Author: David Haigh

CANTERBURY 25 WESTCOMBE PARK 19

by David Haigh

After falling behind three times Canterbury came up with a winning try six minutes from the end as they overcame cold rain and wind to take four points from this typically tight Kent derby. In the testing conditions the quality of the rugby was a tribute to both sides but it was the performance of the city club’s pack in the second half that gave them a crucial edge. Their domination of the set scrums at times put ‘Combe under huge pressure and although it did not produce the points it should have it was key to the territorial battle. Combe took an early lead in the game after Canterbury failed to find touch with a clearance kick and they made the most of the possession. Centre Tom Vickers dummied his way through a defence short on numbers and Nathan Wyman converted. Canterbury, battling into the wind, kept losing the slippery ball in contact but drew level after 21 minutes. A lineout drive and plenty of pick and go put skipper Jamie Stephens over between the post, leaving Frank Reynold an easy conversion. They soon found themselves behind again, conceding a penalty at the breakdown which gave ‘Combe the opportunity to drive Sam Fombo across for the try, Wyman again converting. In the final minute of the half a Reynolds penalty goal cut the deficit to four and after the break the city club soon started to fire the shots. Four minutes in, Stephens blasted over again from short range, Reynolds was on target and the lead recaptured. In the 20 minutes that followed it was Canterbury who were dominant as the visitors scrum imploded but some fine defence kept them pointless. How costly that might have been was apparent when Combe seized on a dropped ball, wing Kieran Thompson hacked upfield and only a brave effort from Will Waddington prevented a score. But the scrum five metres out went to Combe and Number Eight Nick Cook found a blind side gap to put his team two points in front again. However, Canterbury soon reapplied the pressure and a yellow card for former city player Kyan Braithwaite saw Reynolds’ penalty win back the narrowest of leads and that rampant pack then produced an impressive and important score. A huge driving maul which motored 2O metres ended with prop Cameron Macmillan making the touchdown. A relieved Head Coach, Matt Corker, praised his team for the way they kept coming from behind. “It was a tough win but that is what derby games and league rugby are all about” he said.

Canterbury; W.Waddington, G.Jones, F.Morgan (repl A.Orris), T.Best, A.Moss, F.,Reynolds, T. Williams, (rep B.Cooper), B.Young (repl C.Macmillan), N.Morris (repl E.O’Donoghue( D.Herriott, D.Irvine (repl S.Rogers), S.Kerry, J.Stephens, C.Murray, T.Oliver.

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Barnes 39 Canterbury 22

by Andy Rogers

With four enforced changes in the back division from last week’s narrow defeat against league leaders Dorking this was always going to be a difficult encounter against a confident second placed Barnes. However it wasn’t cohesion that was lacking in a disappointing first half display as Canterbury failed to exert sufficient pressure from their large and experienced pack, not helped by early injuries to second row Shay Kerry and hooker Nathan Morris, both having to leave the field within the first 20 minutes. Instead Barnes stole the early initiative and Canterbury had no answers to their offloading master class. Three tries in the first 20 minutes, including a brace from elusive winger Paul Webb, had Canterbury on the ropes and with Kerry and Morris now off the pitch Barnes secured their bonus point score before half time. It came via a 20 metre driving maul before dancing fullback Cameron Roberts was released to squeeze over in the corner. Trailing by 24 to nil at half time a response was required and to a point Canterbury delivered. Frank Reynolds kicked a simple penalty early on before Barnes stretched their lead with a catch and drive try from flanker Ethan Harbinson. With the game seemingly beyond them Canterbury were now taking the initiative and two tries followed. First a fine finish from winger Jack Weaver; then centre Lewis Hollidge rounded off perhaps Canterbury’s best attacking move after a lovely line break from Eoin O’Donoghue. Barnes kicked another penalty but Canterbury were at last building some pressure and with the hosts repeatedly infringing it cost them three yellow cards. Centre Frank Morgan capitalised from a subsequent penalty with a try from a line out catch and drive, converted by Reynolds, and with 15 minutes still to go Canterbury could suddenly sniff a losing bonus point. Barnes were to score again to take the score to 39 to 22 but with the clock ticking down the city side were on the front foot again but missed their chance of a fourth try. It went wrong as they opted for a quickly taken tap penalty when a kick to the corner and an attacking lineout might have been more productive, so they left with nothing
Canterbury: T.Best, T.Halliday, F.Morgan, L.Hollidge, J.Weaver, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, B.Young, N.Morris, D.Herriott, S.Kerry, D.Irvine, S.Rogers, C.Murray, J.Stephens. Replacements: E.O’Donoghue, C.Macmillan, T.Williams, J.Dengate, P.Farrance

CANTERBURY 31 DORKING 36

by David Haigh

Canterbury’s habit of playing second half catch-up gave National 2 East league leaders Dorking plenty to think about but it was the visitors defensive strengths that eventually saw them maintain their unbeaten record and take home a bonus point win. Two tries in the first ten minutes after the break gave the visitors a 22 point lead and the game seemed to be in their pocket. But the city side, as they had the previous week, found a second wind and four minutes from the end Shay Kerry’s converted try had closed the gap to eight points. It was tantalisingly close but not quite enough although continuing pressure won a penalty and Canterbury took the pragmatic decision to kick it and claim a second bonus point. Dorking, with the confidence of five wins under their belt, took an early lead through a Henry Anscombe penalty goal and Fraser Mosely’s converted try before Canterbury got their act together. Two sniping tries by scrum half Ben Cooper, the first from a maul, the second after a strong carry from prop Billy Young, newly returned from the collapsed Jersey club, kept them in the hunt but Dorking were still good value for a 24-14 half way lead. Their scores were made by former Canterbury forward Will Scholes and wing Will Sanders with Anscombe topping up both tries. They built impressively on that advantage early in the second half with a catch and drive try by hooker Jonny Ellis and a seering long range run from wing Toby McCrae who outpaced every one on his way to the line. Canterbury were left with that old cliche ringing in their ears ‘a mountain to climb’ but after McCrae’s brilliant effort they quickly began the ascent. Within two minutes Aiden Moss collected a clearance kick, speared though and Alfie Orris finished off after good link work with Jamie Stephens. Reynolds converted and Canterbury kept on coming, It was now that Dorking’s defenders dug in and under intense pressure repelled all attacks. When Canterbury exhausted the unproductive catch and drive route they finally made the breach as Kerry muscled his way over the line from a tap penalty, too late however to influence the result.

Canterbury: A.Davies (repl F.Morgan), A.Moss, G.Jones, L.Hollidge (repl T.Best), A.Orris, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, P.Holland (repl B.Young), N.Morris (repl E.O’Donoghue), D.Herriott, S.Kerry, J.De Vries, J Stephens, S.Rogers, T.Oliver (repl H.Furneaux)

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton