Author: Denys Andrianjafy

Stuart Vines

Stuart Vines

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Stuart Vines, a Canterbury Rugby Club stalwart.

To misquote, Shakespeare. Some people are born Canterbury Supporters, some become supporters and some have Canterbury thrust upon them. Stuart followed George Micans, his grandson to The Marine Travel Ground. From the sidelines both home and away his pride for George quickly, as would have been expected from Stuart, spread to the whole club. Whether George was playing or not you would often find Stuart supporting his adopted club.

It is tribute to this true gent that so many at the club were privileged to call him a friend. Always with a smile and positive attitude. He was a true Black and Amber fan. Having had many a conversation with him, it was clear he was a dedicated family man proud of both his rugby playing sons and utterly devoted to his wife Rose. A dedication that went both ways on the occasions that Rose attended a match, but stayed in the car with a book due to her mobility. He will be missed deeply by the club and especially those that regularly had a chat before, during, and after the game, which always started with ‘all right boy’

Stuart’s funeral is on Thursday. May 11 at St Leonard’s Church, Heath and Reach, LU7 0AA

Match report – Henley Hawks V Canterbury 1st XV

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

HENLEY HAWKS 33 CANTERBURY 24

by David Haigh

This last away game defeat was fairly typical of Canterbury’s inconsistent National 2 East season. After looking confident and organised for 60 minutes, and scoring three tries which gave them a narrow first half lead, they handed the initiative to the Hawks. They came away with a losing bonus point with a try from the final play but that was small consolation after the earlier good work. It was disappointing after a bright start which took the city side ahead in the second minute when wing Tom Halliday scored from Lewis Hollidge’s probing kick. Hawks replied through Will Crowe, who finished smart work by his backs, and a Max Titchener conversion and penalty goal kept the hosts happy. However, it was the Canterbury forwards who looked the hungrier of the two packs and they satisfied that appetite in the best way. Dave Irvine crashed over from short range and when Hawks hauled down a driving maul illegally the penalty try opened a seven point gap. With Henley’s lineout wobbling and their back division well policed it all looked promising until penalties undermined the Canterbury effort. Hawks used one to put Rory Mason across the line shortly before the break. It was a warning Canterbury failed to heed as the penalties continued to flow from a referee who was unhappy with the set scrums and it was their undoing. Titchener bounced a successful penalty goal off the crossbar and as the city side regularly conceded field position they were punished with two catch and drive scores by hooker Morgan McCrae, Titchener adding a conversion. Those scores came in the space of five minutes and while Canterbury lacked the accuracy to make something of two good chances it was Hawks who had a grip. Titchener’s third penalty goal widened the gap to sixteen points but in the 80th minute Canterbury found a final flourish and Frank Reynolds’ try and conversion rescued the bonus point.

Canterbury: C.Kingsman, T.Halliday W.Waddington, T.Best, F.Morgan L.Hollidge (repl F.Reynolds), B.Cooper (repl T.Williams), B.Young, S.Rogers (repl B.Dunkerley), D.Herriott (repl E.Lusher), D.Irvine, J.De Vries (repl A.Evans), J.Stephens, H.Furneaux, T.Oliver.

 

 

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v Henley - 15 April 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton
Canterbury Colts on tour

Colts tour to Garryowen, Limerick

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

The Canterbury Colts went on tour to Limerick this week to play Garryowen.

The 2nd team won 12-30 and were dominant throughout delivering their best performance of the season.

The 1st team won 13-24 against a strong Garryowen team, littered with Munster Academy and Irish International players. A phenomenal last 15 minutes gave Canterbury a legendary win.

A huge thanks to Garryowen for hosting.

DT & GH signing sponsorship agreement

Principal sponsor extends agreement till 2034

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

We are absolutely delighted to announce an extension of our sponsorship agreement with Marine Travel. The extension is to continue with the front of shirt and stadium naming rights agreements thru to May 2034. This is pretty unique in the world of sport these days! Marine Travel based in Canterbury, Dublin & the Philippines has signed similar agreements with both Canterbury Rugby Club and Marine Football Club. These new agreements will hopefully further cement the friendships and commercial relationships between all parties.

