Author: David Haigh

Match Preview v TJs

Lessons From Alex Sanderson

Posted on | by David Haigh

TOBRIDGE JUDDIANs V CANTERBURY

Recently I shared a clip with the team of Alex Sanderson talking after Sale’s defeat at Quins. Going into the game Sale were six wins from seven and top of the premiership. That evening they lost by 30 points. He sums up rugby well for me; he says that if you aren’t right in the top two inches, if you’re off by only a small amount you are miles off it on the scoreboard. That was also the tale of our Saturday. Against a very motivated 4th in the league, we didn’t match their intensity for 50 minutes and conceded seven tries. At home that is unacceptable regardless of how good an opposition team is and in front of our home supporters it wasn’t good enough. Our late rally, scoring four unanswered tries of our own, shows what we are capable of but by that point we had left ourselves too much to do.

This weekend’s fixture needs very little introduction, as most derbies don’t, and the lesson from Henley has to be that we need to turn up ready to work for each other, and the club, from the first minute to the last, that’s the only way you can earn a win in this league. The players know what is required; our week has been spent preparing for the first whistle tomorrow.

The Pilgrims reached the halfway point of their season with their convincing victory over Bromley. With eleven wins out of eleven, and only one point short of maximum. Their introduction to Counties 1 has been impressive to say the least. Who doesn’t love a Friday night game and Thanet visit the Marine travel ground this evening looking to break the Pilgrims unbeaten run. Two Christmas crackers in one weekend, what a way to finish the year.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Friday Night Lights

Pilgrims Friday Night Derby

Posted on | by David Haigh

Floodlit rugby is on the Friday night pre-Christmas menu this week (December 15th) when Pilgrims serve up a tasty East Kent derby against Thanet Wanderers 1st. The Counties 1 Kent clash kicks off at 7.45pm and is a great appetizer for those supporters planning to travel to the first team game at Tonbridge Juddians on Saturday. The Pilgrims are flying high at the top of the league and are playing great entertaining rugby. Admission to the match is free. The bars are open and food is available.

Match report v Bromley

Hat Trick For Max

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 36 BROMLEY 10

by John Mitchell

Wing Max Campbell marked his return from injury by registering a first half hat trick of tries as Pilgrims extended their unbeaten run in Counties 1 Kent to eleven games. With a total of 54 points out of a possible 55 they lead the table by nine points, ahead of Dartfordians. Pilgrims made a flying start, taking the lead within three minutes as Tom McMann’s kick took a lucky deflection off a Bromley player, Gus Lister raced on to the ball and sent Campbell away for a try converted by McMann. The visitors missed a chance to get on the scoreboard with a failed penalty kick and by half time were seventeen points in arrears. Pilgrims second try was a great team effort, with the ball moved across the whole park before Campbell’s pace did the rest. His third, with 17 minutes gone, was a fine solo effort and when Bromley built their own pressure Canterbury’s defence was up to the job. The second half bonus point try came from continued pressure before Jake Dengate forced himself over and McMann converted in difficult, windy conditions. Bromley would not lie down and were proving difficult to beat until Gus Lister broke away at pace and exchanged passes with Campbell before putting the game to bed with a fifth try which McMann converted. Dave Irvine then received a yellow card for a high tackle, Bromley were down a player through injury and the game had gone to uncontested scrums as a sticky pitch took its toll on the action. Bromley scored an unconverted try before Pilgrims launched a rolling maul and Brandon Dunkerley went over for their sixth try. The visitors ended with another unconverted touchdown in a game in which scrum half Presley Farrance won the supporters Player award for yet another controlled performance.

Pilgrims: G.Lister, M.Campbell, J.Richardson, S.Trew-Neville, A.Geddes, T.McMann, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, B.Dunkerley, J.Everatt, H.Andrews, D.Irvine, J.Dengate, H.Furneaux, A.Evans. Replacements: T.Mackenzie, D.Gill, H.Valdares

