Author: Denys Andrianjafy

Johnnie Gaynor vs Weaveringg

Match report – Weavering 2nds vs Canterbury 5ths

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY 5ths 39pts WEAVERING 2nds 15pts

 

A depleted thirteen man Canterbury Zingari side racked with injury and COVID took on a strong physical Weavering side in their away league fixture. Despite some pre-match misgivings about some players out of their normal positions it was the city side who took the early lead through a Clive Johnson try, followed by Pat Collins touching down ten minutes later, and Will Rayner blistering pace saw him go under the posts for Kevin Stevens simple conversion. Weavering a little shell shocked by Canterbury’s opening aggressive play hit back with a try of their own, before the new boy Johnnie Gaylor fresh from the training ground and making his debut for Canterbury outpaced the cover to touch down out wide to give the city a comfortable 22-7 point half time lead.

The second half opening was almost a carbon copy of the first, with Clive Johnson breaking a tackle to stretch over the line. Weavering galvanised themselves using their forward to make progress that paid dividends eventually breaking the Canterbury defence out wide, and then took advantage of some slack tackling from a short-range penalty to put them within 12 points. It was Canterbury’s turn to absorb the battering until the last ten minutes when Johnnie Gaynor had his fairy tale finish after the forward set up the move for him to break through under the posts for Stevens simple conversion. Despite Weavering’s forwards continuing to pressure Canterbury it was Canterbury who finished it off, with Freddie Vion breaking from some scrappy play near the Weavering line to force his way over to seal the game.

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Images may be subject to copyright – Jack Lloyd
Ukraine appeal - Makoshino Village

Ukraine appeal on behalf of one of our sponsors

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

It is very difficult at the moment not to be overwhelmed by the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in Ukraine following Russia’s recent military incursion. It is not just world leaders and international business entities, sports federations, and charitable organisations scrambling to offer aid and support to a nation under siege, but individuals are also stepping up as the fighting takes a terrible civilian toll.

One such individual is Bennjamyn Smith, CEO of BRS education, and one of our Mini and Youth Section sponsors.  Benn has been working in Ukraine for 15 years supporting a village, and taking UK children from the schools he has worked at to run holiday programmes for children in Makoshino on the River Desna. Not only does he support summer camps that teach English, Sport, and First Aid, his organisation also financially supports the Kindergarten (Nursery), School, Hospital Palace of Culture (Town Hall, Drama Theatre, and Sports Hall). In addition to this, they provide financial support with purchasing of facilities, staff wages, and running costs for the Arrata or social services for the village and Mena District.

This weekend saw an intensive attack on Chernigov, the capital of Chernigov Obalast. What was not widely reported, is the attacks held on the local villages and towns that have crucial logistical hubs including road and railway networks. The area is under heavy fire, destroying facilities and amenities that are desperately needed for the civilians, trying to live and shelter there.

 

Benn has set up a Just Giving page to help support and rebuild the village of Makoshino, and asks that you please give generously if you can. we do not know how this conflict will end, and what will be left once the bombs and bullets cease, but we can help secure a future for the innocent civilians caught up in a conflict that was neither of their making or choice.

 

You can find the Just Giving page here

 

Thank you.

Royce Cadman vs Barnes

Match report – Canterbury 1st XV vs Barnes RFC

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY 21 BARNES 12

By David Haigh

It was the staying power of a Canterbury side, who came alive in the second half, that sealed this hard won victory. Trailing by twelve points at the break after failing to solve the puzzles set by the Barnes defence their determination was rewarded with three tries. They fell behind early on after being pinned on their own line and centre Peter Weightman powered over to leave Rob Kirby a simple conversion. The city side had plenty of territory and opportunity to put that right but lacked the accuracy and patience to turn it into points and a second Barnes score brought more hurt. Despite a fine, try-saving cover tackle by Dwayne Corcoran, the visiting pack completed the job by driving James Bloxham over the line from close range. There was no more damage but it left Canterbury with plenty of attacking problems to solve and twelve minutes into the second half they began to find solutions. A turnover was won, the ball spread wide and wingman Corcoran left the Barnes defence flat-footed as he cut inside to touch down by the posts. Kyan Braithwaite converted but the game was into the last ten minutes before Canterbury nosed in front. The visitors were under increasing pressure and it told when new boy Dave Irvine, making his home debut, charged down scrum half Miles Lloyd’s kick, gathered and scored. Braithwaite nailed the conversion for a vital two points. That looked precarious as Barnes fought back in the closing minutes but a great turnover and raking kick earned Canterbury a five metre scrum. It was a department they dominated throughout the game and this time their powerful eight man drive won a decisive penalty try.

Canterbury: A. Moss M.Halliday (repl F.Morgan), S.Sterling, K.Braithwaite, D. Corcoran, T.Best (repl F.Reynolds), B.Cooper, A.Cooper (repl E.Lusher), B.Young, D.Herriott, R.Cadman, S.Churchyard (repl D. Irvine). J.De Vries, W.Waddington, T.Oliver

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v Barnes 26 Feb 2022

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Match report – Canterbury 5th v Maidstone Vets

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY 5th 27pts MAIDSTONE VETS 12pts

Canterbury were at home in a friendly fixture to old rivals Maidstone Vets who always bring their own style of rugby to Merton lane. This was to be no different with these two well-matched sides holding a vast amount of experience between them slogged it out. It was the Zingari who managed to open the scoring followed by a sustained period of pressure that had Maidstone on the ropes late in the first half that saw Jacob Coffin make his debut try for the club, breaking from a rolling maul to dash 10yrds brushing aside the last defenders to score under the posts. Leaving himself a simple conversion. Maidstone hit back with a converted try but at this point the city side were in the ascendant managing to cross the line again, and were unlucky with the referee being unsighted denying Dai Bolt his moment of glory in his last game for the Zingari.

The second half saw the Zingari relying on the cushion they had built eased off, and Maidstone were back in the hunt scoring a try out wide, it was all about defence now as the city side reorganized and blunting the repeated surges on their line. New boy Denys Andrianjafy must have wondered what he had walked into but the line held. It was deep into the second half when the Zingari made the final breakout with another converted try to put the game to bed.

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Images may be subject to copyright – Jack Lloyd
Thanet vs Zingari

Match report – Thanet 3rds vs Canterbury 5ths

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

THANET 3rds 22pts vs CANTERBURY 5ths 32pts

Canterbury took on league leaders Thanet Wanderers in miserable conditions at Callis court. The city side struck first blood with an opening try after Gareth Thomas broke through in the centre to touch down and give Kevin Stevens the simple conversion. Thanet’s response was swift taking a quick tap penalty caught the city’s defence off guard to claim a try wide out. Thanet then turned the screw keeping the city side on the defence only relived by Stevens slotting a penalty, but Thanet’s efforts were rewarded with a converted try just before halftime to give them a slender two-point lead.

The second half didn’t start well for Canterbury conceding an early penalty before the city started to take control twenty minutes into the half with Kevin Stevens picking up from a maul, selling the dummy to go under the posts giving himself the simple conversion. This opened a purple patch for the city, with Patrick Collins slicing through the defence to touch down followed by Richard Collins chasing a kick through a flat defence to gather under the posts for the simple conversion by Stevens. With fifteen minutes to go Thanet stepped up a gear and it was now Canterbury defence that was tested they held out before conceding a converted try at the end of normal time, however deep into injury time, Canterbury were awarded a long-distance penalty that Stevens slotted to put the game out of sight.

Sam Stirling vs Leicester Lions

Leicester Lions vs Canterbury 1st XV

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

LEICESTER LIONS 35 CANTERBURY 0

by David Haigh

This was the third time this season that Canterbury have been whitewashed and it left Head Coach Matt Corker frustrated at his side’s failure to score. After conceding three tries in the first sixteen minutes they mounted enough pressure to put themselves back in the game but could not translate it into badly needed points. In a crucial ten minutes at the end of the first half the inability to pierce a quick and organised Lions defence was pivotal to their chances but they made nothing of it. Canterbury had plenty of lost ground to make up in the Leicester mud as the Lions shot into that early lead. Fly Half Ben Young’s shrewd kicking led to early tries for wing Devon Constant and full back Alex Wilcoxon. Number Eight Ed Sumpter claimed the third from a driving maul, all converted by Young. When the city side got their hands on the ball they were poor at keeping it and the home side thrived. To their credit Canterbury improved as the half wore on but that blank scoreline was to follow them into the last 40 minutes. They had an equal share of territory after the interval and thought a surging maul had earned a try only for it to be ruled in touch. They could make nothing, either, of a flurry of yellow cards for the home side but by that time the ever dangerous Constant had made an interception and sprinted 80 yards for his second try. Canterbury’s troubles were compounded by injuries to Jamie Stephens, Tristan King, and Jessie De Vries and when back rower Simon Johnson grabbed Lions fith try, and Joe Brock added his second conversion, it gave Matt Corker many questions to ask of his squad before next week’s encounter with Barnes..

