Author: Denys Andrianjafy

Pilgrims push for Counties Kent 2 honours was boosted in emphatic style as they ran in nine tries and extended their winning run to four games. Only one point now separates them from second placed Dover who they are scheduled to meet at home in two weeks time. In this latest win the city side were looking to make a statement against a team who beat them in the opening game of the season and after an even first quarter, they went about the business in ruthless fashion. Luke Webber got an early catch and drive try but Vigo, kicking effectively for territory, were five points ahead by the fifteen minute mark through two unconverted touchdowns. It was, however, a situation they could not sustain. The first of fly half Ollie Ashley-Jones’ hat trick of tries, which he also converted, recaptured the lead and after that Pilgrims pace, clever handling, and adventure gave them increasing control. Vigo got a yellow card for a late challenge, Ollie Finn and outstanding flanker Harvey Furneaux punished it with tries and at 24-10 the game was slipping away from the visitors at the half way mark. They were given a taste of things to come in the opening minute of the second half when full back Jack Weaver’s penetrating run set up position before Adrian Geddes claimed Pilgrims fifth try. With the city pack in powerful control of scrums and much else it became a holding operation for the visitors. There were frequent injury stoppages, one to repair a good referee who happily survived without damage, but the serious blows were increasingly to the Vigo defence as Furneaux grabbed his second try and Eoin O’Donoghue showed a fine burst of speed to join him on the scoresheet. That try sandwiched two more by Ashley-Jones as he topped off Pilgrims fine afternoon and added three more conversions to take them past the half century and bring his personal haul to 23 points.

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The Canterbury Pilgrims inflicted the first home defeat on Park Hosue for two and a half years, to consolidate third place in the league at the half-way point.

Canterbury started well, but after giving away a silly penalty they found themselves 3-0 down within minutes. Pilgrims then, with the help of good kicking from the hand  by Alex Williams, won a succession of line outs and from one of these Will ‘Bacon’ McColl drove over for Ollie Ashley-Jones to convert.  With Pilgrims dominating the scrums and Park House receiving a yellow card for a no arms in the tackle it became one way traffic but the home side held firm. Alex ‘Man of the Match’ Evans was making immense tackles, he and James Everett were also making good yardage in the drives. Then, on his debut, Ross Gladish dodged through, for Ollie to convert, 3-14. Alex Evans was taken out in the air and the home side went down to thirteen, with another yellow card.  Good runs by Jack Weaver,  and a Ross Howard kick chased by in form winger Adrian Geddes nearly produced a try but Pilgrims failed to score while the home side had two players off the field! James Everett then received a yellow for collapsing a maul ans the home side, back to full strength,  pressurised the visitors and scored a converted try before half-time to make it 10-14. Game on. The second half started in a dramatic way as Canterbury chased down a long kick, the bounce favoured them and Max Halliday scored for Ollie to convert, 10-21. Within minutes the Pilgrims won a penalty, duly converted by Ollie who next made a great interception and ran in a solo try. He missed the conversion but the lead was now 19 points. The game took another shift when Ollie Finn got a yellow for a neck roll, quickly followed by Freddie Holland-Oliver for a high tackle. It was Pilgrims who were now down to thirteen but it did not halt their momentum. A long kick was chased by Harry Andrews and Max Halliday and between them they won the ball for Max to score and Ollie Ashley-Jones converted. Park House hit back with an unconverted try but there was no stopping Jack Weaver, having another excellent game a full back, scoring a rollover try to push his side past the 40 point mark. Park’s consolation was the game’s final try after Harvey Furneaux received a yellow card for a high tackle,

Dover have gone top of Counties Kent 2, with Sevenoaks second and the Pilgrims third. December 17^th will See Dover come to the Marine Travel ground, don’t miss it, 3:00 kick off. Book your lunch on line to see this titanic struggle between two East Kent rugby rivals and friends. Next week Vigo come to play, 3:00 kick off. See you there.

A bonus point victory saw Pilgrims maintain their challenge to the leaders and consolidate their third place in Counties Kent 2. The winning margin may have been comfortable but Canterbury were made to work hard by ‘Combe before stretching away with two converted tries in the last ten minutes. Four first half tries put them in a strong position despite the visitors controlling much of the territory but they had to dig in after the break. Pilgrims took an early lead as they intercepted in their own half and Ollie Ashley-Jones scored and converted his own try. The visitors levelled matters with a catch and drive score and Canterbury’s poor discipline, punished by a mountain of penalties, hobbled their attack. When they did break free their extra pace told and the elusive Jack Weaver made inroads before Number Eight Luke Webber got the first of his two touchdowns. Weaver scored the third try after a scorching run from wing Adrian Geddes and in the final minute of the half a tapped penalty saw Webber plunge over again. With Ashley -Jones kicking flawlessly from the tee Pilgrims were 28-7 ahead and in control. ‘Combe responded positively after the break and a chip and chase try, which was converted, put them back in the picture. Pressure now built on a Pilgrims side which had lost fly half Liam Browne to injury and they had plenty to do in defence. They passed the test and then came that late surge with Tom Williams, in sharp form after a long injury lay-off, setting up a try for Tom Ashley-Jones. Brother Ollie, who ended up with a haul of seventeen points, made the break which saw Williams score the final try.

Pilgrims: J.Weaver, T.Ashley-Jones, A.Williams, J.Upward, A.Geddes, L.Browne, O.Ashley-Jones, A.Malik, B.Dunkerley, W.McColl, D.Gill, R.Knott, O.Finn, B.Howard, L.Webber, Replacements: T.Williams, S.Rogers, J.Everett

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Images may be subject to copyright – Ken Matcham