Author: David Haigh

Let’s Make It Three

Posted on | by David Haigh

MATCH PREVIEW: OLD ALBANIAN
The big difference this season from the previous one is our ability to back up results and the momentum that allows us to build. The season that we were promoted by March we were a juggernaut rolling downhill and even on days where results shouldn’t have gone our way, we found a way to win. The best teams have an air of inevitability and this is a quality we have shown at different stages of the season, but is a tag that we want to wear constantly. For us to mix it with the top of the league we know losses have to be few and far between, to date Esher have only lost three times this season, and tomorrow we face Old Albanians who have been strong in this league for a long time. The last block of three games we were winless, this three game block we have the opportunity to win three from three but it will take a full 80 minute performance for us to achieve this.

The Pilgrims did it! The crowning glory for a fantastic season culminated in them winning the league at home on Saturday with two games to go. The pride in the players faces at the final whistle is a memory that I will cherish. They deserve all the credit for the commitment they have shown, and for me this was built on the results that they have churned out even when facing large personnel changes. Jon Foster, John Mitchell and Justin Loveridge have set the tone and created a team where lads develop as players and as men. Many players have progressed to represent the 1st XV and everyone who has pulled on a Pilgrims shirt this season has had a great rugby experience. Back to back league titles, what a year.o

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Pilgrims, Counties 2 Kent League Champions

PILGRIMS ARE CHAMPIONS

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 28 ASHFORD 18

by John Mitchell

Pilgrims crowned their outstanding season with a victory that sealed the Counties 1 Kent title with two games still to play. To achieve it they had to come from behind before seeing off a robust challenge from East Kent neighbours Ashford. After losing their first game of the campaign the previous week Canterbury had to regroup. They fielded a squad showing seven changes and a slow start saw them thirteen points down after the first half hour. By half time. however, they cut out earlier mistakes, moved into a one point lead and took charge after the break. The game did not start well for the home side. Within three minutes Ashford took the lead with a push over try while a scrappy Pilgrims could not get their moves going as knock-ons and penalties frustrated them. The visitors pushed further ahead with a second unconverted try and when they added a penalty goal to open that thirteen point gap Pilgrims needed a response. Then things started to change. Good attacking play saw Gus Lister score an excellent try converted by Will Hilton. Wing Max Campbell’s individual effort brought another score and with Hilton again on target it gave Pilgrims a slender lead. The champions elect survived a ten minute sin binning for Harvey Furneaux and then gradually stamped their authority on the match in the second half. A great try by Jordan Constant, converted by Hilton, made it 21-13 and Sonny Trew-Neville got the fourth, bonus point touch down. Hilton’s successful kick made his side even more comfortable and although a resilient Ashford managed a late try the title was by then firmly in Canterbury’s grasp as they maintained a 100 percent home record.
John Grewar, making his second appearance of the campaign, and Gus Lister shared the Man of the Match award. Awards, made possible by our sponsors, also went to Jon Foster the Coach, Ben Cassidy the Physio, and thirty-nine-year old stalwart Dan Gill, who played in nearly every game. And a special mention goes to Adrian Geddes, the only player not to miss a game all season. This week Pilgrims are away to Bromley who are in fourth in the table.

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Pilgrims v Ashford - 16 March 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

CANTERBURY IN CHARGE

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 33 GUERNSEY RAIDERS 19

by David Haigh

Having put their mark on the game with nineteen unanswered points in the first half Canterbury eased to a solid victory which keeps them in seventh place in the National 2 East table. A late rally by Raiders, which brought them two well worked tries, was never enough to trouble a city side who kept the islanders at comfortable arms length. In the process their five tries earned a bonus point but it wasn’t until the end of the first quarter that the scoreboard got a move on. Frank Morgan scored the first of his two tries after 23 minutes but it was Guernsey, with a stiff breeze in their favour, who dominated the early territory and asked questions of the home defence. Their failure to crack it, the intensity of the tackling forcing them into handling errors, was to prove costly. A lineout turnover led to Morgan’s opener and having got the taste the Canterbury backs split Raiders open again three minutes later. Lewis Hillier batted down a try scoring pass illegally and it cost him a yellow card and his side a penalty try. Prop Elliot Lusher was in support of flanker Eoin O’Donoghue’s run to claim a third before half time and Frank Reynolds conversion stretched the lead further. Guernsey finally found a way to the line twelve minutes into the second half with a catch and drive score by Tom Ceillam, converted by Ciaran McGann, but it was treated as a minor inconvenience. Some of the rugby was untidy but it was Canterbury who held a clear edge and the balance was restored when they worked an overlap for Presley Farrance and Reynolds converted from wide out. The last five minutes of the game saw a flurry of tries, two for Raiders wing Ethan Smith, the first converted by McGann, as the island side went through some excellent phases. Sandwiched between those scores, however, came Morgan again to snap up a converted try and underline Canterbury’s good work after Will Waddington forced a Guernsey error.

