Author: Becca Williams

Canterbury Trio Represent Kent in Historic Super Vets Victory

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Three Canterbury RFC stalwarts proudly represented the Black & Amber colours on Sunday as they took part in the first-ever Kent Super Vets fixture, hosted at Blackheath RFC.

Selected in the inaugural Kent squad were Miles MacKinnon, Justin Lello, and Stephen Rutt, with MacKinnon receiving the additional honour of captaining the county side on a memorable occasion.

The match proved to be a hugely successful day for Kent Rugby, who delivered an outstanding all-round performance to record an emphatic 92-0 victory over Hertfordshire.

For MacKinnon, Lello and Rutt, the opportunity to represent their county in such a historic fixture is a testament to their continued commitment to the game and the values of rugby. Having Canterbury RFC represented by three players, including the team captain, is a source of great pride for everyone connected with the club.

The Kent Super Vets programme celebrates the longevity, passion and camaraderie that make rugby special, and Sunday’s inaugural fixture was a fantastic showcase of those qualities.

Everyone at Canterbury Rugby Club congratulates Miles, Justin and Stephen on their selection and contribution to a memorable day for Kent Rugby. We are incredibly proud to see our Black & Amber representatives helping to make history and flying the flag for the club with distinction.

Congratulations, gentlemen. 🖤💛

Match Report: Zingari v Folkestone II’s

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Match Report. 10.10.26

Canterbury 5th v Folkestone 2nd

Canterbury5th pts. Folkstone 2nd 26 pts.

In their third outing of the season the Zingari took on a formidable Folkestone 2nd team in their Kent rural league in this hotly contested encounter. From the kick off it looked  as if Folkestone had come to play setting up a series of rucks and mauls before burrowing over the try line from short range, and with the following conversion made their intensions clear. Canterbury did not panic at this early set back instead their forwards increased their work rate driving deep into Folkstone territory before sending the ball down the line for wing Michael Howard to touch down in the corner. The deficit was wiped out when a quickly taken penalty found Rob Horan in mid field cutting through for the Zingari’s second try. With their noses in front the forwards found a new confidence winning quick ball at the breakdown, and soon had Folkestone stretched with centre Henry Collins on hand  to touch down near the posts for the converted try. This was repeated a few minutes later when the Zingari forwards turned over a ball in a ruck sending the ball wide for Collins second converted try on the stroke of half-time.

The Zingari had built a comfortable half-time cushion but were in no mood to give up the initiative, pressing hard from the start they created an opening for Horan for his second try of the afternoon that he converted himself. Folkestone who had been under the cosh suddenly revived their forwards taking control and driving deep into Canterbury territory pinning Canterbury on their own line, before the elevatable breakthrough for a well taken try. Again, the city sides response was swift, the forwards providing quick clean ball the backs used to great effect, and it was that man Collins on hand to collect his hat-trick only a few minutes later winning a foot race to touch down again for his fourth converted try. Folkestone after this setback stuck to their guns using their forwards, rallied again pressuring the city line before breaking through to claim a converted try back. However, it was the city side who had the last word with late replacement Cajo Deketh making his debut breaking through for this first try converted by that sure footed boot of Rob Horan to wind up the proceedings.

Match Report: Leigh v Deacons

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Match Report: Leigh 27 – 19 Canterbury Deacons

The Deacons travelled to Leigh on Saturday and were the better side for long periods of a game the scoreline has no business representing.

Canterbury set the tone early doors, parking themselves in Leigh’s half for the first fifteen to twenty minutes before finally cashing in with a converted try. That control lasted another five or ten minutes before a lapse let Leigh in, and they made the most of it ruthlessly, scoring three tries in a hurry to turn the game around. Half time arrived with Leigh 19-7 up, a scoreline that flattered the home side given how much of the half they’d spent defending the Deacons attack.

The second half was where things got interesting. The Deacons came out swinging, and got a helping hand when a Leigh winger took “turning the game around” a little too literally, flipping an attacker clean onto his head and earning himself ten minutes in the bin for his trouble. Canterbury made the extra man count, scoring twice to level things up at 19 apiece. In the closing stages, the Deacons were still camped on Leigh’s line, pushing hard for one more score to bring the gap back down. It wasn’t quite enough to find a winning route home, and Leigh snuck a late try and a penalty to close it out 27-19.

There was no mistaking which side did more of the attacking across the eighty minutes, though. A quick word for the man with the whistle too, who kept a notably tight rein on the King’s English out there, with a few choice words here and there proving costly in ten-metre penalties along the way which made for a decent story for the clubhouse afterwards.

Credit where it’s due to a Leigh side who played in great spirit all afternoon, in what was a proper, hard-fought battle between two evenly matched teams.

This was a performance that deserved more than the scoreline gave it. The Deacons are building nicely, with real consistency coming through the squad and some strong individual performances emerging week on week. Plenty to build on heading into next week’s away trip to Old Gravesendians and Vigo 2nds, and what comes next for this team is shaping up to be an exciting watch.

Tries: Stan, James, Alex
Player of the Match: Nigel, an absolute machine through the pack all day.

Match Report: Pilgrims v Beccehamians

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Pilgrims 48

Beccehamians 10

By Dan Gill

The pilgrims welcomed Beccehamians to the MTG for their first home game of the season and quickly set about imposing themselves on the visitors with robust defence and direct attacking play.
A couple of early opportunities were spurned as the home side were penalised when in promising positions which allowed Beccehamians to clear their lines. It was from one such kick that the first score arrived when winger Max Campbell leapt high and expertly slapped the ball back into the field of play for fullback Gabe Roberts to collect, he chipped in behind and outpaced the cover to score and give the pilgrims a deserved lead, 5-0.
Roberts was again involved as the city side doubled their lead- great handling by the backline put him in space and his fine footwork and offload sent Max Campbell in for a try.
The forwards were the architects of the final score of the half when they caught and drove a lineout from 10meteres out, Al Evans broke blind and fed flyhalf Luke Talbot who powered over from close range, 15-0 Half time.
The second half started well for the pilgrims with the same combination again to the fore with Al Evans powerful run stopped short only for Talbot to dive over for a bonus point converted try, 22-0.
Pilgrims positive play was let down by an increasing penalty count which saw Beccehamians on the scoreboard when they kicked to the corner and mauled over the resulting 5m lineout, 22-5.
Pilgrims response was positive and after great defensive work by centre Jordan constant, turnover ball was moved wide well and Archie English cantered over for a converted score, 29-5.
Beccehamians were finding it difficult to exit and a poor clearance kick was expertly returned by the fleet footed Roberts who beat a number of defenders before sending Barney Smith away to score, 36-5.
From the resulting kick off, Beccehamians kicked long but found only Steve ‘Frenchie’ Hopkinson who went on a powerful length of the field run that was stopped agonisingly short of being the try of the day when he was bundled into touch just 5 meters short of the line. The ball was reclaimed from the lineout and eventually found its way to Barney smith who finished well out wide for his 2nd of the day. 43-5.
Beccehamians never gave up and their scrappy performance and persistence was rewarded with a second try following a lost lineout, pilgrims again infringed unescesarily and Beccehamians were able to dive over from close range, 43-10.
The home side had the final say when skipper Al Evans powered his way over looking to bring up 50, but the conversion was narrowly missed meaning the game finished 48-10 in the pilgrims favour. The pilgrims welcome Sevenoaks to the MTG next weekend for what is always a closely contested encounter.

