Author: Becca Williams

Pilgrims 57

Old Colfeians 41

After back to back victories the Pilgrims welcomed old Colfeians to the MTG looking to go into a rest weekend on a high and make it 3 in a row. The city side started on the front foot and after a number of strong runs from the forwards, Number 8 Mo Pangarkar powered over next to the posts to give the pilgrims a deserved 7-0 lead.

Old Colfeians had a pack of forwards geared towards a set piece oriented game plan and they showed that when kicking their first penalty deep into the pilgrims 22 and opting for the lineout. They powered over from the resulting maul to level 7-7.

This prompted the Pilgrims to go up a gear and Tom Mackenzie was next to score when he ripped the ball in contact and raced clear to score, 14-7.

They added a 3rd from the restart when Hilton regathered his own chip kick and offloaded to the impressive Masaka who beat the cover to make it 21-7.

Winger Archie English was next to score when forwards and backs combined well to send him over out wide for the bonus point try with Hilton adding a difficult conversion. 28-7.

Colfs showed they were going to be a threat all day when their big pack scored a 2nd maul try out wide to bring the score to 28-12.

AJ Masaka then went on a powerful run after good work from Lister before he sent the supporting English over for his 2nd of the day with Hilton again converting. 35-12

Old Colfeians showed they would continue to be a threat with 2 quick fire tries before half time- the first another well constructed maul try out wide before they chipped in behind and regathered to bring the half time score to 35-24.

Pilgrims came out of the blocks quickly knowing it would be more difficult playing up the slope, with man of the match Gus Lister finishing off some fine interplay between forwards and backs to score the first of his 2 tries to make it 42-24.

Impressive centre Tom Barton was yellow carded for an accumulation of pilgrims penalties, but Hilton was able to add a penalty goal to help manage the numerical disadvantage to take the score to 45-24.

Colfs made their advantage count by adding a converted score to close the gap to 45-31 before Lister finished a fine break out by Masaka to make it 50-31.

Old Colfeians continued to look dangerous with ball in hand and added 2 further tries to cut the gap to 50-41 before Lister beat a number of defenders and sent Archie English over to complete his hattrick and bring the curtain down on an entertaining and well contested game that finished 57-41.

The Pilgrims return to action in 2weeks time when they travel to Sidcup looking to continue building momentum.

Canterbury Women’s 1XV vs Hove 1XV – Match Report

Sunday’s match at Canterbury was more than just a game; it was a celebration of women’s and girls’ rugby. The day kicked off with a fantastic open training session for the club’s Girls section, showcasing brilliant skill, smiling faces, and some fantastic numbers. The girls then formed a flag tunnel to welcome both teams onto the main pitch, before a minute’s silence was held in remembrance.

When the match began, Canterbury received the ball and immediately applied pressure. A strong run from Emily Kent put the visitors in their 22, but Hove’s defense was solid around the ruck, forcing a knock-on and giving Hove their first scrum.

Canterbury continued to threaten, with a line-out attempt for a try being held up. Hove’s kicking game tried to relieve pressure, but fullback Emily Moriarty collected the ball and passed to Lola Yuille-Clough on the wing, giving Canterbury another chance from the line-out.

Defensively, Canterbury’s back three delivered beautiful tackles, while Alice Haywards counter-rucks kept Hove under constant pressure. Kate Rutherford’s reading of the game in the backfield was exceptional, preempting kicks and turning defense into attack. Early disciplinary issues saw a yellow card for Canterbury’s second row Amber Shepherd following a high tackle, and later for Hove’s loosehead, but the team’s intensity never waned.

It wasn’t until the 36th minute that sustained Canterbury pressure resulted in a breakthrough. Player of the Match El Crowe won a penalty at the breakdown, opting for the corner. Excellent line-out work from Lily Philpott, a precise offload from Darcy McMahon and a hard line from Emily Kent set the platform for a series of pick-and-go plays. Forward of the Match Rosie Payne and prop Lizzie Deverson carried strongly, keeping Hove pinned. Canterbury’s fly-half Kate Rutherford seized a quick-tap opportunity, slicing through retreating defenders to score Canterbury’s only try, which she also converted to end the half with Canterbury in the lead.

The second half began with Canterbury in Hove’s 22, but Hove remained dangerous with strong ball carriers and clever running lines. A superb chase by Lola and relentless defense by Canterbury kept Hove at bay for much of the half. Both sides rotated replacements, bringing fresh energy, and Hove’s number 8 showed outstanding running, nearly breaking through multiple times. Scrum-half replacement Lydia Ticehurst and Ellie Desborough made crucial tackles to prevent a try.

