Canons edge closer to Counties 4 Kent title with gritty win

The Canons took one step closer to the Counties 4 Kent title with a hard earned win away at Cliffe Crusaders on Saturday.

Knowing that it would be a tough afternoon if they got dragged into Cliffe’s physical game, the Canons recognised that using their pace and agility would be key in taking the spoils home.

The opening quarter of the game was tight, with the Canons having good field position following great work at the breakdown to turn over any Cliffe possession.  2 penalties from Liam Browne gave the Canons the early lead.  Despite a few squandered opportunities, put down to sickness in the squad and lapses in concentration, the Canons scored the first try of the game through Jake Upward, following good footwork and evasive running from Josh Lamb.  Cliffe responded with a penalty of their own, before Josh Lamb evaded more tackles again to score under the posts in the last play of the half.  Once again converted by Browne, Canterbury led 20-3 at the break.

The Cliffe coach must have delivered a rocket at half time, as the home side came out with much more quality and purpose following the break.  They worked the ball wide before their monstrous second row crashed over in the corner for an unconverted try. 20-8.

The game began to get scrappy and niggly as Cliffe did their reputation no harm with a number of late challenges and throwing handbags in mauls and rucks.  It was the Canons who had the next points, however, following a chip and chase from Browne that was collected by the galloping Upward to score under the posts.  The last quarter of the game continued to be a physical battle, and following a number of injuries and positional changes for the Canons, Cliffe scored 2 late tries to flatter the scoreline.  Nonetheless, the Canons took 4 points home from a tough opposition who a week earlier had beaten Old Williamsonians, who are hot on the heels of the Canons in the league standings.

This weekend brings what could be a season-defining match against second place Old Williamsonians in a top of the league crunch.  Having endured their sole loss of the season in the reverse fixture at the MTG, there is only one outcome on the Canons mind this weekend – win.