Category: 1st XV

ESHER 26pts CANTERBURY 0pts

As the league leaders extended their winning run to seven games that decisive scoreline suggests that Esher had things pretty much their own way. But that was not the whole story of a match in which Canterbury had enough possession and territory to satisfy any side and must be kicking themselves for failing to turn it into points. Esher, on the other hand, gave them a lesson in taking their chances efficiently and with no little flair. Their Director of Rugby, former England flanker Peter Winterbottom, reckoned his side were fortunate to be fourteen points ahead at the end of a first half which Canterbury dominated for eighty percent of the time and he had a point, even if Canterbury didn’t. Injury problems meant they took the field with a reshaped pack but for all their honest work they lacked the accuracy and invention to dent a strong defence. Wherever their persistent attacks led them, at close quarters or in the wider areas, they either lost control or were penalised. When Esher finally broke out they showed how wasteful the city side had been by scoring twice in four minutes. Andy Hamilton finished off a driving maul and a Canterbury mistake in their own 22 area was punished by full back Tom Mitchell’s try. Sam Morley converted both touchdowns. There was much the same feel about the second half where Esher gave very little away and repeated the trick of claiming two tries only minutes apart. Harvey Scott’s was the best as he burst through from a set-piece move and curved outside the defence. That was in the 49^th the minute and three minutes later lock Hugh Sloan crashed over, and Morley converted, to wrap up a bonus point for his side. A now over anxious Canterbury continued to probe and chase but could never discover a decisive finish or the efficiency their game badly needed.

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

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CANTERBURY 52pts  WESTCLIFF 15pts

Canterbury’s mission to play free flowing rugby eventually paid handsome dividends against the league’s bottom side with centre Frankie Morgan, who scored three of his side’s eight tries, the main beneficiary. It was a welcome victory for the city club, only their fourth of the season, but for much of the first half they struggled to match their ambition with proper execution. They did ease to a 21-5 lead by half time but only after they had rid themselves of wasteful habits. Those included handing easy ball to Westcliff and failing to turn attacking flair into points. A promising opening saw an outside break from wing Guy Hilton set up Morgan’s first try and Kyan Braithwaite slot the first of his six conversions, but after that there was too much self-inflicted harm. Westcliff full back Greg Bannister, who scored all his side’s points, filched an interception try and it wasn’t until the final seven minutes of the half that Canterbury’s expansive game came together and was rewarded with further touchdowns by Braithwaite and Hilton. Westcliff’s limitations, however, were ripe for the picking and the longer the game went on the more they were exposed. The heavyweights in their pack were full of resistance and the occasional niggle but Canterbury’s all round pace and athleticism in the loose tested them to breaking point. Aiden Moss opened the second half scoring after four minutes, dented temporarily by Bannister’s second try as Westcliff took advantage of a friendly bounce and a loose ball. He then added a penalty goal to further close the gap but the city side’s all court game proved to be too much for the visitors tiring legs. Dwayne Corcoran had the easiest of overlaps as the match approached the last quarter and as Canterbury continued to move the ball at pace the gaps opened up. In the last twenty minutes Morgan, twice, and replacement Tom Williams put the finishing touches to some bold and inventive rugby.

Canterbury: A.Moss (repl F.Reynolds), G.Hilton, F.Morgan, K.Braithwaite, D.Corcoran, F.Reynolds (repl T.Best), B.Cooper (repl T.Williams), B.Young, T.King, (repl D.Herriott), D.Herriott (repl R.Conlon), S.Churchyard, J.De Vries, J.Stephens, A.Evans (repl T.Rayleigh-Strutt), T.Oliver

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CLIFTON 22pts  CANTERBURY 19pts

