Canterbury Dominate The Derby

SEVENOAKS 17 CANTERBURY 39

by David Haigh

A confident Canterbury continued their march up the league table with a fifth straight victory which was as clear cut as the scoreline suggests. They go into the New Year sitting in fifth place in National 2 East after dominating this Kent derby in all areas. A potentially tricky fixture on paper proved to be a different story on grass, with the city side’s five tries earning them maximum points and denying ‘Oaks a single Christmas gift. They set the tone in the first half, building a 19-3 lead and, when under pressure, defending so well the home side could make no impression. Ben Adams kicked Sevenoaks into an early lead with a penalty goal but it was soon surrendered to a penalty try for illegally puling down Canterbury’s driving maul. That cost them seven points and a yellow card which was punished further by a second Canterbury try. Scrum half Presley Farrance, who knows a gap when he sees one, was the scorer. In the second quarter, the hosts worked hard to win territory but failed repeatedly to tear down the defensive curtain and four minutes before the break, were shown the way by Canterbury’s mobile lock Charlie McGovern. His chip, chase and try between the sticks was converted by Frank Reynolds. Early in the second half the city forwards mastery of the breakdown saw Reynolds add another three points from a penalty and when ‘Oaks finally did find a try it just spurred a clinical response. After Zak Jones’ score, converted by Adams, it took Canterbury only three minutes to strike again. Wing Garry Jones blasted through midfield to bring finishing power and Reynolds quickly followed the conversion with his second penalty goal. For an out played Oaks, 22 points behind, there was no way back, despite Cam Cummings creating a neat, converted try with his kick and chase. But the last word went to Garry Jones as Canterbury moved the ball sweetly through the hands to send him over at the corner. Reynolds then topped off the team’s impressive afternoon with a successful conversion.

Canterbury: K.Heatherley, G.Jones, H.Sloan, W.Waddington, L.Talbot, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, C.McGovern, J.Stephens, J.De Vries, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Replacements: C.Macmillan, T.Williams, J.Dengate, O.Hewett, T.McKenzie