As the game entered its closing stages, Canterbury continued to defend heroically. However, with five minutes remaining, Canterbury was shown a second yellow card, reducing Canterbury to 14 players. Despite their determination and disciplined defence, Hove eventually took advantage of the extra space. With the clock ticking down, they pieced together a series of tight carries before moving the ball wide for a well-worked try in the corner.

Throughout the match, Canterbury’s counter-rucking, strong tackling, and tactical awareness were outstanding. Highlights included the fearless tackling of returning fullback Emily Moriarty, and the expert jackling and support work from Emily Kent. The team displayed incredible cohesion, effort, and resilience until the final whistle.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support the day, including our team sponsors KGEN, Player of the Match sponsor Utopia Wealth, Scrum Kitchen for the fabulous post-match food, and Lilski’s Cakes for the delicious cupcakes. The players, fans, and the girls’ section made the occasion truly special.

Though the result was not what we hoped for, the Canterbury Women’s 1XV will rebuild, pull together, and go again.

Player Awards:
* Player of the Match: El Crowe, Presented by Utopia Wealth
* Forward of the Match: Rosie P
* Back of the Match: Kate Rutherford

Our next Home fixture is the second round of the Papa Johns Community Cup against Guildford Gazelles, 30th November! We’d love to welcome all the support and the girls section down to share this day with us.

By Tom Short

It was a back to back victories for the Canons as the team achieved their first away win of the season with a 29-24 victory at New Ash Green.

Canterbury started the game well, moving the ball out wide in the opening minutes to Fady Sheta, who jinked his way through a number of defenders to score underneath the posts.  However, from this point on, the game turned into a scrappy affair, with both teams consistently infringing ang getting on the wrong side of the referee.  Both teams struggled to find consistency in attack, with numerous handling errors or the ref interfering due to foul play.  Eventually NAG broke through to level the scores.  Canterbury prop Lennie West was yellow carded for dissent, and following injury to the front row replacement, Canterbury were forced down to 13 players.  NAG took advantage and scored 2 quick tries to lead 19-7 at the break.

Kicked into life by Skipper Ben Jones and returning to a full complement of players, Canterbury finally responded with another Sheta try.  A third followed from the excellent Ollie Jeffery, and the bonus point was secured by Terrell Thomas crashing over from short range.  As the game entered its final quarter, and Canterbury were further reduced to 14 due to injury, New Ash Green pulled a third try back of their own, after having 2 efforts held up by the resolute Canons defence.  A quick break away from Jeffery led to a Fin Osborne try to give the Canons some breathing space.   In the last 10 minutes, NAG grabbed a try scoring bonus of their own, but the Canons held on for victory.  The win means the Canons sit 7^th in the Counties 3 table, with a break week next week before welcoming Old Gravesendians to the MTG.

Canterbury RFC is proud to celebrate one of our own Terrell who recently donned the national colours of Jamaica Rugby in an international fixture against Gibraltar. This milestone marks a significant achievement in Terrell’s rugby journey and reflects the dedication, talent, and character he brings to the sport.

Currently a scholar at Canterbury Christ Church University, Terrell balances his academic pursuits with his commitment to rugby at the a high level. He is an part of our senior setup, consistently demonstrating leadership, athleticism, and a deep passion for the game.

Representing Jamaica on the international stage is no small feat, and Terrell’s selection is a testament to his hard work and the support of those around him. The match against Gibraltar was a thrilling showcase of emerging talent, and Terrell’s performance stood out as a symbol of pride, not just for Jamaica, but for everyone at Canterbury RFC.

We are immensely proud of Terrell’s accomplishments and the way he continues to inspire others within our club and beyond. His journey is a shining example of what can be achieved through perseverance and community support.