David Thompson, Marine Travel Managing Director says;

“I am over the moon to extend these agreements, which will take our involvement with these clubs to 25 & 20 years respectively. We have enjoyed highs and lows together in the past, myself and my staff hope to enjoy many more highs in the coming years. It’s a real privilege to be involved with both clubs”

Giles Hilton, Chairman of Canterbury Rugby Club said;

“When Dave Thompson offered Canterbury a unique long term extension of the sponsorship deal ten years ago neither he nor us could have foreseen the club’s amazing growth. His generosity and love of sport have played no small part in making that possible and extending that support for a further ten years means we can look to even broader horizons. Dave and Marine Travel have become an essential and valued part of Canterbury community rugby, not only as brilliant sponsors but as friends and fans. We are lucky to have them”

Paul Leary, Chairman of Marine Football Club added;

“The association, support, commitment and loyalty given by Dave Thompson to Marine Football club as main shirt and stadium sponsor since 2012 has been exceptional. This sponsorship commitment at any level of professional sport is unique and demonstrates absolutely the strength of the relationship and feelings that Dave has for the football club that he has supported since he was a young boy.”

Marine Travel Sponsorship extension

Match Report – Guernsey Raiders V Canterbury 1st XV

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY 41 GUERNSEY RAIDERS 24

By David Haigh

This was an emphatic victory for the city side and an important one, soothing their fears of being drawn into the National 2 East relegation scrap. After a stunning start which brought a 19 points lead they wobbled slightly under a Raiders revival before taking charge with an impressive second half performance. Six tries were shared between backs and forwards but the foundations of this success were laid by a pack which dominated the set pieces and put Canterbury firmly on the front foot. Hooker Eoin O’Donoghue led the opening burst with a try in the third minute and Guy Hilton was only five minutes behind him. The third score was an individual gem as flanker Cameron Murray marked his last appearance before a spell in Australia with a powerful break. Two conversions from Lewis Hollidge, looking totally at home in his switch to fly half, widened a gap which could have left Raiders in the rear view mirror but they shook off the early lethargy and hit back hard with three tries before the break, one converted by Owen Thomas. Prop Jacob Pinckney from close quarters, wing Antony Armstrong completing a move full of good handling and support work, and in the last minute of the half a Dan Morgan catch and drive score threatened Canterbury’s prospects. Would they lose confidence? The answers came quickly and ruthlessly as they cracked the Raiders defence twice in the first five minutes of the new half. Prop Billy Young surged over for his eleventh try of the season and Hollidge’s half dummy opened his own way to the line. He converted the Young try and as the forwards tightened their stranglehold Raiders were denied the ammunition to find a response. Mounting pressure brought a penalty goal for Hollidge and Tom Williams’ break had the crowd on its feet as his pace did the rest and Hollidge topped up the final try. Guernsey went home with a losing bonus point courtesy of a late catch and drive score by Tom Ceillam but this was Canterbury’s day.

Canterbury: C.Kingsman, G.Hilton (repl T.Williams), W.Waddington, T.Best, F.Morgan (repl G.HIton), L.Hollidge (repl F.Reynolds), B.Cooper, B.Young (repl E.Lusher), E.O’Donoghue (repl C.Macmillan), D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.De Vries (rel H.Furneaux), T.Oliver, C.Murray, J.Stephens

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v Guernsey - 1 April 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Match Preview

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY V GUERBNSEY

An enforced reshuffle in the back division this week. Fly half Frank Reynolds is recovering from illness but joins the bench replacements. Lewis Hollidge starts at Number10 and Tom Best returns at inside centre. Scrum half Tom Williams is another making a return after a successful trial for the the England Universities Sevens squad but flanker Sam Rogers misses out because of a ham string strain
Head Coach Matt Corker says: ”Leaving Old Albanians last week empty handed was very disappointing. We started the way we planned, dominating territory and playing at speed. However, we squandered too many opportunities on the OA’s five metre line and in the final ten minutes of the first half we stopped talking to each other and conceded three quick tries.
“The next 39 minutes of the second half was filled with composed attack and we pulled ourselves back to a score behind, before a moment of madness led to us conceding in the last play of the game. Our discipline did prevent us taking full control and some errors at the lineout also made it difficult to punish OA’s when they got on the wrong side of the referee.
“On reflection we did take a big step forward from Bury and the intent in training this week has been exactly what we need.
“Guernsey travel to Canterbury this weekend after a big victory last Saturday against Rochford and a good win against Dorking in recent weeks. This is an important game for us in terms of the league table and I am anticipating another great weekend of National 2 rugby. “

Easter Rugby Camp 2023

Easter Rugby Camp

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

We are pleased to announce dates for our boys and girls U7 – U16s Easter Rugby Camp. The camps will be held on Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th, April.

The camp has been generously sponsored by SEC Works Group for the girls and Countrystyle Recycling for the boys

Camp coaching roster

We are very spoilt to have 6 coaches with national league experience in either the men or women’s games:
Tristan King – First team flanker and camp’s S&C coaching extraordinaire
Tommy Williams – First team scrum half and camp’s backs skills coach
Nathan Morris – First team hooker and camp’s lead boys’ coach
Cameron MacMillan – First team prop and camp’s forward’s skills coach
Freddie Caspary-Pearson – First team women’s hooker and camp’s girls lead coach
Cameron Murray – First team flanker and Camp’s breakdown coach
Our coaches are RFU level 2 and 3 qualified, and are all DBS certified.

Timings: 

0900 Drop off
0930 Session 1
1200 Lunch
1500 Pick up

Cost:

Boys – £25 for the day

Girls – £10 for the day

Payable on the day by cash or card.

Register here now for Boys camps and or Girls
Please complete these to guarantee your child’s place.

Get in touch if you have any questions – nathan.morris@cantrugby.co.uk

Match report – JUST CHAMPION

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Deal & Betts Lion 3rd 19 Canterbury Zingari 52.

The Zingari gave one of their best all-round performances of the season to cement the Kent Rural C East league title. The Lions started well using a powerful pack to pressure the Canterbury try line before bursting through to open their account. This looked ominous as the city side had to counter the heavier Lions forwards through speed and agility, That opened the way for Will Rayner to break free an go under the posts for his first of his six tries. The city pack found the right formula, their backs feasting on quick ball spread wide early opening up a Lions ragged defence for Will Rayner make two more touch downs. Kevin Stevens, who ended with six conversions, topped them up but next on the score sheet was Jonnie Gaynor. It looked all one way traffic until the Lions forwards worked their way to the city try line and broke through for a converted try. Undeterred, more Canterbury pressure was rewarded when Raynor intercepted and sprinted to the line, and a few minutes later ran through weak tackles to end under the posts. If Canterbury thought they were going to carry on where they had left off, they were mistaken. In the opening minutes of the new half Lions broke free from a maul in midfield for a converted try. Their pack now took on more of the work load but the city defence was up to the job and they eventually got back on the front font. As the game when into the last ten minutes a now visibly stretched the Lions side opened up for Raynor to touch down and Stevens to slot the conversion. Canterbury launched one final attack for their best try of the afternoon, the forwards driving to within a few metres of the line and sending quick ball to the backs where that man Rayner again found the finishing touch.

Match Report - 1st XV V Bury St Edmunds

Match report – 1st XV V Bury St Edmunds

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY 11 BURY ST EDMUNDS 28

By David Haigh

This was Canterbury’s third consecutive loss and after an uninspiring performance they could easily be drawn into the National 2 East relegation battle. The four sides beneath them all have a game in hand and on this poor showing the city side will find it hard to come up with the victory that could make them safe. A lack of finishing firepower once again contributed to their downfall as they failed to turn first half dominance into a meaningful lead. They were ahead by four points at the break but discipline and accuracy deserted them in the second half and Bury strolled home, adding three further tries to their first half opener. That came after Canterbury had exerted all the early pressure but had nothing to show for it. In the fIfteenth minute Bury’s half break made space for wing Mike Stanway and full back Charlie Reed, who never missed from the tee all afternoon, converted the try. Canterbury, despite repeated errors, found a reply with a catch and drive score by Nathan Morris but the only other points came from the boot of Frank Reynolds with two penalty goals, one on the stroke of half time. All that waste was put into perspective when the visitors took the lead just three minutes into the second half. A needless penalty for offside gave them territory, fly half Ben Penfold hoisted a cross kick, Stanway snatched the try and Canterbury were rarely in the game after that. They made life even harder for themselves when Will Waddington and Morris got yellow cards and the nearest they came to another score was a failed penalty shot. Even as the rugby on offer lapsed into the ‘forgettable’ category Bury were never seriously inconvenienced by a side lacking ideas and energy. Reed and their captain Matt Bursey scored the tries which earned them a bonus point win.

Canterbury; C.Kingsman, G.Hilton (rel T.Halliday), W.Waddington, L.Hollidge, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper (repl T.Williams) C.Macmillan (repl B.Young), N.Morrris, E.Lusher (repl D.Herriott), D.Irvine, J.Stephens, H.Furneaux (repl S.Rogers), C.Murray, T.Oliver

View match photos

v Bury St Edmunds - 11 Mar 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton