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Canterbury Challenge Fades
TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS 40 CANTERBURY 24
by David Haigh
A second half onslaught, which, yielded five tries, ended Canterbury’s challenge to the unbeaten league leaders. In the final play of the game the city side salvaged a bonus point with a Garry Jones try, so did not come way empty handed, but Juddians power and tactical nous had by then settled the issue. A solid first half saw Canterbury reach the break five points ahead, suggesting this could be another of the tightly contested affairs which have been the hallmark of this Kent derby fixture over the past two seasons. Two Juddians tries in the first ten minutes after the break changed the mood as they dominated territory, switched to an effective mauling game on the heavy pitch before setting up their attackers. Canterbury made a promising start with a try from prop Ollie Frostick after good lineout work but lost the lead after twenty minutes when Harrison Sims crashed over and Sam Evans converted. The reply came through a blind side break, initiated by scrum half Presley Farrance who was a constant threat, and finished with an Aiden Moss try converted by Frank Reynolds. So far, so good for the hefty number of traveling supporters, but the optimism was quickly dampened. The city side, frustrated by penalties that sometimes seemed questionable, were rocked by tries from the lively Connor Lloyd and Duncan Tout, both converted by Evans. Handling errors crept in as they struggled to re-establish themselves and when flanker Tom Nicoll went in for the bonus point score, this one converted by Tom White, things looked ominous for the city side. It came as a relief when space was opened for Alfie Orris to carry strongly before Eoin O’Donoghue went over the line and Reynolds successful kick cut the home lead to nine. But Juddians had more in the locker. With Canterbury pinned back once again tries from White and Tout, and conversions by Tout and Nicoll, eased them to victory before a yellow card for Lloyd opened the way for Jones to grab a point..
Canterbury: H.Young, G.Jones, F.Morgan, W.Waddington, A.Moss, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, S.Rogers, T.Mackenzie, T.Oliver. Replacements: N.Morris, A.Cooper, A.Orris, H.Kenny, T.Williams
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