Author: Denys Andrianjafy

Jamie Stephens Stays for 2022-23

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Canterbury Rugby Club is proud to announce our first signing for the 2022-23 season is current club captain, Jamie Stephens.

Jamie Stephens has played through all levels of Canterbury Rugby Club: beginning as a young child in our Mini & Youth section, and then working his way up through the senior mens rugby teams at our club.

He first appeared for Canterbury’s 1st XV in 2017 at home against Clifton, becoming club captain in 2021.

Jamie has appeared for Canterbury’s 1st XV 76 times so far, with still more to give to the club.

On his continuing at Canterbury, Jamie Stephens said: ‘It’s great to be able to stay at the club for another season, as I feel I have so much more to offer the club’.

When asked about re-signing Jamie, head coach Matt Corker said: ‘Jamie has been an excellent ambassador for Canterbury on and off the field, I’m so glad he has chosen to stay with us for another season’.

 

v Barnes

Copyright – Phillipa Hilton / Canterbury Rugby Club



v Dings_46

Copyright – Phillipa Hilton / Canterbury Rugby Club

Match Report – Canterbury 3rd XV vs Cranbrook 2nd XV

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Canterbury 3s sealed the league win with a hard fought victory over a fired up and skillful Cranbrook side.

Cranbrook had beaten Canterbury on the opening game of the season at their ground and were in the running to win the league if they could beat Canterbury and deny them a bonus point.
The home side found space on the outside early in the game, with Sam Merrell gliding over from fullback for the opening score. But ill discipline gave Cranbrook field position and the visitors capitalised with a converted try and a penalty to take them ahead.
Canterbury made the most of the possession they were able to get, however. Ollie Simpson made a half break down the left and put Barney Howard into space, and the centre was able to cut inside 3 defenders and score under the posts. An arcing run by Alex Williams after great hands from Harry Jackson didn’t quite result in a try, but soon after Ben Waite wriggled free and dotted down in the left corner giving the home side a 15-10 platform at half time.
After the break Canterbury put themselves under pressure with repeated penalties given away, but fierce defence and breakdown work by Dan Mills and Jack Waite kept Cranbrook at bay. The pace and handling of the city side gave them plenty of opportunities and paid dividends before long. Slick passing put Mark Stone in the corner, and a sneaky tap and go saw Alex Williams slip through. Cranbrook still threatened, but the game was finally put to bed when a break by Jake Upward led to Dan Gill putting his famous sidestep to good use and scoring by the posts on the final play of the game.
Final score 32-10.
Season record: Played 18, won 15, lost 3.

Match Report – Canterbury 1st XV vs Clifton

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY 24  CLIFTON 38

by David Haigh

From riches to rags then almost back again.

That was the Canterbury story on a day of swinging fortunes which saw the visitors take home a bonus point victory and keep their title hopes just about bubbling.

The scoreline ended the way it did because the city side, after a confident start which earned them a twelve point lead, suddenly switched off.

In a twenty minute spell, either side of half time, their defence fell apart and they conceded 31 unanswered points.

By the time the lights came on again the game had run away from them although a late rally brought a losing bonus point.

What started so well with tries from Royce Cadman, peeling off a driving maul, and Frank Reynolds who chased down a clever sliding kick, began to go down hill in the 33rd minute.

Canterbury, who had defended well up that point, were forced into a goaline drop out but stood transfixed as Clifton full back Alex Howman speared past weak tackles.

He was stopped short of the line but lock Henry Harper finished the job.

By half time it was all square, through a Howman try created by centre Marcus Nel’s clean break and a conversion by Zak Ward.

From the first minute of the second half Canterbury were in deep trouble as they handed Clifton easy territory, fell off tackles and were hit with another rapid three tries.

Nel got one almost from the kick -off, fly half Luke Cozens accurate kicking set up position for a catch drive score for Geroge Taylor and Harper got his second in the 54th minute.

Cozens added two conversions and the damage looked irreparable.  Amid the wreckage, however, Canterbury finally located the switch again and produced the rugby they should have played for the whole 80 minutes.

Delightful interplay by the backs sent Will Waddington under the posts, Kyan Braithwate landed his second conversion and three minutes later came a sliver of light when Will Hilton’s pass put Frank Morgan across for the bonus point try.

But to recover from that painful mid-game period was beyond them and Clifton topped things off with a late
converted try from Fin Sharp.

Canterbury; D.Corcoran (repl A.Moss), G.Hilton, S.Sterling,
K.Braithwaite, F.Morgan (repl D.Corcoran), F.Reynolds (repl W.Hilton),
B.Cooper, A.Cooper, B.Young (repl J.Otto), D.Herriott (repl E.Lusher),
R.Cadman (repl J.De Vries), J.Stephens, A.Evans, W.Waddington, T.Oliver

View match photos

Clifton_122

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Update on our Ukraine Appeal in Partnership with Marine Travel

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

At Canterbury RFC this past month we have been absolutely staggered by the immense generosity shown by our rugby family, our local community across Kent, and our wider sporting community for those who are suffering in Ukraine.