Canterbury might well have fancied their chances of pulling off a surprise victory on a ground where they have seldom tasted success after trailing by only seven points at the interval. That didn’t look likely in the early stages when, after only three minutes, Clifton’s influential Number Eight, Brad Talbot, drove over from close range and a Luke Cozens conversion gave then the ideal start. But Canterbury quickly regathered themselves, built phases, and responded with a smartly taken try from Frank Reynolds after good work from half back partner Ben Cooper. At this stage, it was Clifton who were clearly happier to play the wide channels despite the biting northerly wind, and with fly half Cozens expertly pulling the strings they always looked dangerous. They struck again after a promising run from Canterbury centre Frank Morgan and the ball was stolen. Full back Alex Forrester gathered to run from deep in his own half and put winger Finlay Sharp over. Worse was to follow as Canterbury threatened again.  Another good line break from Morgan looked to have created a try scoring opportunity but when the move broke down it was Forrester who again broke upfield. After some excellent interplay winger Bentley Halpin crossed and Cozens converted. With Clifton still playing the conditions better it was to Canterbury’s credit that they stuck to their task. With half time fast approaching they got their reward. A textbook line out catch and drive saw winger Dwayne Corcoran run a lovely line and Kyan Braithwaite added the extras. Despite the best efforts of both sides the second period was to become a catalogue of missed chances and handling errors, not aided by the deteriorating conditions. The city side were forced to defend for long periods as Clifton’s forward pressure grew but all they conceded was a penalty goal which left them ten points behind. With only ten minutes to go, they were still to have their moments – a powerful break from skipper Jamie Stephens put flanker Alex Evans into space but the overlap was missed and the opportunity lost. Evans was to make amends two minutes later when driving over to score from close range. Braithwaite again converted and Canterbury went in search of the score they needed.  It proved to be one task too many.

Canterbury: A.Moss, G.Hilton, F.Morgan, K.Braithwaite, D.Corcoran, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, B.Young, T.King, D.Herriott, S.Churchyard, J.Stephens, A.Evans, S.Rogers, T.Oliver.
Replacements: A.Coope, R.Cadman, T.Best, T.Williams, W.McColl,

by Andy Rogers

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

CANTERBURY 22pts REDRUTH 26pts

League leaders Redruth kept up their winning ways but not before they had been pushed all the way by a Canterbury side who earned a deserved bonus point with the last play of a rousing game.  The obstacles the city had to overcome before the match would have daunted most sides, but they threw themselves into the battle with spirit and enterprise.  Covid and injury troubles, with two of the squad failing fitness tests in the warm up, could have derailed them. Instead, an all-action contest might have gone either way until the Redruth pack found a measure of control in the final quarter.   Canterbury made the early running, attacking the wide channels, looking for the telling offload, and keeping Redruth’s defence busy.  They were unlucky to come away with only a ninth-minute try from Frank Morgan after prop Billy Young made a decisive line break.  An unkind bounce and a last-minute interception frustrated them and the visiting forwards sent out a warning as hooker Richard Brown was driven over for a try converted by Fraser Honey.  There was more trouble as the city side failed to claim the restart and Redruth used possession smartly to set up a second score. Conor Gilbert made the touchdowh and Honey converted.  Canterbury, however, refused to lie down, trusted in their attacking strategy and hit back when Aiden Moss twisted away from the defenders. The try was converted by Kyan Braithwaite but still left his side two points adrift at halftime.  It was his penalty goal that pushed Canterbury back in front eight minutes into the second half and the action, not all of it tidy, never slackened.  The telling scores came as the Redruth scrummagers forced penalties, found field position and showed why they have become difficult to beat.  Tries from scrum half Jack Oulton and replacement forward Richard Kevern, plus Honey’s conversion, gave them breathing space and they resisted a late Canterbury surge until the final minute.  The city side, for whom Braithwaite and wing Dwanye Corcoran were outstanding, hammered away at the line, Honey was shown a yellow card and
Braithwaite found a gap for the try and conversion that won the bonus point.

Canterbury: A.Moss, G.Hilton, F.Morgan, K.Braithwaite, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper (repl T.Williams), B.Young (repl A.Wake-Smith), T.King, A.Cooper, S.Churchyard (repl J.De Vries), J.Stephens, A.Evans, S.Rogers, T.Oliver

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Images subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

CANTERBURY 10pts HENLEY HAWKS 19pts

A pointless day for Canterbury after Hawks ran in a late try to seal victory in a game which often failed to rise above the ordinary. Henley deserved their success and might have won more convincingly had they taken all their opportunities but slack work at crucial moments and an obdurate defence denied them. Despite spending the first 20 minutes pinned on the back foot Canterbury eventually found a way out and went ahead through the only try of the first half. Hawks spilled the ball, giving Kyan Braithwaite and Tom Best the chance to combine and send Guy Hilton over. It left Frank Reynolds with a difficult conversion and he shanked his kick badly. It was a score that lifted the city side’s mood but a poor second half saw it wasted as life was made too easy for the visitors. Two minutes after the restart they fell behind as Braithwaite was caught in possession, Henley forced the penalty and Sam Lunnon was driven over from the lineout. Cail Coookland converted and was on target again when the visitors were gifted another bonus. A yellow card for Danny Herriott left the home side a man short and that handicap lead to points. Hawks went for the wide channels, Canterbury ran out of defenders and centre Will Panday strolled over. The score came in the 66th minute but memories of a late revival in Canterbury’s last home game quickly surfaced as they claimed a second try. An attacking lineout went wrong but Henley tapped the ball over their own line and Tyler Oliver swooped to touchdown. Reynolds’ kick went astray but there were to be no second miracles. Another Canterbury error, this time losing the ball in contact, was all Hawks needed and three minutes from the end Panday’s second try denied them the consolation of a losing bonus point.

Canterbury: K. Braithwaite, G.Hilton (repl J.Weaver), F.Morgan, T.Best, T.Williams (repl M.Halliday), F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, A.Cooper (repl W.McColl), T.King, D.Herriott (repl E.Lusher), R.Cadman, J.De Vries (repl A.Evans), J.Stephens, S.Rogers, T.Oliver

David Haigh

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Images subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

BARNES 20pts CANTERBURY 20pts

It may have ended all square but Canterbury had to find a shovel and dig themselves out of a hole before they claimed two mildly disappointing National 2 South league points. Trailing by eleven after a flat first half, to which Barnes brought energy and pace, they gradually felt their way back into the contest. The pack did the work with two close range scores which took them into a narrow lead and a glimpse of victory. A Barnes penalty goal ten minutes from the end of an error strewn affair made sure that did not happen. The city side had the opportunity to make their mark early in the game but were forced to settle for a couple of Frank Reynolds penalty goals. Josh Hammett kicked one for Barnes and after those early wobbles they took control. With scrum half Josh Davies calling the shots their enterprise and pace on to the ball was rewarded with tries from flanker Alex Farquhar and wing Frank Nickson, both converted by Hammett, and it left the city side with a salvage job on their hands. The transformation after the break was not spectacular but there was a fresh determination and more possession which shaped Canterbury’s game. The pressure built on Barnes and a driving maul, finished off by hooker Tristan King, broke their resistance. Reynolds converted and as the strain once again told on the home defence they collected a yellow card and conceded a second try. Jamie Stephens drove over, Reynolds was on target and the lead was three points. The final stages, like much of the match, were messy with yellow cards on both sides, Canterbury failing to punish Barnes errors and giving away a penalty for obstruction which allowed Hammett to level the scores. To a neutral spectator that might have seemed about right.

Canterbury: K.Braithwaite, G.Hiton (repl D.Heads), F.Morgan, T.Best, T.Williams (repl M .Halliday), F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, , W.McColl (repl A.Cooper), T.King, D.Herriott (repl E.Lusher) J.De Vries (repl R.Cadman), J.Stephens, W.Hunt (repl J.De Vries), S.Rogers, T.Oliver

David Haigh

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CANTERBURY 30pts LEICSTER LIONS 27pts

To say Canterbury left things late would be an understatement as they snatched this victory deep in stoppage time with their fifth try of the afternoon.  A patient build up and outstanding ball retention were rewarded when Frank Reynolds scored under a pile of Lions defenders to give his side a maximum five league points.  It seemed they had missed their chance when, three minutes earlier, Reynolds failed to convert Aiden Moss’s second try which would have earned his side a draw.  But all was forgiven when the fly half put the finishing touches to the last play of the game.  That late surge stunned a Leicester team who were sitting on a seven point lead and looking warm favourites in the closing stages.

After trailing at the break they scored three tries in a see-saw second half and must have thought they had done just enough to earn the win.  That they failed was no criticism because Canterbury found a rhythm and determination that would have tested any side.  The quality of that spell was in stark contrast to a poor first half when both sides were guilty of basic errors. Lions took an early lead through a Ben Young dropped goal, but surrendered it to close range tries from front-row men Will McColl and Tristan King, with Reynolds adding a conversion. A  great chip and chase by Lions full back Alex Wilcockson and Young’s conversion narrowed the gap to two points by half time but the visitors upped their game after the break.  Hooker Ollie Taylor’s converted try took them back into the lead before a yellow card for Young gave the city side an opportunity. Reynolds kicked a penalty goal and Moss cruised through acres of space to make a touchdown.  Lions came back strongly as Taylor, their top try scorer this season, grabbed a second and when wing Jake Sterland latched on to Young’s shrewd cross kick with seven minutes remaining Canterbury were left chasing the game.   They chased in such a positive fashion that they will travel to Barnes next Saturday confident in their own abilities.

