Author: David Haigh

Pilgrims Promising Debut

Posted on | by David Haigh

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.

Canterbury Falter On Day One

Posted on | by David Haigh

BARNES 26 CANTERBURY 14

by David Haigh

A strong start but a confused ending saw Canterbury falter on this opening day of the new National 2 East season. “That was our best start at Barnes for several seasons said a disappointed Head Coach Matt Corker. “We later went away from the game plan and that was fatal.” You could see why Corker found it so frustrating because the city side played a full part in an untidy but highly competitive game. With five minutes left they were trailing by only one score but over- ambitious play near their own line handed Barnes Number Eight Dan Robertson his fourth try and Canterbury were left without even a losing bonus point. Solid work from the pack put pressure on Barnes in the early stages but it wasn’t until the 25th minute that their defence cracked to a driving maul try by Eoin O’Donoghue, converted by Frank Reynolds. The hosts found momentum in the second quarter, won penalties and, taking their cue from the Canterbury score, the efficiency of their maul gave them a narrow 12-7 lead by halftime with two tries from Robertson and a conversion by Elliot Haydon. The city side were back in front six minutes into the second half. Following an interception and break by flanker Mo Pangarker, a player in outstanding form on his return from long term injury, they drove hard and patiently at the home line until Harry Sloan touched down between the posts and Reynolds again converted. It was their failures in defending the catch and drive that saw that advantage vanish after just two minutes as Robertson and Haydon clocked up another seven points. Barnes now began to dictate territory but if the close quarter mauls had been a problem for the city side the rest of the defending was beyond reproach as they kept the home side at bay, They still had opportunities to attack but runs by Luke Talbot, Will Waddington and Aiden Moss went unrewarded. With Barnes pressing again in the late minutes some wild Canterbury passing gave them that final opportunity and they did not miss out.

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

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

Posted on | by David Haigh

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

Posted on | by David Haigh

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

Posted on | by David Haigh

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

Posted on | by David Haigh

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

Posted on | by David Haigh

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