A manifested 450 boxes and bags have been collected at the Marine Travel Ground as part of a campaign started by our principle partner Marine Travel, sorted by a collective of staff from Marine and volunteers from within our rugby club, and loaded into vans which are being driven by England football fans to Poland where they will be distributed and destined for all corners of Ukraine.

We had collected so many bags and boxes of donated clothes, blankets, sanitary products, and medical supplies, that we had to stop accepting donations several days earlier than planned thanks to the absolutely overwhelming response shown by the communities which we are a part of.

Marine Travel’s amazing staff alongside our volunteer force of 14 took three hours to sort and box everything on Friday 25th. Then on Wednesday 30th the same group reconvened to load everything into the vans. We cannot thank our volunteers enough for their time and effort, and we cannot praise the staff of Marine Travel enough for their stalwart commitment to sorting and manifesting everything which was received.

We have united as a club, as a county, and as a sporting community, around the horrific events taking place in Ukraine currently.

Additionally, across two campaigns, one by our partner at BRS Education and the one by Marine Travel, we have raised (so far) a total of £28,467 (Twenty-eight-thousand, four-hundred, and sixty-seven GBP) going to support those in Ukraine.

We cannot thank our principal partner Marine Travel or our partner BRS Education enough for the work they are doing to try and better the situations which people are finding themselves locked into.

Thank you all for donating to our collection, we had no expectation of filling two of our containers with donations.

Thank you to Marine AFC for joining us across sports and across the country in supporting Ukraine.

Thank you to our many volunteers who helped to sort and load everything.

Thank you to England football fans, for driving the massive quantities from our club all the way to Ukraine.

Slava Ukraini.

If you wish to join us in our continued support of Ukraine you can do so by donating to the Marine Travel GoFundMe or BRS Education’s JustGiving

Match Report – Sevenoaks 4th XV vs Canterbury 3rd XV

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

By John Scurr

Sevenoaks 4th 11pt, Canterbury 3rds 15pts

Canterbury 3rds make a second half comeback to stay top of their league against a strong Sevenoaks side.

The city side had a torrid first half unable to contain Sevenoaks conceding penalties and a well taken try to go in at halftime with an eleven-point deficit. Whatever the team talk was at halftime seemed to do the trick.

The city side started their comeback with Tom short breaking from a rolling maul to burst over wide out to break the duck. This lifted the side and with Jonny Madden quick service from the midfield to give captain Ollie Simpson a try in the corner, all that was left was for Sam Merrell touch down in the other corner to seal the hard earned win.

Match Report – Faversham RUFC Castaways vs Canterbury Zingari

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

By John Scurr

Faversham 2nds 7pts Canterbury 57pts

Canterbury cement their second place league position with an overwhelming win against a well drilled Faversham side. The city side made their intentions clear from the start with Jerome Weigh’s trade mark try breaking line from short range. This settled the sides confidence and they began to dominate play, recycling the ball at will and opening up Faversham’s defence for the backs to get their share of glory with try’s from Toby Allen and Tim Collins. Faversham did manage a reply after a loose Canterbury ball was intercepted for a converted try, but could not stop the city side amassing a 30 to 7 halftime lead. The second half it was business as usual with Canterbury dominance opening the gaps in the mid-field running in more try’s, but the last word was from the forwards with a quickly tap penalty touching down from short range to seal the match.

Match Report – Redruth RFC vs Canterbury 1st XV

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

REDRUTH 49pts CANTERBURY 10pts

by Andy Rogers

Not helped by a misfiring line out, and shipping seven tries to one, Canterbury’s blunt attack was never a match for promotion chasing Redruth. It was however the visitors who in the first minute opened the scoring when from a turnover in the Redruth 22, Kyan Braithwaite slotting a simple penalty. But that was about as good as it got for a Canterbury side showing plenty of endeavour but very little else. Redruth in contrast, served by their powerful runners in the 10, 12 and 13 channels, proceeded to pick the Canterbury defence apart. Four first half tries, all expertly converted by Redruth’s lively fly half Fraser Honey, had the win and the bonus point wrapped up by half time.

One might be forgiven for thinking this was now a damage limitation exercise for the City men and so it proved as Redruth, now playing with the elements and towards the famous Hellfire Corner, went on to score a further three tries, all again converted by that man Honey.

In contrast, Canterbury had very little attacking threat to offer, saved perhaps by their best moment in the game. It came in the 68th minute when from broken play centre Frank Morgan cut a lovely line through the Redruth defence. Quick hands from 18 year old debutant full back Harry Legg released winger Guy Hilton for a simple run in under the posts, Braithwaite converting. A consolation score maybe but a great example of what this side is capable of when they get it right. The challenge now is to get it right more often.

