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Canterbury Resist Late Challenge
CANTERBURY 31 HENLEY HAWKS 28
by David Haigh
Another tight finish for Canterbury who, after their recent slump in form, have found ways to win again. They had to come from behind in the second half and then hold off a robust challenge from the Hawks in the closing stages. But a maximum five point return sees the city side hold on to fourth place in National 2 East. Canterbury dominated the early stages and were two tries to the good by the eighteenth minute. Eoin O’Donoghue’s break set the scene for the first touchdown by Frank Morgan, following excellent handling by the backs. Frank Reynolds, making his 100th appearance, celebrated with the first of his three conversions but was off target when O’Donoghue scored the second from a powerful driving maul. It was all Canterbury up that point but Henley are a side that do not lie down and by half time they had edged into a one point lead. Max Titchener got them on the score board with a penalty goal before great footwork by centre George Wood earned their first try. It was a Rory Mason catch and drive score, converted by Titchener, that took Hawks briefly into the lead but that sparked an immediate response from the city side who took a similar route for O’Donoghue’s second. In the final minute of the half Titchener’s penalty goal wounded Canterbury again and soon after the restart another penalty award gave Henley the territory and opportunity for Will Benning to cross. The conversion opened a slightly ominous eight point gap, given Canterbury’s recent second half woes. As the game went into the final quarter, however, they decided there would be no repeat. Reynolds’ threaded a kick behind the defence and Morgan won the chase for the try. They stayed on the front foot and in control when Harry Sloan’s crash ball score brought the bonus point. Other chances beckoned but failed to register points and it was Henley who produced a sting in the tail. Titchener’s third penalty goal cut the lead to three and the city defenders had to resist intense late pressure before restricting the Hawks to a miserly one point, arguably less than they deserved.
Canterbury: A.Moss, F.Morgan, H.Sloan, W.Waddington, H.Furneaux, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, E O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, C.McGovern, J.Stephens, C.Thomas, T.Mackenzie, T.Oliver. Replacements: D.Herriott, T.Best, J.De Vries, T.Williams, S.Rogers
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