Congratulations, Terrell

Old Reigatians 22
Pilgrims 39

The Pilgrims travelled away to Surrey based old Reigatians for the first time on Saturday, looking to build on their first win of the season last time out against Dartfordians.
The city side started brightly and took the lead from a Collins penalty goal after a matter minutes after Old R’s struggled to deal with Pilgrims’ speed and intentionally slowed down at a ruck. 0-3.
Owain Collins- who had a strong all round game, then turned provider as his strong run and pass set debutant winger Owen Hewett over for the first of his 4 try’s. 0-8.
Old R’s responded well and showed they would be a threat with ball in hand, moving the ball well and exploiting space out wide to score in the corner. 5-8.
Pilgrims then allowed Old R’s to level after Prop Harry Drane was penalised for a tip tackle in front of the posts which was easily converted. 8-8.
The pilgrims then started to click into gear as forwards and backs moved the ball seamlessly through the phases. Aiden Moss’ classy line break saw him glide into the back field and unselfishly pass to the supporting Hewett who dotted his 2nd under the posts making the conversion a formality. 8-15.
A great break by Gus Lister saw him beat a number of defenders before being stopped short of the line, half backs Valladares and Hilton moved the ball quickly and put the supporting Hewett in for a debut hattrick, 8-22.
The backs rewarded the forwards hard work with some exceptional handling sending The impressive Hewett over in the corner for his 4th, securing a try bonus point in the process. 8-27.
The city side added a fifth on the stroke of half time, another impressive break by Lister saw him pop to wing man Archie English to dot down and bring Pilgrims best half of rugby so far this season to a close. 8-32.
Old Reigatians could have thrown in the towel at this point, but they started the 2nd half strongly and showed they would still pose a threat if Pilgrims took their foot off the gas.
A missed tackle in midfield allowed them to get in behind the pilgrims defence and good support play saw them score under the posts to make it 15-32.
If the first half showcased their attacking abilities, the 2nd showed they were able to absorb long periods of pressure as Old R’s looked to get back in the game, helped by pilgrims own indiscipline at times.
The Pilgrims weee struggling with the inconsistent management of the game and these frustrations saw Valladares yellow carded for back chat to the referee. Pilgrims defence remained resolute and after a lineout was well won by the forwards, Hilton’s wide pass sent No. 8 Al Evans through a gap in midfield and he drew the fullback and put Ed Thompson in the clear to run in for a score his recent performances have deserved to take the score to 15-39. Shortly afterwards Hewett was also sent to the sin bin to reduce the Pilgrims to 13. Old Reigatians took advantage of their 2 man advantage to add their third try of the afternoon as the clocked ticked down to make the final score 22-39 and secure the Pilgrims a well deserved bonus point win on the road. A week off next weekend sees the Pilgrims return to action the following Saturday at the MTG against Old Colfeians.

Match Report: Canterbury Women’s XV vs Beckenham 1XV

Papa Johns Community Cup
Final Score: Canterbury 17 – 15 Beckenham

By Amber Waitimas

Canterbury Women’s XV kicked off their Papa Johns Community Cup campaign in thrilling fashion with a hard-fought 17–15 victory over a strong Beckenham 1XV side.

From the opening whistle, both teams showed real intent, and it was Beckenham who struck first, crossing the try line to take an early lead. But Canterbury responded in style, as a jackaled ball and quick pop pass saw Kate Rutherford (#10) burst over the line for the home side’s opening try, before confidently converting her own score to level things up.

From there, Canterbury demonstrated composure and control through standout performances across the park. The back row trio of Lucy Relf, Lily Philpott, and El Crowe worked beautifully in tandem, showing a dynamic mix of power, pace, and relentless tackling that kept Beckenham under pressure all game.

Emma Alleye (#4) led from the front, setting the tone with her trademark big hits and commanding the forward pack superbly. She was deservedly named Forward of the Match for her tireless work and leadership.

In attack, the props, Lizzie Deverson and Alex Mills, were relentless, making a series of strong, powerful carries that gained valuable territory and set the platform for Canterbury’s next scores. Their dominance at the scrum and work rate around the park gave the side real momentum.

El Crowe (#13) added her name to the scoresheet in the second half, showing great pace and determination to cross the line and extend Canterbury’s advantage.

The backs continued to impress, combining sharp handling with confident decision-making to keep Beckenham on the back foot and open up attacking opportunities across the field.

Later in the half, Kate Rutherford crossed for her second try of the day, the result of a patient and well-executed series of pick-and-go phases from the forwards right on the try line.

Defensively, Canterbury showed huge determination and resilience, holding up two Beckenham tries and keeping their composure under sustained pressure. Emily Kent and Lola Yuille-Clough stood out in the backs, showing excellent communication and control to organise the defensive line at key moments.

Debutant Lydia Ticehurst (#22) made an immediate impact off the bench, bringing fresh energy at scrum-half and earning Back of the Match honours for her sharp decision-making and quick ball distribution in the closing stages.

A gritty and well-earned win for Canterbury, built on teamwork, discipline, and belief – a strong start to their Papa Johns Community Cup journey.

Final Score:
Canterb

ury Women’s XV – 17

Beckenham 1XV – 15

Canterbury’s next home fixture is on Sunday, 9th November, when they take on Hove Women’s XV. As always, all supporters are very welcome to come down and cheer the team on!

By Tom Short

The Canons had their first win of the league season, beating old foes Old Williamsonians 31-22 at the MTG.

