Canons Match Report

It was disappointment for the Canons, as a young Gravesend side came out winners in a close game at the MTG.

Expecting a big, physical opposition, it was all change for Gravesend as they lined up with a team full of graduating colts and youngsters.  Although Canterbury were strong in the tight opening phases, Gravesend quickly used the speed and pace advantage that their young side possessed to break and use the width to score in the corner.   Canterbury regathered, but it was almost a mirror play.  Although Canterbury got back to make a last ditch tackle, the referee deemed for there to have been a deliberate knock on in the covering defence which resulted in a yellow card.  Gravesend kicked from the corner and broke off from the maul to score.   From the kick off, there was a high tackle from Canterbury, resulting in a second yellow card and reducing Canterbury down to 13 players for a period of 9 minutes.  Despite this, the team kept Gravesend out, however in the last play of the half, Gravesend scored again to increase their advantage to 17-0 at the break.

After some strong words at half time, and a game plan to utilise the physical advantage that Canterbury had over Gravesend, the home team came out firing.  From a clearing kick, Josh Lamb collected the ball in the Canterbury half and broke through a number of tackles to score under the posts.    Gravesend reacted well, and responded within 5 minutes with a bonus point score of their own.  The home side were not going to roll over, and continued to use their forwards to break down Gravesend.  Scores followed for Ollie Jeffery from a well worked tap and go penalty, and shortly after from Adrian Geddes for the scoreline to read 19-24.  With 10 minutes to play, a fourth Canons try felt like it was on the cards, however poor execution and errors meant that Canterbury were unable to breach the tryline again.  Gravesend looked to end the game with a penalty kick for the posts, but this slid wide and the Canons maintained their losing bonus point.

With a break for Easter, the Canons have a tough run in for the end of the season, welcoming 2^nd place Tunbridge Wells to the MTG, and visits to 4^th place Whitstable and 3^rd place Hastings.  Nonetheless, the team will be looking to have a positive end to the season, and cause an upset in these games.