Author: Denys Andrianjafy

Canterbury Pilgrims achieved Promotion at the first attempt in a new league, Counties 2, made up of 1st XV teams and 4 top level clubs 2nd XV’s, A great achievement. Pilgrims travelled to once mighty Maidstone and needed a bonus point win to stay in second place, and guarantee promotion to Counties 1. A league with only 1st XV’s in, where they will play local sides, Ashford, Thanet and Deal and Betteshanger, hopefully on a Friday night under lights! Pilgrims only just scraped a team together, but still a very good one! The first half was more like a war of attrition! 85% of the time the Pilgrims were playing in the opposition half, but things would not go their way. Some excellent play, some fantastic passing, excellent support, strong tackling and more, but the first points on the board game in first half overtime! A Horrendous head high tackle on Presley Farrance went unseen, and some other decision were not going in favour of the visitors! Just before half-time Maidstone had a player yellow carded for a dangerous tackle, from the penalty Jesse De Vries drove over for a converted try, that he took himself, 0-7 to Pilgrims at half-Time. Adam Malik, who had been having a good game, was injured early in the second half. Ollie Finn immediately scored a try, which Jesse failed to convert, 0-12. Good inter-passing by the visitors started to stretch the home side. Tom Ashley-jones was put away out wide after excellent open play rugby, this time Jesse slotted from out by the touchline, 0-19. James read then had a collision with a Maidstone player, but was deemed to have fouled him! Pilgrims were down to 14 as a Yellow card was shown, James came off with a broken nose! During this time Maidstone scored an excellent try out wide, but could not convert. 5-19 Jack Green came on for Adrian Geddes, and Dan Hill, making a welcome return, came on for James Read. A strong move, called ‘Bulldozer’ saw Alex Evans scores a try, duly converted by Jesse De Vries 5-26. Presley, who had another good game, got the ball to Ollie Finn to score his second try, 5-31. Maidstone rallied in the last few minutes, but could not stop the pilgrims gaining promotion, the home side still need to get a point in their last game to avoid relegation. We wish them well. Canterbury play their last game of the league season this Saturday at home v Old Dunstonians. A win by a massive score, like 80-0 could see them take the title, but as they have lost twice to Dover, second is a fantastic achievement and there is going to be a party after the game to celebrate their achievement. Come along and watch Pilgrims at the Marine travel ground, kick off 3:00, on the 18th.

The Marine Travel Ground is going to be the place to watch top rugby next year with the 1st and 2nd teams both playing at a very good level. If you are a player, perhaps you should think about joining before it is too late!

Won 5-31 (H-T 0-7). Ollie Finn, 10, Jesse De Vries 5+6(11), Tom Ashley-Jones, Alex Evans, 5.

Won 24-8 (H-T 19-3). Eoin O’Dongahue 15, Jesse De Vries 4, Adrian Geddes 5.

The Pilgrims needed to bounce back from the home loss to Dover from last week. Dropping from first to third was not what Canterbury had wanted. This game was so important. With eight
enforced changes is was not going to be easy, 5 in the backs!

The game started well for the home side, Pilgrims putting some good attacking moves together, and early pressure was rewarded with a try scored by Eoin O’Donaghue after good work from Max
Halliday and Adrian Geddes. 5-0, alas Jesse De Vries could not convert.

Park House came straight back at the home side, only good defending kept them out, with excellent tackling from Jake Dengate, throughout the game. Presley Farrance was having an excellent game at scrum half, and Ollie Finn, the ‘supporters player of the day’, played well in a number of positions, as later injuries meant that he had to move around to cover.

Jesse was kicking well for territory, but a few line-outs went begging! Max Halliday went off with a hamstring injury, this will mean his misses the rest of the league season! From a penalty just short of the park House try Line, Eoin drove over for his second try, this time converted by De Vries, 12-0. More park Pressure, who always looked dangerous, resulted in a penalty, which they duly
kicked. 12-3. Just on the stroke of half time Eoin drove through to score his third try for Jesse to convert. At half time the home side lead 19-3. One more try was needed to get the much needed
bonus point.

The second half was a half of errors and scrappy play, the pilgrims spent too much time in their own half defending a hard working Park House team who started this game one place behind in
fourth place. A yellow card to Park, gave Pilgrims the lift they needed. Adrian Geddes, a young player, who has made great progress over the last few weeks, scored an unconverted try, 24-3.
The game was closer that the score was suggesting. From another scrum, an area that Park House were dominating, they broke and scored an unconverted try, 24-8. What seemed like a short
second half ended with a much needed win. A very gutsy team performance, with everyone making an important contribution to the end result. Results elsewhere took Canterbury up to
second, level on Points with local rivals Dover. If both sides remain undefeated in their last two games, Two East Kent sides could be going up to Counties One.

This coming weekend the Pilgrims travel to play Maidstone 1stXV, for another must win game.

View Match photos

Images may be subject to copyright – Ken Matcham