Congratulations to our mighty number 4 Royce Cadman on his 200th appearance for Canterbury 1st XV this weekend. Royce made his league debut against Clifton at home in 2013 and has been a regular first-team player since.
Looking back on his Canterbury career, Royce reflects that victories against teams that have risen to higher leagues are always memories to savour, but being a part of the squad that earned Canterbury promotion to National League 1 is the one of which he is most proud.
Congratulations to Tom Best on his 250th appearance for Canterbury this weekend. He remembers his first game being against Southend away (2009/10 season), only being called up early game day morning due to a fellow player having suffered an asthma attack. Not a lot of time to prepare, but he pulled on his boots and worked a good shift for us as ever.
Tom has many fond memories of playing with the team, beating Hartpury away (2012/13 season) by 1 point, and kicking a 35-yard penalty in the last 2 minutes when we were 28-0 down at halftime would have to be up there, but scoring the last try against Henley in the last few minutes to win the game to get us to the playoffs is definitely one of the fondest.
CANTERBURY 3pts OLD ALBANIAN 12pts
by David Haigh
Having worked themselves into a decent position, with a solid first half shift, Canterbury let this first game of the new year drift away. A failure to back up all their good work against the rain and wind was dispiriting and reinforced the feeling that they are not an effective wet weather side. The visitors, whose 7-3 interval lead had looked fragile, took control of the second half and on a day when points were always difficult to come by found the score that mattered. It was in similar conditions earlier this season that the city club failed to register a point against Dings Crusaders. This time they managed a solitary penalty goal from Tom Best, despite dominating territory for much of the first half, winning the breakdown battle and forcing Albanians into conceding a string of penalties. Canterbury lost their slim lead after 28 minutes when a wind-driven Albanians kick led to a goal-line dropout. Centre Alex Brown collected it and his powerful run into the heart of the defence created the pressure for a try from Number Eight Chris West, converted by Greg Lound. Late in the half the city side resisted more heavy pressure and must have headed for the break the happier of the two teams. Any optimism, however, was misplaced as Albanians, prompted by scrum half Elliot McPhun, read the situation perfectly, controlled possession, kicked shrewdly and took their opportunity when it arose. McPhun’s quick tapped penalty had Canterbury backpedalling and wing Alex Noot was released for a sprint finish. It left Canterbury with 25 minutes to take a grip but they were rarely allowed to build momentum. In the whole of the half they created no more than two scoring positions and missed out on both of them. Left to chase the game they became increasingly ragged and out of tune with the no-frills rugby the conditions demanded.
Canterbury: A.Moss (repl F.Reynolds), S.Sterling, W.Waddington, T.Best, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds (repl K.Braithwaite), T.Williams (repl B.Cooper), B.Young (repl W.McColl), W.McColl (repl A.Cooper) A.Cooper (repl A.Evans) , R.Cadman, S.Churchyard (repl J.De Vries), J.Stephens, T.King, T.Oliver
Canterbury Rugby Club is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Alison. Our condolences go out to her sons, Ben and Sam, and to Ian Williams. In recent years she has been a wonderful servant to the club as our honorary secretary but her involvement goes back many decades.
Born Alison Helen Turner in 1949, she trained at the Rose Bruford drama school in Sidcup in 1970. Later she was an imaginative and innovative teacher. She enthusiastically supported the fortunes of the club and formed enduring friendships with many players from that era such as Roland Bailey, whom she later cared for when dementia struck.
She and Ian had two sons, Ben (1978) and Sam (1980), who were soon playing in the minis and juniors. She was always present on the touchline, always willing to help and always happy to sponsor the junior club. In recent years, she has been at the club cheering on her grandchildren.
Later, she became a successful businesswoman, in 2000 founding and expanding her field-marketing firm, FDS, a national company based in Whitstable.
Her major contribution was when chairman, Giles Hilton, persuaded her to take on the role of club secretary. Her ‘no nonsense’, ‘can do’ approach gave impetus to many improvements to the clubhouse and to the management of the club. One major initiative were the pre-match lunches: under her guidance as “lunch monitor”, they grew from small get-togethers in the club bar to being an important part of 1st XV match days, regularly attracting 150 or more, adding to the craic of the occasion and substantially contributing to the club’s finances.
Alison was not only a tremendous servant to Canterbury Rugby but an example to us all in the way she twice fought cancer with courage and amazing will power. She will be remembered for her kindness and support for others. Club President Greg Mayne’s words reflect the thoughts of all who met her: “We were lucky to have known her and to have had so many extra years with her.”
The club elected her a life member and created a garden in her name. It will be carefully tended in her memory. The funeral arrangements will be announced in due course
A peaceful and happy Christmas is my hope for everyone associated with the club at the end of a strange and challenging year. Despite the problems we have all faced there have been good things to record, not least the support that players, members, sponsors, supporters, and staff have given. It has kept our club in vibrant health with enhanced facilities, including a popular restaurant and a new gymnasium, thanks to a wonderful team and community effort. The return of competitive rugby in September revived everyone’s spirits and despite the fresh challenges that Covid is bringing I am confident we are ready to meet them in the New Year.