Match Report: Sittingbourne II’s v Zingari

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Match Report. 26.09.26

Sittingbourne 2nd v Canterbury 5th

Sittingbourne 2nd 45   Canterbury5th 19pts

In the second game of their season the Zingari met their match against a heavy well drilled Sittingbourne pack. Sittingbourne imposed themselves from the start their heavier pack dominated the set piece with devastating effect driving deep into Canterbury territory for them to touch down in the corner. This was followed by a succession of scrums that forced Canterbury to defend drawing in players thus leaving the gaps out wide for the Sittingbourne backs to exploited with some powerful direct running. This bore fruit with two more quick converted tries within the first ten minutes.. Sittingbourne looked in control and a rout looked more than possible, but in true Zingari style their forward upped their game, although never looking comfortable they secured some ball at the set piece  that the backs could work with. First was Brad Alchurch breaking loose sweeping aside the opposition to go over near the posts, and with Robs conversion Canterbury were on the board. More was to follow with Canterbury securing position in the loose sent the ball down the line before cutting back inside picked up by Alchurch for another devastating run to touch down out wide. Sittingbourne aware of the city’s potential  in the loose reverted to their forward  play driving deep into Canterbury territory before breaching the city line for a converted try. Then a few minutes later tried again setting up several scrums a few meters from the city line before being awarded a penalty try on the line. However, it was Canterbury who had the last word of the half winning a loose ball and feeding Jake Vowell who set off on a tackle breaking run from mid-field ending  up under the posts, and with Rob Horan conversion Canterbury were still in touch with a two-score difference.

The second half saw Sittingbourne set off as they started the first, aware of the Zingari’s potential in the loose they kept the ball tight setting up a position a few feet from the city line before bludgeon their way over. They tried the same tactic again but this time Canterbury held the line and Sittingbourne came wide and with Canterbury committed found the gap out wide for an unconverted try. Nobody wanted what happened next, a Canterbury player sustained an injury, and after a considerable time delay it was decided to stop the game, bringing an end to a hard competitive encounter.

Match Report: Pilgrims v Tonbridge Juddians II’s

Posted on | by Becca Williams

By Dan Gill

PILGRIMS 21

Tonbridge Judds 21

The pilgrims first league outing of the season saw them travel to The Slade for what looked on paper to be one of their toughest fixtures of the season.
This year’s squad is a promising mix of youth and experience with some promising young players looking to showcase their talent alongside some established stalwarts.
After an even opening few minutes it was 2 of the more experienced heads who combined well- centre Jordan Contant spotted a mis-match in midfield which he exploited well to make space for fullback Kurt Heatherley who powered through a gap before deftly offloading to promising young hooker Lucas Eule who had too much pace for the covering defence and dotted down beside the posts for the first Pilgrims try of the season. With Slingsby converting, 0-7.
TJ’s were able to level the score soon after as pilgrims ill discipline cost them with 3 penalties conceded in quick succession allowing them to move down the slope and exploit space out wide to break through and score, 7-7.
Pilgrims’ response was positive and a series of strong drives by the forwards saw TJ’s infringe at the breakdown in an attempt to slow their momentum. The penalty was kicked deep into the TJs 22 and after Charlie Mumford and Olly Docherty secured the lineout, skipper Al Evans powered over from close range, skittling home defenders en-route to pilgrims 2nd try. 7-14.
Pilgrims thought they had a 3rd try after a great break by scrum half Barnaby Smith, but he was judged to have infringed in trying to recycle the ball for what looked a certain try which allowed TJ’s to clear their lines.
They soon made the Pilgrims pay when another flurry of quick penalties against them saw TJs power over from close range themselves to tie the score at 14-14.
After regrouping under the posts the pilgrims came out firing and put TJs under pressure for the remainder of the half. Strong tackles by flankers Stevie Hodgekinson and Matt Oliff were complimented by strong carries by props Everatt and Oladeji. The live-wire half back pairing of Smith and Slingsby used the quick ball effectively and only desperate TJs defending prevented further scores until a great kick through by Heatherley was chased brilliantly by centre Archie English and only illegal TJs defending prevented him scoring a deserved try, put the referee instead awarded a penalty try and reduced TJs to 14 men. 14-21 HT.
The second half saw pilgrims spurn an early chance to extend their lead with handling errors letting them down before TJs returned to 15. They hit back almost immediately by applying pressure through penalties which put the city side on the back foot. Some desperate Pilgrims defending couldn’t prevent TJs leveling the score, and this was compounded by Archie English receiving a yellow card for foul play in the lead up to the score. 21-21.
A number of Pilgrims penalties saw TJs come close to scoring again, but solid defence saw them turn the ball over on their own line and Jordan Constants cool head saw him run the ball out from under his own posts to make 20 meters. The backs moved the ball wide and put wingman Harvey Ingram into space. He raced away but was dragged down just short of the line and judged by the referee to have illegally held onto the ball. Judds cleared their lines and again applied pressure to pilgrims defence before they again turned the ball over and kicked the ball long. The fast pace of the game then saw the referee suffer a calf injury, which as the game had reached the 60 minute mark and with no other society official available, meant the game ended at that point with the score all square at 21-21. Pilgrims will feel they should have been at least 2 tries to the good at this point, while Judds had momentum when the game was prematurely halted meaning the return fixture later in the season promises an encounter not to be missed.
The Pilgrims welcome Beccehamians to the MTG for their first home fixture of the season next Saturday and gives supporters their first opportunity to see some promising young players.