Next game v Thanet this Friday evening, kick-off 7.45pm

Match report v Henley Hawks

First Half Collapse

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 33 HENLEY HAWKS 43

by David Haigh

Canterbury Head Coach Matt Corker said that this National 2 East game against fourth placed Henley would be a test of how far his side have progressed this season. At the end of the first half with the Hawks in a commanding 31-7 lead and Canterbury’s four match winning streak collapsing he was left with plenty to think about. It was only in the last twenty minutes that the city club produced the effective rugby their coach is looking for as they ran in four tries to rescue a losing bonus point. What went before was a tale of repeated errors which were punished ruthlessly as Canterbury lost the ball in contact, struggled at the set pieces and handed Hawks all the space they needed. The visitors scored five tries in the first half, the opener coming from hooker Istok Totic, and although there was a similar catch and drive reply from Nathan Morris, converted by Frank Reynolds, Canterbury offered little else. They could not contain Henley’s direct running and slick off-loading which brought excellent tries for Zack Taylor, Adam Hakimian, Sam Lunnon and George Wood. Three conversions by Max Titchener completed what was threatening to become a rout. Those fears looked well founded as Canterbury conceded two further tries in the opening twelve minutes of the second half when Totic claimed his second touchdown and scrum half Leo Webb darted through a gap. Titchener’s conversion made it 43-7. Faced with embarrassment, the city side at last found the energy, control and sharpness in attack to force themselves back into the contest. It started with Eoin O’Donoghue’s mauled score in the 59th minute and a second came quickly as Tom Best put in a typical finish. O’Donoghue’s second won the bonus point before Shay Kerry got over the line in the final play. Reynolds boosted the scoreline with three conversions but that late surge could hardly disguise the fact that Canterbury in this game were only a half decent side.

Canterbury: W.Waddngton, G.Jones (repl B.Law), F.Morgan, T.Best, A.Moss, F.Reynolds, T.Williams (repl B.Cooper), C.Macmillan (repl E.Lusher), N.Morris, W.McColl (repl D.Herriott), S.Kerry, J.De Vries (repl S.Rogers), J.Stephens, E.O’Donoghue, T.Oliver.

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v Henley - 9 Dec 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton
Match Preview v Henley Hawks

HAWKS WILL TEST US

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY V HENLEY HAWKS

The frozen pitch at Bury may have put the chance to continue our good run of form on hold, but it came at a good time for us. After four physical encounters the opportunity for the players to rest some niggles has been welcomed and training this week has been full of energy. This will be needed this weekend as we welcome Henley who are sitting in fourth.

As part of our review at the end of last season we looked at our final league stats in comparison to Henley. We felt that both our games against Henley were close, we averaged one score behind over the two games, but they won 17 games compared to our 9 and finished fifth compared to our tenth place finish. This season we have been very focused on close not being good enough and we know Henley will be a test of how far we have progressed. If we want to be in the same part of the table as Henley, we need to be able to close out games against good teams, being plucky losers won’t change our situation.

The Pilgrims returned to action away at Ashford with a solid 0-19 win. It is a phenomenal stat that this is the first time in ten games that they haven’t earned a bonus point and It is very easy to forget that this is the team’s first season in this league. Fifth place Bromley come to the Marine travel ground on Saturday to try and halt the Pilgrims unbeaten run.

With both the 1st XV and the Pilgrims at home I’m looking forward to another cracking Saturday at The Maine Travel Ground.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Match report v Ashford

Pilgrims Grind Out Victory

Posted on | by David Haigh

ASHFORD 0 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 19

by John Mitchell

On very cold, damp winter’s days like this league position and form goes out of the window and so it proved as the unbeaten Pilgrims had to grind out victory. In the process they scored three unanswered tries, were excellent in defence but missed out on a bonus point for the first time this season. They started well, with fast tempo and a try within minutes. Great all round backs play saw full back Gus Lister join the line and sprint over for the touchdown but Tom McMann failed to convert. Within minutes Gus went close again with another great run and there was continued pressure as Alex Evans and Harvey Furneaux tested the home defence. Scores, however, were elusive as Pilgrims were sucked into Ashford’s tactics, lost ball in contact and made poor decisions. The home side were not short of possession either but could do nothing to break a resolute Canterbury defence where Jake Dengate set the standard with his heavy hits. That early try was the only score of the first half but the team regrouped and came out firing after the break. From the off veteran prop Dan Gill scored a trade mark try, wrestling over from close range, and Tom McMann duly obliged with the conversion. The game continued to be riddled with mistakes and Canterbury straying from the game plan. Then with fifteen minutes to go a penalty kicked to touch, a line-out and an excellent push over try for Brandon Dunkerley – his first of the season – settled the result. McMann converted and there was still enough time left to earn that four try bonus point. But that was not going to happen against a stubborn Ashford side who took control of the set scrums. A shut out away from home is always good, but Pilgrims could have played so much better. There was little to warm us on a chilly day but the result sees Canterbury take a nine point lead at the top of Counties 1 Kent.
Pilgrims: G.Lister, J.Weaver, J.Richardson, S.Trew-Neville, A.Geddes, T.McMann, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, B.Dunkerley, D.Gill, W.Hunt, T.Mackenzie, J.Dengate, H.Furneaux, A.Evans. Replacements: H.Andrews, J.Everratt, H.Valldares
Next game this coming weekend is at home v Bromley at 2:00pm

Game Called Off

First Team Game Called Off

Posted on | by David Haigh

The first team match at Bury St Edmunds has been called off after the pitch was declared unfit. A Friday afternoon inspection confirmed that the pitch is frozen and the forecast overnight and Saturday morning is for more frost. The game will be rescheduled for the New year,

