Category: 1st XV

CANTERBURY 46 WESTCOMBE PARK 33

by David Haigh

This all-Kent clash produced twelve tries and a bonus point victory for Canterbury but the game was never properly settled until the final quarter. The city club went into the break sitting on a 29-14 lead, extended it in the first minute of the second half, but were then reeled in by a competitive ‘Combe side. Going into the last twenty minutes the lead was down to six points and awkward questions were being asked. Canterbury, however, found the right answers through the strength of their pack, which earned a try for Jesse Vries and, five minutes from the end, a second touch down by Garry Jones. The day did not start promisingly for the city club, when an injury to Harry Sloan in the warm-up forced a late reshuffle of the back division. They fell behind to a try from ‘Combe lock Maclaren Crawford, converted by Oscar Daniel, before establishing control. When the visitors failed to clear a kick/chase, Ryley Burden rewarded forward pressure with a try converted by Lewis Holliidge. With confidence now high, two more followed, both converted; Burden again from a tap penalty, and hooker Lucas Eule from close quarters after a penetrating run by wing Max Campbell. The visitors pulled one back, using the strength of their maul before releasing Tom Burman and Daniel adding goal points, but Canterbury stretched away again. Olly Ashley-Jones slotted a penalty goal and the elusive Campbell wriggled free to set up Garry Jones. It was Jones who set the tone in the new half, making the break which led to Oliver’s early touchdown and push the lead to twenty points. That comfort zone, however, was not to last as ‘Combe won penalties and set out to repair the damage. Tries by forwards Calum Harris and Najee Mundicha, plus Daniel’s conversions, put them back in business. A yellow card for Jones did not help Canterbury’s prospects and they suffered anther blow when a serious looking injury sidelined full back Kurt Heatherley. But it was now they showed character, getting on the front foot with the De Vries try, Hollidge kicking his fourth conversion, and Campbell making the running for Jones second and clinching score.’Combe got a last minute try from Nick Sydororwitz, but had to settle for a losing bonus point.

Canterbury: K.Heatherley, M.Campbell. G.Jones, W.Waddington, A.Ashley-Jones, L.Hollidge, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, L.Eule, C.Macmillan, R.Burden, J.Stephens, M.McCormack, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Repl: T.Williams, A.Boye, J.De Vries, S.Rogers, O.Frostick

BARNES 34 CANTERBURY 32

by David Haigh

Barnes has been a land of lost opportunity for Canterbury in recent seasons and, once again, they missed out. Leading at half time and deep into the second half, they were beaten by a converted try five minutes from the end. Full marks to the home side for grasping that late reprieve, but Canterbury’s loss of concentration was complicit in their own downfall. A botched restart and a penalty gave Barnes the territory needed for the catch and drive try which brought the scores level. Their fly half, who had not had a great day with the boot, this time found the target to snatch the win. The city side started well, with hooker Lucas Eule finishing a driving maul and Lewis Hollidge converting. The first half then became a cagey affair with Barnes, although prone to conceding penalties, hitting back with tries from their bustling centre and a second from the fly half’s neat break and off load which was converted. By the break, however, the city side had restored their lead, Euele getting a second try, via an effective catch and drive and Hollidge’s conversion, plus a 38th minute penalty goal making it 17-12. They extended that early in the second half after Barnes collected a yellow card and were punished by a piercing run from Kurt Heatherley and clever sidesteps by Presley Farrance for a try under the posts, converted by Hollidge. Barnes responded with an unconverted touchdown, however, and building a decisive lead proved difficult. Canterbury did produce a fourth try from Max McCormack but that was countered by two from the home side, all the scores down to heavy duty forward effort. A Hollidge penalty goal going into the final ten minutes left the city side defending a slender five point advantage but that, frustratingly, proved beyond them and they had to settle for two bonus points to hold on to sixth place in National 2 East.

Canterbury: K.Heatherley, M.Campbell, H.Sloan, W.Waddington, G.Jones, L.Hollidge, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, L.Eule, O.Frostick, J.De Vries, J.Stephens, G.Trapp, R.Thomas, M.McCormack. Replacements: C.Macmillan, S.Rogers, G.Roberts, R.Burden, A.Ashley-Jones

CANTERBURY 34 LEICESTER LIONS 31

Match report by David Haigh

Late defensive heroics from Canterbury were needed before they inched their way to this narrow National 2 East victory. In the end, the difference between the sides was Owain Collins’ 68th minute penalty goal as bottom of the table Lions pushed the city side all the way. When Canterbury scored two tries in the first nine minutes of the game there were few clues about the battle to come. During that spell the visitors, a side with only one win in the current campaign, leaked penalties and came under heavy pressure. Wing Garry Jones got the first score as the city backs created an overlap; scrum half Presley France sold a beautiful dummy to grab the second which Collins converted for a twelve point lead. If that bred complacency in the city ranks it was soon knocked out of them as the Lions, spurred by a lively back row, roared back and by half time were seven points ahead and had a try bonus point. A clever run by centre Ahren Crowley for a try converted by Max Titchener made the first dent in Canterbury’s confidence and after they lost possession at a lineout Lions drew level with a score from wing Neil Machiels. Their hard carrying pack did the work before they won the lead in the 34th minute with the first of wing Matt Price’s three tries. But, as half time approached, the city side appeared to have limited the damage when Farrance exploited a gap as his pack mauled towards the line and Collins converted. That relief, however, was short lived as a poor handling error let in Price from the last play of the half and Titchener added his third conversion. The bounce came back into the city sides game at the start of the second half and when Lions skipper Ethan Godefroy was yellow carded five minutes in they took full advantage. Space was quickly made for Jones’second touchdown and then a powerful driving maul was completed by centre Will Waddington. Collins conversion nudged his side back into a seven point lead but this game was far from settled. A fitful Canterbury succumbed to Price’s hat trick try, although there were questions about its validity as defenders swarmed over him, and Titchener’s kick made it 31-31. A break by outstanding flanker Ryley Thomas won the territory which led to the decisive Collins penalty goal but it was Lions who were pressing for a winning try in the final frantic minutes.
Not even their late introduction of former England international Tom Varndell from the bench could break Canterbury’s stout resistance.