CANTERBURY: W.Waddington, G.Jones (repl B.Law), F.Morgan, T.Best (repl B.Cooper), A.Orris, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, E.Lusher, N.Morris (repl C.Macmillan), D.Herriott, S.Kerry (repl W.Hunt), C.Murray, A.Evans (repl T.Mackenzie), E.O’Donoghue, J.Stephens

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v Guernsey - 16 March 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

GUERNSEY: 2 PM KICK-OFF

Posted on | by David Haigh

After a tight first 40 minutes last week we came out in the second half and controlled the game, scoring 31 points and, if not for a lapse in concentration in the last minute, would have kept North Walsham scoreless in the same period. Our focus was to control the ball better than we had in the last three games and this was much improved, allowing us to build pressure and return to scoring some really good tries. Our maul was back to producing points and Nathan Morris is now up to an impressive fifteen tries for the season, the 6th best in the league and Frank Reynolds remains the highest points scorer with 226.

I have been talking to the players about the importance of results at the “business end” of the season and we are poised to improve on last year’s 10th place finish, but in this league nothing is given and we will have to continue to collect results from the last five games. Guernsey have found their stride after a challenging start to the season, winning four from the last six and tomorrow will be a tough encounter with both sides on the hunt for points. It’ an earlier than usual kick-off at 2pm.

Jesse De Vries has again been called into the Netherlands squad for their rugby Europe Championship 5th place final, match at Stade Française stadium in Paris. They are facing Germany and we wish him all the best in the final game of this year’s tournament.

The Pilgrims unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday, spanning 18 games which is an incredible achievement. The team was disappointed with the performance they put in against a Crowborough team that has only lost once at home this season. There is no time for us to feel sorry for ourselves as there is still a league title on the line, with one more win all that is needed to get the job done. Ashford travel to the Marine travel ground on Saturday and they won’t want to give up the points we need, so the team will have to bounce back and return to the level of performance that has been on show all season

Matt Corker Head Coach

End Of The Run

Posted on | by David Haigh

CROWBOROUGH 27 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 7

by John Mitchell

The eighteen game winning run has come to an end as the Pilgrims were outplayed in all departments and beaten by a better side on the day. Despite this first defeat of the season the team are still twelve points clear at the top of Counties 1 Kent and a home victory over Ashford next Saturday would see them crowned as champions. At Crowborough they were without a number of regular players but that does not fully account for a laboured performance full of errors, poor tackling and wrong choices. A sound start was made by both sides but it was first blood to Crowborough, through a penalty goal, while a good move by the Pilgrims ended after a knock on. But it was the home side who were running the game and only a fine tackle from Jack Weaver denied them a certain try. Pilgrims could not get out of their own half and as the mistakes piled up Crowborough scored a converted try and then a lucky bounce brought them a second touchdown. Everything from Canterbury was too slow and their troubles were compounded when Tom Halliday was given a yellow card. The home side took advantage of their extra man to grab a third try, leaving Pilgrims twenty points behind at half time. Boosted by the introduction of replacements, Pilgrims controlled most of the first quarter of the second half. From a line out they got their rolling maul going and crossed the line, but were held up. Minutes later, from a scrum, Luke Webber went over for a try converted by Tom McMann. There was more Pilgrims pressure now and much more control with fly half McMann in charge, but while there were some good individual displays, notably by Jordan Constant and Cameron Macmillan returning from injury, there was still a lack of the normal understanding and continuity. With time running out and Pilgrims frustration showing, the home side scored try number four to earn them a bonus point