Canterbury: D. Corcoran, S.Sterling, W.Waddington, K.Braithwaite (repl F.Morgan), M.Halliday, R.Best, B.Cooper, B.Young, T.King (repl A.Coopr), D.Herriott (repl W.McColl), R.Cadman, S. Churchyard (rel D.Irvine), J.De Vries (repl G Hilton), J.Stephens, T.Oliver

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v Leicester Lions - 19 Feb 2022
Photos may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton
Colts group photo

Colts international calls and other player successes

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

The success story of our unbeaten Colts teams this season has been crowned by international call-ups for two players, Harry Legg and Harrison MacKinnon. Harry is joining the England Under 18 Training camp while Harrison goes north of the border to be included in the Scotland group ahead of the Under18s Five Nations Competition in France this Spring.

Harry Legg - England U18 Camp
Harry Legg

Harrison MacKinnon - Scotland U18
Harrison MacKinnon

They are not the only young players making an impression as numerous members of the Canterbury squad have won representative honours this month. The latest are Will Calder and Gabriel Hayden who have been selected for the London and South East side for the forthcoming regional Championship. Will and Gabriel are also playing for Kent in the national counties championship together with Ben Ashdown, Tom Fright and Adrian Paul Geddes. The good news does not stop there as Kennedy Sylvester and Harry Legg are both currently playing for Saracens in the U18s Premiership league. The boys are a credit to the club and to the coaches and managers, led by Miles MacKinnon, who put in so much time overseeing their development.

Will Calder
Will Calder

Gabriel Hayden
Gabriel Hayden

Tom Fright
Tom Fright

Adrian Paul Geddes
Adrian Paul Geddes

Kennedy Sylvester
Kennedy Sylvester

Sidcup vs Pilgrims

Match report – Sidcup 2nd vs Canterbury Pilgrims

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

SIDCUP 2ND 12pts  CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 17pts

The Pilgrims travelled to Sidcup for their Invicta A league game with a much-changed side, yet again!. With four players not available after Thursday’s training, a few rabbits had to be pulled out of the hat! (obviously, they did not play). The game started well for the visitors; Tom Halliday made ground, got the ball to Nathan Annakie, who put Tristan Van  Dyk away, and he found Nathan in support to score the opening try.

Pilgrims continued to dominate without adding to that first try until another great run by Annekie set up position, the forwards produced good ball and Harvey Furneaux touched down. Tom Halliday converted. After the break, they went further ahead and Van Dyk’s try seemed to have taken them into the comfort zone.  But that was premature as Sidcup surged back in the last quarter and two tries and a conversion left the result on a knife’s edge.

Fine defence and the occasional slice of luck, however,  saw Pilgrims home and marked a fitting last appearance for captain Toby Rayleigh-Strutt who is going to ‘strutt’ his stuff in Sydney, Australia.

 

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Photographs may be subject to copyright: Christine van-Dyk
CRFC 1st XV vs Barnstaple RFC

Match report – Canterbury 1st XV vs Barnstaple RFC

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY 52pts  BARNSTAPLE 22ptsby David HaighAn eight-try blast from Canterbury put the warmth back into a chilly February day as they cruised to a comfortable victory. After edging into a nine point lead by half time they raised the temperature in the second half to dismantle an injury ravaged Barnstaple side that has struggled to make an impression all season.   The visitors were solid in defence in the early stages but after falling behind to an Aaron Cooper try from a driving maul they briefly took the lead through Jake Murphy’s penalty goal and a smartly worked touch down from Johnny Carter, to which Murphy added the goal points.  Canterbury’s ambition to keep the ball alive was freqently stalled by a lack of control but they were building pressure and on the half hour Danny Herriott sent fellow front-rower Billy Young in under the posts. Kyan Braithwaite landed his second conversion into the wind and late in the half added a try as the city side exploited space on the right.  The breeze may have eased after the break but Canterbury still had it in their sails and two tries in the space of four minutes took them into clear water. Frankie Morgan hit fly half Tom Best’s flat pass at pace to stroll over for the bonus point score before Best produced an individual piece of magic to register his side’s fifth try.  Barnstaple, however, were never short of spirit and when a good spell of pressure earned a yellow card for Aaron Cooper they took advantage with a try for hooker Gav Mitchell, converted by Murphy.   It was the last quarter of the game that fully exposed their frailties as a confident city side hit them with three more tries. Jesse De Vries, his first for the club; Tristan King from quick thinking at the front of a lineout and Will McColl’s bulldozing effort finished them off. Four more Braithwaite conversions took the scoreboard past the fifty mark while Barnstaple were left with only Carter’s last-minute try as consolation.Canterbury: D.Corcoran, S.Sterling, F.Morgan, K.Braithwaite, M.Halliday (repl G.Hilton), T.Best, T.Williams (repl B.Cooper), A.Cooper  (repl W.McColl), B.Young (repl W.Waddington) D.Herriott, R.Cadman , S.Churchyard (rep J.De Vries), J.Stephens, T.King, T.Oliver

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v Barnstaple - 12 Feb 2022

Photographs may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton