Category: 1st XV

DINGS CRUSADERS 32 CANTERBURY 10

by David Haigh

Canterbury’s inconsistent season goes on as they shipped six tries and in the end, were well beaten. The good things about this performance were almost entirely limited to their work in defence but a high tackle count took its toll as they ran out of steam in the second half. In the face of a swirling wind they did a decent holding job before the interval and were a touch unlucky to be ten points adrift at half time. Dings had to work hard before taking a 22nd minute lead with a try from wing Tom Hargen but Canterbury hit back swiftly as Danny Herriott completed a driving maul. The city side continued to resist until a rare missed tackle set up Hugo Harbinson for Dings second try and in the final play of the half they got a third. There was more than a suspicion of a forward pass before wing Tommy Foot slipped through the defence but on the surface Canterbury had plenty of reasons to be pleased with the memory of the previous week’s second half exploits fresh in everyone’s thoughts. It was Dings, however, who produced the best rugby in their determination to end a five match losing streak. They were aggressive and incisive and scrum half Tom Knight underlined their threat with a try from a quick tap penalty converted by Rob Kirby. Canterbury did make some headway midway through the half and after Crusaders Number Eight Jake Holcombe was yellow-carded another driving maul ended in a Tristan King try. But the wind dropped, so did the city side’s energy and Dings made the final quarter their own. With the city scrum under pressure, they put themselves out of sight with an excellent try from centre Matt Smith and, in the last act of the match the sixth was scored by prop Ashley Challenger. Canterbury’s challenge will be to quickly rediscover its confidence.

Canterbury: D.Corcoran, S.Sterling, F.Morgan, K.Braithwaite, G.Hilton, T.Best, T.Williams, B.Young, T. King, D.Herriott, R.Cadman, J.Stephens, W.Waddington, A.Evans, T.Oliver.

Replacements W.McColl, S.Churchyard, T.Rayleigh-Strutt, B.Cooper, F.Reynolds.

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

CANTERBURY 46pts ROCHFORD HUNDRED 17pts

by David Haigh

After a bleak start to the New Year this was a resounding statement from a Canterbury side that produced seven tries and a dominant second-half performance. Covid restrictions robbed them of some familiar names but the city side brushed aside any doubts with their positive approach and attacking verve. Kyan Braithwaite and Chris Dudman traded early penalty goals before the city backs gave a taster of things to come. First, they worked a try for Aiden Moss before Rochford, relying on their forward strengths, replied through Harry Hudson’s close range, converted score. Dwayne Corcoran nudged Canterbury back into the lead with an outstanding individual effort from deep in his own half, but yellow cards for Tyler Oliver and Royce Cadman in quick succession gave Rochford a chance they did not miss as Number Eight Maciu Nagobi drove over and Dudman converted.

Down to thirteen players, Canterbury might have opted for survival but their mindset was different and Sam Sterling hit a line breaking angle for a try under the posts, leaving Braithwaite to kick the second of his four conversions. With only five points in it at the break, however, memories of a close game at Rochford earlier in the season were in order but this was a different city side. It took them almost twenty minutes of pressure in the second half to unlock the visitors but when they did there was no holding them. With Tom Best releasing his backs at every opportunity Rochdford wilted. The fly half’s cross kick gave Corcoran a second try and with Rochford’s Sam Fombo in the sin bin the gates opened. Moss, cruising into space; Tyler Oliver from a driving maul which rewarded a depleted pack’s great afternoon’s work and, finally, Best completing a break on the right flank rounded off a convincing and motivated display.

Canterbury: A.Moss, S.Sterling, F.Morgan, K.Braithwaite, D.Corcoran (repl G.Hilton), T.Best, T.Wiliams (repl B.Cooper), B. Young (repl A.Coopr) T.King, W.McColl (rep T.Rayleigh-Strutt), R.Cadman, D.Herriott, W.Waddington (repl V.Meredith), A.Evans, T.Oliver

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

WORTHING 33pts CANTERBURY 19pts

by David Haigh

Heading into the last quarter of this entertaining contest the scores were level at 19-19 and it was still anyone’s game. A Worthing side more adept at taking their chances then clinched it with two tries in the space of five minutes with wing Jerome Rudder completing a hat trick. It is fair to say that the final scoreline did not reflect the spirited contribution Canterbury made to the match. Cruelly, they were denied a losing bonus point when their claims for a fourth try in a late attack were turned down. The day did not start promisingly for the city club with several players ruled out of Matt Corker’s squad and the blow of an early Worthing try from wingman Rudder, converted from wide out by Matt McLean. That came after the city side’s stuttering lineout handed over possession and before half time that weakness led to a second Worthing try. However, the flaws did not dent Canterbury’s resilience and the backs came up with a response to the Rudder score when Dwayne Corcoran’s run and chip ahead was chased down by Frank Morgan. A catch and drive finished by prop Ken Dowding gave the hosts a seven point lead at half time but two minutes after the break Canterbury were back on level terms. Scrum half Tom Williams eye for a gap, footwork, and pace did the trick and Kyan Braithwaite converted.

Worthing took the lead again when danger man Rudder was released for his second try, with McLean topping it up, but once again the city club found a positive reply. A driving maul sucked in the home defence before the ball was spread for Corcoran to make the touchdown and Braithwaite’s kick was on target. That was after 61 minutes but Canterbury orchestrated their own downfall in a five minute spell. First McLean countered splendidly after gathering a chipped kick and the backs handled sharply to make Rudder’s day memorable. The decisive blow came when Number Eight Frank Taggart was allowed to brush off two tacklers, put Rhys Morgan clear and leave McLean to add his fourth conversion. If that was demoralising Canterbury didn’t show it as they went in search of a bonus point. Corcoran might have done it but was pulled back for a forward pass before a powerful driving maul took the pack over the line. Hooker Tristan King was convinced he had scored, but the referee wasn’t. lt left the city side hugely disappointed and still in search of a first win in 2022.

Canterbury: K.Braithwaite,, S.Sterling, F.Morgan, T.Best, D.Corcoran, F.Reynolds (repl J.De Vries), T.Williams (repl B.Cooper), A.Cooper (repl W.McColl), T.King, D.Herriott (repl A.Cooper) S.Churchyard J.Stephens, W.Waddington, A.Evans (repl V.Meredith), T.Oliver

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

CANTERBURY 3pts OLD ALBANIAN 12pts

by David Haigh

Having worked themselves into a decent position, with a solid first half shift, Canterbury let this first game of the new year drift away. A failure to back up all their good work against the rain and wind was dispiriting and reinforced the feeling that they are not an effective wet weather side. The visitors, whose 7-3 interval lead had looked fragile, took control of the second half and on a day when points were always difficult to come by found the score that mattered. It was in similar conditions earlier this season that the city club failed to register a point against Dings Crusaders. This time they managed a solitary penalty goal from Tom Best, despite dominating territory for much of the first half, winning the breakdown battle and forcing Albanians into conceding a string of penalties. Canterbury lost their slim lead after 28 minutes when a wind-driven Albanians kick led to a goal-line dropout. Centre Alex Brown collected it and his powerful run into the heart of the defence created the pressure for a try from Number Eight Chris West, converted by Greg Lound. Late in the half the city side resisted more heavy pressure and must have headed for the break the happier of the two teams. Any optimism, however, was misplaced as Albanians, prompted by scrum half Elliot McPhun, read the situation perfectly, controlled possession, kicked shrewdly and took their opportunity when it arose. McPhun’s quick tapped penalty had Canterbury backpedalling and wing Alex Noot was released for a sprint finish. It left Canterbury with 25 minutes to take a grip but they were rarely allowed to build momentum. In the whole of the half they created no more than two scoring positions and missed out on both of them. Left to chase the game they became increasingly ragged and out of tune with the no-frills rugby the conditions demanded.

Canterbury: A.Moss (repl F.Reynolds), S.Sterling, W.Waddington, T.Best, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds (repl K.Braithwaite), T.Williams (repl B.Cooper), B.Young (repl W.McColl), W.McColl (repl A.Cooper) A.Cooper (repl A.Evans) , R.Cadman, S.Churchyard (repl J.De Vries), J.Stephens, T.King, T.Oliver

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

CANTERBURY 29pts  GUERNSEY 17pts

Canterbury gave the Christmas crowd just the present they wanted with this five try, bonus point victory. In a performance that shone through the heavy mist shrouding Merton Lane they tamed a lively Guernsey side with a dominant second half display.

There was quality as well a quantity from the city club as they ran in three tries after the interval, two of them scored while playing short handed with Kyan Braithwaite in the sin bin.

A confident back division made light work of that handicap, rewarding the turn over expertise of a combative pack handsomely. The foundations were laid in a shrewd first half display as Canterbury shrugged off a Guernsey try from wing Anthony Armstrong, converted by Dan Rice, and edged in front before the break. Frank Reynolds charge down try came after sustained pressure, Braithwaite converted, and in the last minute of the half they went ahead. The versatile Tristan King, this week starting as a flanker, made a decisive break. When the ball was recycled he was on the end of good handling to make the touchdown. A Canterbury weakness this season has been the failure to capitalise on half time leads; they did not make that mistake this time. Playing with real purpose they forged further ahead after 55 minutes. Replacements Will Waddington, making the break, and Ben Cooper combined for Cooper’s try which left Braithwaite a simple conversion. The moment that might have derailed them came with the yellow card as Guernsey hammered at the Canterbury line. That sparked a fierce response as a great turnover set the backs free, Dwayne Corcoran chipped over the last defender and Aiden Moss won the race for the touchdown.

Guernsey hit back quickly through fly half Owen Thomas, to narrow the gap to twelve points, but classy handling saw Corcoran kill their slim hopes as he skewered them for a fifth try. Consolation of sorts went to Guernsey with a last minute score from Number Eight Doug Horrocks, but the result was beyond doubt by that time.

Canterbury: A.Moss, G.Hilton, F.Morgan, K.Braithwaite, D.Corcoran, F.Reynolds (repl T.Best), T.Williams (repl B.Cooper), B.Young, (rep R.Conlon), W.McColl, (repl W.Waddington), D.Herriott, R.Cadman, J.De Vries, J.Stephenson (repl V.Meredith), T.King, T.Oliver

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton