrant, competitive, and winning team. Jon will be leaving us this season, and we’re all incredibly grateful for his passion and commitment.
He’s been superbly supported by Dan Gill, who stepped into the role of player-manager this year. Gilly adapted quickly and has done a fantastic job ensuring the Pilgrims were prepared for every logistical challenge that came their way.

I also have to mention Tom Short and his back-to-back champion Cannons. They’ve had another outstanding season and will be promoted again, this time to Counties 3 Kent. The ability for players to move between all the men’s teams has been a key focus for us as a club—and from my perspective, it’s been a major factor in our overall success this season.

I write this column every week, but it’s important to recognise that the success of the team over the last 12 months has come from the efforts of so many people.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH

Canterbury Pack Late Punch

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CANTERBURY 42 DORKING 35

by David Haigh

Two tries in the closing ten minutes from a rampaging Canterbury pack finally settled a pulsating game in which the result always hung in the balance. This victory guarantees the city club will end the National 2 East campaign in fourth place, their highest position for three seasons. It also extinguished Dorking’s hopes of taking the league title which now goes to Kent side Tonbridge Juddians. A magnificent crowd at the Marine Travel Ground had plenty to entertain them with some outstanding individual tries among the ten shared by the teams, the lead changing hands four times and a final home appearance for retiring Canterbury stalwarts Tom Best and Danny Herriott. In a cagey opening quarter, two Frank Reynolds penalty goals and a converted Frank Morgan try built a thirteen point lead. The try came from a Dorking handling error with Harry Sloan kicking the loose ball on to set up the score. That stirred the visitors and a powerful finish from lock Jasper King and the first of Henry Anscombe’s five conversions sparked the tit for tat nature of what followed. Next, came a great score from city full back Aiden Moss who returned a clearance kick by skewering every defender in a 45 metre run to the posts. Reynolds again obliged but by half time Dorking had crept into a single point lead. They made a catch and drive position pay with a try from Callum Watson and, two minutes before the break, full back Max Coyle matched Moss’s effort with a brilliant run and finish. There was further trouble for Canterbury after the restart when Dorking worked blind side space for wing Bryan Hotston’s try. Reynolds third penalty goal shaved three points off the visitors lead after Dorking skipper Will Scholes’ was handed a yellow card, a subtle shift in the the balance of pack power gave Canterbury fresh momentum and opened the way for Sloan’s try from a close quarter lineout. That brought an immediate response as Anscombe grabbed Dorking’s fifth touchdown to restore a five point lead, but then came the decisive late stages when Canterbury’s forwards took control. On 71 minutes a driving maul carried Tyler Oliver over the line, Reynolds converted, and with three minutes remaining they did a repeat performance as Eoin O’Donoghue’s try closed out an absorbing match.

Canterbury: A.Moss, F.Morgan, H.Sloan, W.Waddington, G.Jones, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, J.De Vries, J.Stephens, C.Thomas, C.McGovern, T.Oliver. Replacements: H.Kenny, D.Herriott, C.Macmillan, T.Best, W.Calder

View match photos

v Dorking - 12 April 2025

Photos may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

AN EXCITING SATURDAY

Posted on | by David Haigh

MATCH PREVIEW
Scoring over sixty points in a national league game is something we will always take pride in. At Oxford, during our conversation at halftime, we weren’t satisfied with the number of points we had conceded and the players set the goal of allowing zero tries in the second half. While we may not have achieved that target, conceding once in the seventy-first minute, the defence in the early exchanges of the second forty set the tone. Under pressure, we put in an important defensive set to ensure that Oxford didn’t score first after the break and we went on to finish extremely strongly.

This has set up a very exciting Saturday tomorrow. Dorking sit second in the table and are on a seven game winning run. With it being our last home game of the season and sponsors day, this is always a great occasion and the fixture has all the ingredients of a great game. Both teams have plenty to play for and the squad are focused on putting in our best performance of the season.

The Pilgrims rounded off their season with a win, battling from behind to finish in style. With the squad stretched, which included Jon Foster making an appearance in the starting lineup, the team showed growth from last season. In this fixture a year ago, after similarly winning the league, the Pilgrims travelled to Beccehamians and lost 63-0. To be in the same position, missing a good number of players and still deliver a result shows the resilience that has been built into this team. It will put them in good stead for when they kick off next season in Regional 2

Matt Corker Head Coach.