Back To Winning Ways

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 41 NORTH WALSHAM VIKINGS 12

by David Haigh

A muscular afternoon from the Canterbury pack brought to an end a run of three defeats as the city side served up a dominant second half. Four of their six tries were scored by the forwards and it was the collective power of the scrum that won them the fifth through a penalty try. After a tight first half Vikings, the basement side of National 2 East, got a mauling as they struggled with Canterbury’s catch and drive and domination of the set pieces. They got an early warning eight minutes into the game when Nathan Morris, that serial finisher of the catch and drive, registered the first of his two tries and Frank Reynolds converted. Walsham, however, came into this match with the confidence of a good victory over Henley the previous week and were soon testing the Canterbury defence with their all out attacking style. They worked a good try for scrum half Connor Dudley after finding space on the right and continued to keep everyone in a black and amber shirt on their toes. Reynolds slotted a penalty goal to give his side a five point lead at the break but only after Vikings full back Benjy Hewitt had been held up over the line. On the resumption the momentum shifted dramatically to Canterbury as the forwards, in strong arm mood, needed only two minutes to send lock Shay Kerry over. Any lingering doubts about where this game was going were then put to rest as they scored twice in as many minutes. With the Vikings in full retreat a collapsed scrum cost them the penalty try and, next, a fine break by Number Eight Jamie Stephens was capped with an athletic finish from Jessie De Vries. On the hour mark the productive driving maul provided Morris with his fifteenth try of the season, leaving Reynolds to kick his third conversion. The backs finally got among the scorers seven minutes from the end as wing Garry Jones put in a strong effort at the corner and for the out-muscled Vikings came the consolation of a last minute touch down by Tawanda Kandemwa and a good conversion from Ross Magnus.

Canterbury: W.Waddington, G.Jones, F.Morgan, T.Best (repl B.Law), A.Orris, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance (repl B.Cooper), E.Lusher (repl D.Huntley), N.Morris (repl T.Mackenzie), D.Herriott, S.Kerry, J.De Vries, C.Murray (rep A.Evans), E.O’Donoghue, J.Stephens.

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v North Walsham - 9 March 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Under The Microscope

Posted on | by David Haigh

The swing in the level of our performance between the first and second half against Westcombe Park is something that we have had to process. The week off gave us the opportunity to put the game under the microscope and the senior players lead our review. We were well below what we expect of ourselves, and the disappointment was made acutely more painful as it was a fixture that we all wanted to show the best version of ourselves. The local rivalry means a lot to the players, coaches and the club as a whole and the error strewn second half is not the team we want to be.

The last two weeks training has been focused, and work on our ability to maintain possession and our execution at the lineout has quickly started to change our outcomes. This Saturday will be the real test of this and we are fully aware that North Walsham’s league position is not a reflection of the rugby they are playing. Everything is pointing to the sun being out at The Marine Travel ground and I am expecting a battle between two attacking minded teams.

The Pilgrims have another chance to play against Crowborough after last Saturday’s cancellation. Howfield Manor hosted the team last week for a nutritious pre-match breakfast only for the news the game was off to come in as the bus was arriving at Howfield. There was disappointment, but not enough to spoil the lads breakfast! So this week it is a case of Take 2, as the Pilgrims look to maintain their unbeaten run.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Second Half Fade Out

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WESTCOMBE PARK 27 CANTERBURY 14