Canterbury: K.Heatherley, G.Roberts, W.Waddington. L.Hollidge, G.Jones, O.Collins, P.Farrance, C.Macmillan, L.Eule, O.Frostick, R.Burden, J.Stephens, G.Trapp, R.Thomas, M.McCormack. Replacements: S.Rogers, D.Huntley, J.De Vries, H.Sloan. M.Campbell.

CANTERBURY 59 HAVANT 34

by David Haigh

This was Octoberfest with a difference as Canterbury celebrated their first home win of the season with a blast of nine tries. Wing Garry Jones got a hat trick and young fly half Owain Collins ended with a personal haul of nineteen points in a Man of the Match performance. Havant made their own festive contribution with six touchdowns but the city side, despite conceding the first score, never looked in danger of defeat. A back division, benefiting from the return of some experienced players, accounted for seven of the Canterbury tries while Collins’ accuracy from the tee was in stark contrast to the visitors unproductive goal kicking. Havant’s most effective weapon, a well marshaled rolling mauL, brought them an early lead through Aden Brassington’s try, but that was the first and last time they were in front. Crisp and inventive work by the backs saw Jones coast over the line twice inside the first fifteen minutes and, with the pack winning the battle of the breakdown, Canterbury looked comfortable. A third try came when right wing Olly Ashley-Jones cashed in on the visitors failure to clear a kick. Collins was on song with all the conversions to push them sixteen points ahead by the end of the first quarter. The downside to the city side’s game was conceding penalties and gifting Havant the territory to exploit their mauling skills. They took full advantage with unconverted tries from front row men Sam Shepherd and Vince Brandon. However, two tries in the minutes either side of half time put Canterbury back on firm ground. Riley Burden burrowed over in the 39th minute to claim the bonus point score; from the second half kick off the ball was palmed to flanker Riley Thomas who stormed away before sending George Trapp under the posts. Topped up by the conversions the city side led 35-15, leaving Havant with a catch up job that was beyond them. They did pull back seven points through a well constructed Will Perry try and Reuben Knight conversion, but another powerful run from Thomas set up Ashley-Jones for his second touchdown and a Collins break led to Harry Sloan’s straight run in. Great footwork by Collins brought him the final city score and his seventh conversion. Late replies from Havant came from Wesley Dugan and Ben Chambers, with one converted, but Canterbury were out sight by then.

Canterbury: K.Heatherley, O.Ashley-Jones, W.Waddington, H.Sloan, G.Jones, O.Collins, P.Farrance, C.Macmillan, L.Eule, O.Frostick, R.Burden, J.Stephens, G.Trapp, R.Thomas, M.McCormack. Replacements: T.Williams, D.Huntley, S.Rogers, J.D Vries, L.Hollidge.

OUNDLE 36 CANTERBURY 22

by Chris Fullbrook

Canterbury knew that this game was going to be tough against National 2 East’s undefeated leaders but Head Coach Matt Corker had prepared the team well and felt that his squad could get a result. When Oundle went ahead early on, with one of three of their customary catch and drive tries by ex-Canterbury player Shay Kerry, things looked ominous. However Canterbury took hold of the game and, after prolonged encampment in the Oundle 22, Owain Collins executed a clever chip and chase only to be brought down inches from the line. New boy Riley Burden was at the base of the resulting ruck to collect and drive over and, with a Collins conversion, the visitors were 7-5 up after 15 minutes. A further Collins penalty pit Corker’s 10-5 up only to be cancelled out by another Oundle catch and drive score just before half time With both Oundle’s tries going unconverted the sides went into the shed at half time level at 10 apiece.. The city side had enjoyed the better of the spoils and probably should have been further ahead but the signs looked promising for the second half.

Unfortunately, this was not to be as Oundle produced a purple patch just after half time with three tries, two scored and converted by centre Calnan, and another catch and drive from hooker Snelling while Canterbury’s Will Waddington was sitting in the sin bin for 10 minutes after an earlier infringement. At 31-10 the game now looked lost but fresh blood from the bench, with Garry Jones making his return and Stan Bull on debut, paid dividends. From a line-out in the Oundle 22 area a well-rehearsed move gave Riley Burden a brace for the afternoon, That try was closely followed by a break from Jones with a chip ahead collected by Olly Ashley-Jones and Collins conversion brought the score to 31-22.The possibility of a Canterbury comeback, however, was cancelled out in the last play of the game when Oundle’s Sleightholme chipped ahead to dot down wide.

Canterbury can take many positives from this game with nearly half of the team being pathway players, not something that their opposition readily promotes and, with two games at the Marine Travel Ground to come, Matt Corker can look forward to getting his young team back to winning ways.

Canterbury: G.Roberts, M.Campbell, R.Thomas, W.Waddington, O.Ashley-Jones, O.Collins, P.Farrance, C.Macmillan, S.Rogers, O.Frostick, J.De Vries, J.Stephens, R.Burden, G.Trapp, M.McCormack. Replacements: J.Dengate, D.Huntley, G.Jones, T.Wiliam, S.Bull,