With both teams searching for a first win of the season, and Old Wills being the only team to beat the Canons last year, it was going to be an intense game from the start.  The Canons started brightly with strong carrying from the forwards, however fell behind to an early penalty following some ill-discipline.  The Canons recovered well from the kick off, and after winning penalties of their own worked their way up field.  After some good pressure on the OWs try line, Lennie West crashed over from short range to give the Canons their first try of the afternoon.  The game was in a period of stalemate, before Old Wills scored their first try after a good line from their outside centre wrong footed the Canons defence.  The Old Wills lead was short lived, with almost an exact replica of the first try leading to West scoring his second.  Old Wills had the last laugh of the half however, with their centre again breaking tackles to score his second and restore the visitors lead.

The Old Wills momentum followed at the start of the second half after some scrappy play, from which they hacked through and dotted down to take a 10 point lead.  The Canons reacted, and after some good phase play and strong carries, the powerful Terrel Thomas trundled over from short range.  With fire in their bellies, the Canons began to dominate and grabbed the next score to retake the lead, with Ollie Jeffery scoring the bonus point try.  This was quickly followed by a breakaway try for Will Rayner to give the Canons some breathing space which they held until the end of the game, denying Old Wills any league points from the fixture.

Now off the mark, the Canons have a break in fixtures but will look to carry on their winning ways against New Ash Green on 8^th November and continue to climb the Counties 3 table.

Pilgrims 26
Dartfordians 17

Pilgrims steady improvement coupled with the return of some experienced players ensured they secured a deserved first league win of the season against a competitive Dartfordians side. Dartfordians were quick out of the blocks as they looked to put the pilgrims under pressure from the outset with their offload game looking to stress the home defence.

The pilgrims were absorbing pressure well and exploited a wayward Dartfordians pass as last seasons top scorer Gus Lister- making his first appearance of the season- intercepted and raced away to score under the posts making Collins’ conversion a formality. 7-0.

Dartfordians hit back shortly after, breaking through tackles out wide to score an unconverted try in the corner. 7-5. Pilgrims had clear scrum superiority and used 2 penalty opportunities awarded at scrum time to extend the lead to 13-5 despite a yellow card to prop Harry Drane, before Dartfordians narrowed the deficit to just a point with a converted try on the stroke of Half time as they exploited their numerical advantage after winger Archie English was given 10 mins in the sin bin for a tip tackle and a 2nd yellow card of the half. 13-12.

Dartfordians made their numbers and the slope count as they took the lead within moments of the restart, moving the ball wide well to score in the corner. 13-17.

The remainder of the half saw the Pilgrims side start dominate the game with the strong runs of 8th man Mo Pangarker getting them on the front foot. The scrum was dominant and another penalty was added by Collins to reduce the arrears to 16-17 before an excellent break by him saw him burst through the middle, he showed great skill to offload behind his back to the supporting Lister who raced away to score under the posts and deservedly put the Pilgrims back in front. 23-17.
With the clock ticking down, another penalty was won by the forwards which allowed Collins a shot at goal to deny Dartfordians a bonus point which he stepped up and slotted to give the Pilgrims a well earned first league win, 26-17.

Team: MacMillan, Bull, Drane, Nicholson, Gill, Hunt (C), Devine, Pangarker, Valladares, Parker, Thompson, Hilton, Lister, Masaka, Collins, Everatt, Oliver, English.

Canterbury Rugby Club is bursting with pride as former Canterbury Women and University of Kent standout Jemma takes another monumental step in her rugby journey, earning selection for the England Rugby Women’s Pathway Backs Positional Camp for the 2025/26 season.

A familiar face in black and amber, Jemma-Jo  lit up the pitch for several seasons with her exceptional talent, tenacity, and leadership. Whether carving up defences or inspiring teammates, she left an indelible mark on both Canterbury Women and the University of Kent sides, embodying the spirit and skill that define our club.

Her rise through the ranks has been nothing short of inspiring. Just last weekend, she lifted the PWR Cup for the second consecutive year a testament to her consistency and elite performance at the highest level of domestic rugby. Now, she joins a select group of athletes at the England Rugby Women’s Pathway Camp, where she’ll train alongside the country’s top emerging backs, sharpening her skills and pushing toward future international honours.

The Pathway programme is designed to identify and nurture England’s next generation of Red Roses, and Jemma’s inclusion is a powerful recognition of her hard work, resilience, and outstanding form.
We couldn’t be prouder to see one of our own stepping into this exciting new chapter. From her early days in Canterbury colours to national recognition, Jemma continues to inspire players across our club and beyond.

Congratulations, Jemma your black and amber family is cheering you on every step of the way!