My best wishes to you all for the festive season.
Canterbury Rugby Club has always had a close bond with our, NHS as supporters, players, and even the odd President: but most importantly as patients and friends and relatives of patients.
This year we set ourselves a challenge to collect a mountain of chocolate taller than our Head Coach Matt Corker, he stands at 6ft 6 (even had a scrum half chocolate orange left over).
Because of your generosity, our rugby family, we achieved it.
The chocolates went to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital and the vaccination center in Vauxhall road run by Northgate Medical Practice.
A massive thank you to all those that donated, it makes a difference to those truly in the Front Row on which we all depend, not just for 80 minutes, but every minute of every day.
The only present better than chocolates is to make sure we all get our boosters, and stay alert
Merry Christmas!
Congratulations to Guy Hilton on his 100th appearance for Canterbury. His first run out for the team was in the 2013/14 season at home vs Chinnor. A match we won 20-13, so a great debut!
Wins against the bigger sides always stick out in the memory but Guy’s fondest playing memory wouldn’t be one particular game but rather a run of games. In the December of 2013/14 season, Canterbury beat Ampthill (H) Bishops Stortford (A), and Cambridge (H) in consecutive games to put us 2nd in the table at Christmas.
CANTERBURY 29pts GUERNSEY 17pts
Canterbury gave the Christmas crowd just the present they wanted with this five try, bonus point victory. In a performance that shone through the heavy mist shrouding Merton Lane they tamed a lively Guernsey side with a dominant second half display.
There was quality as well a quantity from the city club as they ran in three tries after the interval, two of them scored while playing short handed with Kyan Braithwaite in the sin bin.
A confident back division made light work of that handicap, rewarding the turn over expertise of a combative pack handsomely. The foundations were laid in a shrewd first half display as Canterbury shrugged off a Guernsey try from wing Anthony Armstrong, converted by Dan Rice, and edged in front before the break. Frank Reynolds charge down try came after sustained pressure, Braithwaite converted, and in the last minute of the half they went ahead. The versatile Tristan King, this week starting as a flanker, made a decisive break. When the ball was recycled he was on the end of good handling to make the touchdown. A Canterbury weakness this season has been the failure to capitalise on half time leads; they did not make that mistake this time. Playing with real purpose they forged further ahead after 55 minutes. Replacements Will Waddington, making the break, and Ben Cooper combined for Cooper’s try which left Braithwaite a simple conversion. The moment that might have derailed them came with the yellow card as Guernsey hammered at the Canterbury line. That sparked a fierce response as a great turnover set the backs free, Dwayne Corcoran chipped over the last defender and Aiden Moss won the race for the touchdown.
Guernsey hit back quickly through fly half Owen Thomas, to narrow the gap to twelve points, but classy handling saw Corcoran kill their slim hopes as he skewered them for a fifth try. Consolation of sorts went to Guernsey with a last minute score from Number Eight Doug Horrocks, but the result was beyond doubt by that time.
Canterbury: A.Moss, G.Hilton, F.Morgan, K.Braithwaite, D.Corcoran, F.Reynolds (repl T.Best), T.Williams (repl B.Cooper), B.Young, (rep R.Conlon), W.McColl, (repl W.Waddington), D.Herriott, R.Cadman, J.De Vries, J.Stephenson (repl V.Meredith), T.King, T.Oliver
The club’s Colts have won the inaugural Autumn Kent League with both first and second teams going through the competition unbeaten. The league was made up of the strongest Under 18s clubs in Kent who could field first and second teams. They were Blackheath, Tonbridge Juddians, Canterbury, Sevenoaks and Aylesford. Canterbury’s Manager Miles Mackinnon points out that this is the first season in well over a decade that the club has fielded a Colts team, which is a merger between the U18s and U17s squads. “The squad is made up of 40 players and all of them have had a run out for the first team. It is a great a example of the high standards within the group” says Miles. “As the results suggest, the Colts has been a huge success and we hope it provides these players with a smooth transition into senior Rugby at the club” he added. Next month the Colts start their campaign in the Kent Cup.
1st XV vs Guernsey K.O 2.15pm2nds vs Medway K.O 2pm Due to the new variant of Covid 19 all of the CRFC and Saucy Flo’s staff will be wearing face coverings to protect the safety of everyone. Please can we request that you and your guests take a lateral flow testbefore joining us for lunch. This is for the safety of all of us. Hand sanitisation points remain in place and we encourage you to use them. We also have a person on-site wiping down touch points and cleaning the toilets throughout the afternoon. We will also have the outside trailer bar open for those attending the lunch and pre-match visitors, so please use. Don’t forget to dress for the weather, Christmas Jumpers welcome.