 

View match photos

Redruth_71

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

 

The Queens Green Canopy Tree Planting at CRFC

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

In an effort to reach the carbon net-zero target by 2050 the UK is committed to planting millions more trees. 

Canterbury RFC applied for a selection of trees through The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC): Plant a Tree for the Jubilee initiative. This is a tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Everyone across the UK is being invited to plant trees from October 2021, when the tree planting season begins, through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022. 

Through this scheme, Woodland Trust supplied us with 2 boxes of Medium Year Round Colour and one Small Copse. Woodland Trust has been generously funded by Sainsbury’s, Lloyds Bank, Ovo Energy, DFS, Joules, Bank of Scotland, and Sofology to give away hundreds of thousands of trees to schools and communities.

A work party of John, Dave, Rob, and Sally arrived at the club at 8 am on March 16th and after a couple of hours work planted, caned, and protected all of the saplings which we received along the far side of the orchard pitches, and along the bottom edge also.

The saplings will grow into a gorgeous mix of silver birch, rowan, wild cherry, hazel, and dogwoods.

When grown these trees will not only provide climate protection, but berries for birds, autumn colour, and in leaf berry, and bark displays.

At CRFC we are doing our bit, to help the climate, local wildlife, and the visual impact of the club.

To find out more about QGC, please visit their website.

Match Report – Canterbury Ladies vs Beccehamian Ladies

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy
  1. Canterbury Ladies vs Beccehamian Ladies
    45-5
    A game of two halves  against Beccehamian. Featuring some really solid defensive plays and sharp lines by the ladies, scoring a mighty seven tries and continuing to dominate the league’s standings.

With an unquestionable workrate of the team.

We now look ahead to ensuring our dominant position atop the table.

Tries and conversions were achieved by:

Try’s:
Amelea Montgomery
Rachael Austerberry
Ollie Andrews
Jemma-Jo Linkins (x2)
Daniella Charles
Charlotte Andrews

Conversions
Jemma-Jo Linkins (x5)

Canterbury-Ladies-v-Beccehamian

Images may be subject to copyright – Jack Lloyd

Marine FC and CRFC support Ukraine appeal

Canterbury RUFC and Marine FC unite in support of Ukraine

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Two sports clubs at opposite ends of England are joining forces to support Ukraine and bring help to the unfolding refugee crisis. Canterbury Rugby Club and the Marine Football Club in Liverpool are jointly supporting an initiative by the Canterbury-based Marine Travel Company. The company is principal sponsor of both clubs. It is being driven by Marine Travel’s Managing director, Dave Thompson, who is actively assisting in the supply of vital materials to the people of Ukraine.

It is hard to move without being exposed to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine. The conflict has shocked and mobilised in equal measure. The political landscape is in the balance due to the protagonists involved, but that should not sway us from our moral obligation of offering support and comfort to the innocents caught up in the constant bombardment and uncertainty the Ukrainians currently find themselves in.

We must use all platforms available to us to advocate for a peaceful and humanitarian resolution. Sport has always been a global unifying voice and in this spirit, Canterbury RUFC and Marine FC have come together to support an initiative being driven by Marine Travel Managing Director Dave Thompson, sponsor of both teams.

At Canterbury RUFC warm clothes can be donated to be despatched to Krakow in Poland and distributed amongst the ever-growing populations of Ukrainian refugees seeking to escape the devastation unfolding in their country.

Online, a Go Fund Me page has been set up to collect financial donations that will be directly used to ease the suffering of those caught up in a situation not of their own making or design.

Both clubs will use their considerable online influence to promote Dave’s efforts to ensure we are doing more than just listening to what is happening but doing our part to join hands and help those in need.

Both clubs’ Chairmen stand united in their support.

“Team sport is reliant upon individuals to pull together to achieve their overall performance. The current circumstances in Ukraine highlight this. We must all be together to achieve.

Through one person, Dave Thompson, President of Marine AFC and Principal Sponsor of both Marine and Canterbury RFC, united through his company Marine Travel both Clubs are pleased to be supporting his initiative to bring much-needed aid and humanitarian supplies to war-torn Ukraine. Please visit either Club’s website or donated financially through the Go Fund Me link”
Giles Hilton MBE, Canterbury RUFC Chairman

“At this time, we need to stand together to support the people of Ukraine who are facing such terrible circumstances, and Canterbury RUFC and Marine FC are united in the message that we all need to do what we can to help what is a dreadful situation which in 2022 should not be happening.

Marine FC and Canterbury RUFC are both sponsored by Marine Travel and MD Dave Thompson who is actively assisting to provide aid in the supply of vital materials to the people of Ukraine at the borders of Poland and Ukraine.”
Paul Leary, Chairman Marine FC

The Go Fund Me page can be found at this address – https://www.gofundme.com/f/ukraine-supply-support-trip-by-england-fan

Marine FC – https://marinefc.com/

Media contact
Canterbury RUFC – Denys Andrianjafy communications@cantrugby.co.uk