Match preview v Bury St Edmunds

Pleasing the Middle Man

Posted on | by David Haigh

BURY ST EDMUNDS V CANTERBURY

After another five points on Saturday, we are up to 6th in the league table as well as chalking up our fourth win in a row. It has been a long time since we have achieved this and it has been hard earned by the lads on the pitch. That isn’t the whole story though. From a really commanding position, with a 19 point lead after scoring early in the second half we finished defending a five point lead, with a top draw turnover from Jamie Stephens to close out the win. From my perspective the root of the problem in the last 35 minutes was our relationship with the man in the middle. 11 penalties, our normal average for a whole game, and two yellow cards put us under pressure and even after some strong defence sets, we were pulled back due to infringements. One of my favourite coaches I played under always said that the referee was the most important person on the pitch, and we have spoken this week about how to avoid our most common penalties and how to work back from a rocky period. It is important to not gloss over the great tries that we scored, most built on speed and accuracy and the change in our defence. After our reflection at the end of last season this was the main area needing improvement and the players have turned it into a strength. This week sees a test of our credentials at Bury St Edmunds who sit one place above us in the league table and are always formidable opposition on their own ground. Back in our starting line-up after recovering from injury is lock Shay Kerry but we lose flanker Cam Murray who, sadly, has suffered a family bereavement. The only question mark is over the weather as there have been heavy frosts in Suffolk this week. We hope to have an early decision on the fitness of the Bury pitch.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

v Old Albanians

Victory The Hard Way

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 32 OLD ALBANIAN 27

by David Haigh

It has been some time since Canterbury enjoyed the luxury of a four match winning run but this latest success was not achieved without serious alarms. When Frank Morgan’s try three minutes into the second half opened up a nineteen point lead they appeared to be cruising at a safe height. By the final whistle, however, the city side were clinging on to their seat belts after a revived Albanians sent them into a nosedive. They survived, despite two yellow cards and a heavy penalty count, to take a full five points and stay sixth in the National 2 East table. The visitors were first on the scoreboard as wing Hugo Watson nipped through a large hole for a try converted by Sam Jones. When Canterbury got themselves together they levelled matters with Number Eight Tyler Oliver’s burst off the back of a scrum setting up a try for Eoin O’Donoghue and converted by Frank Reynolds as he compensated for an earlier penalty miss which hit a post. They fell behind again to a Jones penalty goal but that was the last time Albanians held the lead as Canterbury took command of the first half and exploited a yellow card for Albanian lock Ashley Illston with two converted tries. An athletic run from Jesse De Vries won vital territory before flanker Cam Murray burrowed over and as the city side continued to apply pressure Tom Best stepped neatly through for the third try. At 24-10 most sides would have been happy and even more delighted to get the bonus point touchdown so soon after the break. It was a good score, too, from Morgan as he powered down the left flank and although Reynolds was off target the chill November wind was blowing Canterbury’s way. Albanians, however, refused to be left out in the cold. As the city side frequently incurred the referees displeasure and surrendered territory the visitors found fresh energy and resolve and scored two tries in the space of six minutes through forwards Kemp Price and Ben Alexander, both topped up by Jones. With O’Donoghue and Oliver both serving time in the sin bin Canterbury had to find ways to hold on. A welcome Reynolds penalty goal edged them eight points ahead but when Jones replied late on and Albanians surged forward in a final assault there was tension all over the pitch. A rare penalty award to Canterbury in the last seconds finally brought them huge relief.

Canterbury: W.Waddngton, A.Moss (repl G.Jones), F.Morgan, T.Best, A.Orris, F.Reynolds, T.Williams(repl B.Cooper), C.Macmillan (rep E.Lusher), N.Morris, W.McColl (repl D.Herriott), J.Stephens, J.De Vries, C.Murray, E.O’Donoghue (repl S.Rogers), T.Oliver

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v Old Albanian - 25 Nov 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton
V Old Albanian

Feeling The Energy

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY V OLD ALBANIAN

Our focus all last week was to make sure that we prepared ourselves mentally to travel to Guernsey to perform at our best. We have been continually growing our understanding of what our best performances are built on, and the way we played last Saturday showed how far we have come. It starts with our physicality in the first two minutes, from all 15 players, and from that foundation we can build the rest of our game. Frank Reynolds deserves a mention for a 24 point haul which has put him as the highest points scorer in the league. This is a fitting reward for his contribution over the first ten games.

We are not the finished article but the increased energy the players have brought over the last three weeks has shown what this group is capable of. There are no weak teams in this league and if we step off the gas we are going to be disappointed, and that is not something we want to go back to. As we return home to the Marine Travel Ground after two long trips on the road, we are looking forward to showing our amazing supporters how much it means for us to be back.

The unstoppable Pilgrims did the business again beating second place Crowborough by a 30 point margin opening a nine point gap over second place Dartfordians. The team has a well earned break this weekend before they launch into the final three games before Christmas as they look to continue their perfect start to the season.

Matt Corker, Head Coach