by David Haigh

A dominant second half from ‘Combe settled this Kent derby as an error prone Canterbury failed live up to their early promise. Their nine point half time lead vanished in a rising count of mistakes and turnovers as the hosts picked them off with three unanswered tries. The city side went into the game weakened by injuries and ‘Combe were able to target key areas to telling effect after the break, but that was no excuse for the drop off in judgment and physicality. That poor forty minutes was in direct contrast to the team who controlled much of the first half. Their early attacks brought a yellow card for ‘Combe’s Sam Fombo and an immediate catch and drive try by Nathan Morris. That score was countered by an unconverted try from ‘Combe’s Taine Wagstaff but it was the city side who were playing with greater confidence and they marked it with anther classy seven points. Swift handling and a delayed pass opened the gap for Eoin O’Donoghue to score between the posts and Frank Reynolds’ second conversion was easy. Further points proved more elusive as Canterbury failed to capitalise on close quarter mauls and opted to ignore kickable penalty chances, but at the end of the half they could look back on a decent body of work. When they came out for the second half, however, their memory failed them. A yellow card for replacement Alfie Orris gave ‘Combe their first chance through a catch drive try for Harry Hudson, converted by Nathan Wyman and they never looked back. Winning all the important clashes and seizing on a now muted Canterbury’s errors they were gifted a third try, scored by Mark Muhamman courtesy of some weak defending. Stripped of possession the city side were a shadow of their earlier selves. Wyman’s conversion and a 71st minute penalty goal moved his side eight points ahead and a lost lineout helped ‘Combe to claim a bonus point from the last play of the game through wing Joe Ratcliff’s try.

Canterbury: W.Waddington, G.Jones, F.Morgan, T.Best, B.Law, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, E.Lusher, N.Morris, D.Herriott, J.Stephens, C.Murray, T.Mackenzie, E.O’Donoghue, A.Evans. Replacements: T.Williams, W.Hunt, A.Orris, H.Furneaux, A.Malik.

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Westcombe Park - 24 Feb 2024

Images may be subject to copyright 0 Phillipa Hilton

Beefing Up Defence

Posted on | by David Haigh

WEEKEND PREVIEW

We needed a reaction from the players after the Dorking game and our performance against Barnes was much improved. Our adjustment to the recent refocus on the new tackle height laws was exactly what we have been working on, only conceding one high tackle penalty. The challenge for us is to continue to dominate collisions at the lower height. Last season this was more straight forward as we coached a big impact from the second tackler. This is an area that referees are now concentrating on, even more so than the beginning of the season, and it has become difficult to have the same impact below the sternum as the second man. We have been working on strategies to be dominant in defence and this weekend is an opportunity to show how far we have progressed in this area.

The main story of the day last Saturday was the number of turnovers we conceded immediately after strong line breaks. This happened on eight occasions, the majority of the time after making considerable metres. It killed our ability to apply pressure through possession and the score board. To be at the top of this league you have to be clinical and we paid the price for our inaccuracy. The positive side of this coin is that we are creating so many good attacking opportunities and our work on is clear.

This weekend is the last of this three game block before a week off and it’s a big derby in the calendar away at Westcombe Park. Both Teams will be focused on finishing strongly and as we get into the business end of the season it’s all to play for.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Pilgrims Closing On Title

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY PILGRIM 60 CHARLTON PARK 12

by John Mitchell

After this resounding victory, Pilgrims need just nine points from their four remaining games to be crowned champions of Counties 1 Kent. Their fast, attacking brand of rugby overwhelmed a relegation threatened Park with ten tries as they extended the winning run to eighteen matches. From the kick off the Pilgrims meant business. Harry Andrews, from an early lineout, went over to score the first try of the day and fly half Harrison Fermor made a difficult conversion. A good backs move, with Fermor disguising a beautifully weighted pass to Stanley Bull, put Canterbury 12-0 up and after 18 minutes, and more prolonged pressure, Tom Williams scored try number three. A fourth came from Will Hunt after a superb bit of open play by the dominant Pilgrims. Only good defending by the visitors stopped the score board moving and they also found a reply. A five metre scrum saw their heavier pack gain advantage and go over out wide. A yellow card for the visitors, their second, allowed Pilgrims to take advantage and Harvey Furneaux went over, after continued pressure, to make it 27-5 at half time. The second half continued in the same vein. Fast attacking rugby opened the way for Gus Lister to speed through; Stan Bull scored his second try of the day off the back of a maul and try number eight was also a second for Harry Andrews, who powered through a massive gap. Charlton Park could not put any real moves together, as wave after wave of quick ball, being moved left and right negated their superiority in the scrum. The ninth try went to the hard working Adrian Geddes, after a great run by Furneaux, and Harvey himself completed the day’s prolific haul. Four second half conversions by Fermor pushed the score to the sixty mark but a Park side which never stopped working were rewarded with a last minute converted try. Next up for Pilgrims is Crowborough, away, on March 2nd.