Author: Denys Andrianjafy

Canterbury 37 – 17 Ashford Barbarians

This was a physical contest from the outset with both sets of forwards trying to dominate, while the Barbarians held the upper hand at the set piece the Zingari had the advantage in the loose. This led to Canterbury’s first try with Toby Allen picking off a ball on the outside with a straight dash to the line. Next up was Brad Allchurch showing what he could do from close range with a tackle breaking charge to go over out wide. Ashford reply was swift, their forwards building pressure before they found a gap in the city defence to claim back a try with a charge from short range. With twenty minutes on the clock Canterbury now entered a purple patch, keeping the ball alive running everything, even from deep in their own half began to pay dividends, First Joe Rumsey out stripping the defence ran the ball behind the posts for the city’s only conversion courtesy of Brad Allchurch. This was followed by Will Rayner jinking his way round his would-be tacklers to touch down, and on the stroke of half time Jerome Weigh was on hand to burrow his way over to give the Zingari a well-earned half time cushion.

The second half saw the Barbarians trying to keep the ball tight that paid dividends with an early try, only to be thwarted when the city pounced on a loose ball and set off down field to be finished off with Connor Langley making a scything run over the line. Ashford Barbarians kept to their game plan bringing them success after concerted forward pressure on the city line rewarded them with a converted try. The city now had to endure more of the same, and set themselves into defensive mode with some heroic tackling and scramble defence that proved enough to hold their line. As the game went into the closing minutes, and deep in defence the Zingari manage to secure a loose ball sending it wide to Toby Allen, who then turned the defender before cutting back inside to win the sprint to the lime cementing the Zingari win.

Tries

Toby Allen 2
Jerome Weigh 1
Joe Rumsey 1
Will Rayner 1
Brad Allchurch 1
Connor Langley 1

Conversions

Brad Allchurch 1

Deal & Betteshanger Lions 2nd XV 24 – 46 Zingari

Again, the Zingari take maximum points with a display of open running rugby against a sometimes-rampant Lions pack. The city side opened their account with an early try from Thomas, followed minutes later by George Ayres touching down before convert his own try. This early onslaught by Canterbury prompted the Lions pack into action, with some devastating drives into the city defence that yielded a well taken converted try before the Zingari managed to stem the flow. First with Thomas and then Brad Allchurch crashing over the line, and with George Ayres conversions the city side looked to be building a comfortable lead. However, the Lions had other ideas, their forwards pressured Canterbury into conceding three points with a penalty before snatching a try and conversion just before halftime.

The second half started as the first finished with Deal & Betts forwards breaking the city line with a try & conversion putting them within striking distance of the city. Canterbury pack aware of the situation sensibly played to their strengths, while the Lions well drilled pack dominated the set piece the city exceled in the open broken play keeping the ball alive. First to take advantage of this style of play was Toby Allen and George Ayres both touching down out wide. Deal & Betts Lions now stretched across the field found it more difficult to combat these tactics, and in the last few minutes Canterbury sealed it up with a move started on halfway spreading the ball down the line for Allen to squeeze in the corner to tie up the match.

Tries
Thomas 2
George Ayres 2
Toby Allen 3
Brad Allchurch

Conversions
George Ayres 3

Zingari 40pts. Tunbridge Wells 3rd 39pts.

The Zingari take maximum points by the narrowest possible margin against a highly competitive Tunbridge Wells 3rd team. The city side were made to work hard from the outset with Tunbridge laying down a marker in the opening minutes with a try out wide. Canterbury’s response minutes later was equally swift with centre Will Rayner breaking the line to touch down and Simon Crossly conversion put Canterbury ahead. This state of affairs didn’t last long with the Tunbridge forwards forcing over out wide, followed by Canterbury wingman Joe Rumsey outstripping the defence in the corner. Tunbridge again hit back through their forwards this time with a converted try followed by Canterbury’s Will Rayner interception running the ball unopposed under the posts for Crossley’s conversion, that was to prove crucial with the final score. With Half time approaching Tunbridge hit a purple patch aided by some poor Canterbury tackling racking up three quick tries, and a conversion giving them a comfortable half time lead.

The second half started with Canterbury pulling one converted try back thanks to a jinking run by Will Rayner, and crossly conversion, before we saw Tunbridge’s best try of the afternoon with their wingman diving into the corner to touch down. However, from this point onward the city forwards raised their game producing attacking ball that stretched the Tunbridge defence. The city backs exploited the overlaps with Will & Joe running in tries for Simon Crossley conversions to give the city side the narrowest margin to sealed the game.

Tries
Will Raynor 4
Joe Rumsey 2

Conversions
Simon Crossley 5