Match Report: Women’s 1st XV v Medway

Posted on | by Becca Williams

By El Crowe

Canterbury Women V Medway, 12-39 27/09/26

Our first league game of the season saw us welcome Medway to Canterbury.

A tough first half saw us go into the break 0–29 down, but the ladies showed plenty of character to fight back in the second half.

Evieleigh Smith crossed for her debut try, converted by Robyn Gulley, before El Crowe added a second to bring the final score to 12–39.

There’s lots to work on, but plenty of positives and takeaways as we continue to build as a squad.

A huge welcome to our four debutants: Evieleigh Smith, Freya Hopkins, Steph Roworth and Lottie Des’Ascoyne!

Back of the Match
Freya Hopkins
A brilliant impact off the bench on the wing, with some excellent tackles and strong carries.

Forward of the Match
Ellie Desborough
Ellie came on in the backs before moving to flanker. Playing the position for the first time for Canterbury, she impressed with some excellent counter-rucking and turnovers.

Opposition Player of the Match
Teagan Febery
A solid performance on the wing for Canterbury, including some big hits.

A tough result, but the cobwebs are officially blown off. Now we rebuild, learn and go again.

Match Report: Canons v Cliffe Crusaders

Posted on | by Becca Williams

by Tom Short

A new season, a much changed squad, but the same ambitions for the Canons as they began their season against newly promoted Cliffe Crusaders.  It was a dominant performance in which the Canons ran out 61-19 winners.

Starting fast, it wasn’t long before a classic Mark Stone line break led to an offload to Evan Cook on the 22 metre line and dot down under the posts.  A second try quickly followed from Riley Soutan, before a well worked lineout move allowed hooker Ollie Jeffery to dot down.  Cliffe bounced back from short range before Stone collected a kick through from fly half Kieron Shave to secure the bonus point.

Cliffe started the half strongly with 2 scores of their own either side of a second Cook try, but soon started fatigue, with 4 further Canterbury tries from Oscar Sands (2) Josh Dawson and Freddie Philpott.

With a team consisting of a number of graduating Colts from the last season, there is much to be hopeful about as the team looks towards the rest of the season.

Match Report: New Ash Green II’s v Deacons

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Match Report: New Ash Green 2nds 56 – 47 Canterbury Deacons

By Iain McCracken

Every team faces a moment early in a season that tells you more than any result can. For the Deacons, that moment came before a ball was even kicked.

New Ash Green could only field 11. The easy call was to take advantage, 15 against 11 on a full-size pitch, an afternoon of running in tries. The Deacons didn’t take it. They matched them, 11-a-side, full pitch, full 80 minutes. With that much space and that few bodies, it played out more like a 7s fixture than a league game, which made for a tough way for both sides to start the season.

It was tough, too, for a Deacons side where 60% of the squad were making their first appearance in the shirt. But the platform was there from the first scrum, six forwards who simply weren’t for turning, winning their own ball at every opportunity and giving the backs the kind of quick, clean possession most teams only dream of this early in a season. When that ball found space, it was worth the trip down just to watch, with some real footwork and pace on show.

The home side started quickest all the same, building a 15-point lead before the Deacons had found their feet. With the scrum on top and the backs getting room to play, the Deacons turned that 15-point deficit into a 26-22 lead by half-time.

The second half opened shakily. A run of missed tackles let New Ash Green back into it, and for a spell the momentum swung hard their way. The scrum kept winning ball though, and every time the backs got their hands on quick possession, they looked dangerous. The Deacons dug in, matched New Ash Green phase for phase, and kept working the scoreboard back in their favour right to the final whistle. A 103-point game by the end of it, and a proper arm-wrestle from start to finish.

The clearest sign of how close this one really was, came in the final five minutes, when a try was held up over the line against a home side visibly running on empty.

Credit to New Ash Green too, a fit and well-drilled side who never let the Deacons have it easy.

It wasn’t all good news on the day though. Gian Smith suffered a nasty broken collarbone and is likely facing a long spell out. Tough for any player in any game, but especially so in the first fixture of the season. Everyone at the club will be wishing him a speedy recovery.

Final score: New Ash Green 2nds 56 – 47 Canterbury Deacons.

Tries: Reuben Kerr, Ted Field (2), Adam Ridgewell, Lawrence Knight (2), Pete Demery

Player of the Match: Freddie Vion, nerveless off the tee, 100% conversion rate.

Onwards to the next one.

Match Report: Zingari v Whitstable II

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Match Report. 26.09.26

Canterbury 5th  v Whitstable 2nd

Canterbury 5th 38pts Whitstable 37pts.

In a nail biting finish the Zingari opened their season with the narrowest win possible. Both sides produced some open flowing rugby from the start with the Zingari having a slight advantage in the backs while Whitstable pack may have edged it at the set piece. However, it was the city backs who opened the scoring after some sharp handling split the Whitstable defence for Ben Waite to touch down for Canterbury’s first converted try. This was followed with Ross Elgar touching down after the forwards had punched a hole in the midfield for the backs to finish off. This looked as if it was all going to be easy for the city side , but Whitstable had other ideas, their forwards making the most of the slight  slope rallied and battled their way down field to claim two tries within minutes of each other, followed by a disastrous intercepted pass for  Whitstable to claimed a third. Canterbury compounded their own troubles giving away a penalty that set up Whitstable for a converted try, and just before halftime burst through the centre setting up a position a few meters from the city line before driving over for a clear fifteen-point halftime advantage.

The Second half saw the same pattern emerge with Whitstable squeezing in at the corner to increase their lead after the city defence failed to force the attacker into touch giving themselves a comfortable cushion. The Zingari had it all to do even with the slim advantage of the second half slope gave us a display of straight powerful direct running that seemed to do the trick, breaking tackles with recycled quick ball had the defence  split wide for Ryan Flockhart to sneak a converted try back. This was the way back with both forwards & backs adopting this tactic the holes began to appear, Brad Alchurch saw the gap with a charging run claiming back another converted try. Whitstable always dangerous again got back on the score sheet with another unconverted try, but the momentum had changed, and more of the same put Nick Creaser over the line from short range, and with Rob Horan conversions had put the city side within striking distance of the lead. With the clock running down the Zingari  put in a final effort camping just short of the Whitstable line before Jake Vowell broke through to give Canterbury a slender one-point lead. With the clock going into the red all would seem to be over, but Whitstable had other ideas, and with a final flourish they got to within striking distance of the city line.  Only to be thwarted  by late replacement Oliver Rutt with a bone crunching tackle on the line causing the ball to be spilled forward thus securing Canterbury the narrowest victory possible.