Canterbury: K.Braithwaite, F.Morgan, W.Waddington (repl A.Moss), T.Best,T.Williams (repl G.Hilton), F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, W.McColl (repl A.Cooper), T. King, D.Herriott, S.Churchyard (repl J. De Vries), J.Stephens (repl S.Churchyard), W.Hunt (repl E.Lusher), S.Rogers, T.Oliver.

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Images subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

BARNSTAPLE 10pts  CANTERBURY 22pts

A sharper and more focused Canterbury made the most of the Devon sunshine and a firm surface to end a run of two defeats and claim their second National 2 South league win of the season.   In a game that was always tight on the scoreboard a try from the last play of the afternoon, scored by replacement wing Dave Heads, ensured the most deserving side took the points. The gap might have been greater had Canterbury made the most of a high tempo first quarter which kept Barnstaple fully occupied but somehow the finishing touches were missing.  All looked good when a catch and drive then slick work by the backs saw Kyan Braithwaite score the first of his two tries and Frank Reynolds converted. That was after fifteen minutes, and the city side continued to pose a real threat with ball in hand. They went close but frustratingly that was all. When Barntstaple finally broke free they levelled matters with a driving maul try for hooker Nat Bayet and a Jake Murphy conversion.  By half time it was still stalemate after Reynolds and Murphy exchanged penalty goals but a yellow card for Barnstaple centre Johnny Carter, for a deliberate knock on, gave Canterbury an advantage they did not waste.  Four minutes after the break Reynolds carved an opening and Braithwaite was on his inside shoulder to take the scoring pass.   That five point lead began to look fragile as Canterbury then delivered their least impressive period and began to look unsure of themselves. Basic errors, dithering and unwanted penalties handed momentum to the home side.  it was left to some outstanding defensive work, with special mention for back row trio Sam Rogers, Will Hunt and Tyler Oliver, to hold them off. Scarcely a tackle was missed but, having survived,  the city men regained control in the late stages. They might have settled for running down the clock but with the seconds ticking away a charge by young prop Will McColl set up a promising position.  It was exploited to the full as Heads was given a clear run to the posts and Reynolds’ kick capped a much better day at the office.

Canterbury: K.Braithwaite, F.Morgan (repl G.Hilton), W.Waddington, T.Best, T.Williams (repl D.Heads), F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, W.McColl,  (repl A.Cooper),
T .King, D.Herriot, (repl E.Lusher) R.Cadman, J.Stephens (repl S.Churchyard) W.Hunt, S.Rogers, T.Oliver

CANTERBURY 0pts  DINGS CRUSADERS 17pts

On a day of extremes, Canterbury looked ill equipped to deal with the gales and rain that swept across the Marine Travel Ground. Conditions were made for hard-nosed West country packs and Crusaders did not disappoint.  Their forwards bossed this game and made sure that when it came their turn to face the elements a twelve point lead was more than enough.  The city side might have hoped that restricting the visitors to two first half tries would give them a decent chance of victory, but they were contained so efficiently that any optimism vanished long before the end. As the Crusaders defence stifled them Canterbury’s frustrations were reflected by a slew of technical penalty offences and scrambled decision making.   In the early minutes of the match there was a glimpse of what might have been under different conditions. The city backs ran from deep to create a great chance that was lost when the final pass missed the support runner.  It was the first and last glimpse of daylight as Crusaders exploited the wind to establish territory and took the lead with a driving maul try from flanker Tom Anderson.   Canterbury did well to resist the pressure they were under but conceded a second try to centre Tom Price from a charged down clearance kick. Ben Bolster added the conversion but at the break the city side could look back on a strong defensive effort. Turning that that to their advantage, however, proved too much.  Driving mauls and wet wet weather are natural bedfellows and Dings used them effectively before Josh Lloyd added a third score to strengthen their grip.  Streetwise and committed to holding on to possession they lured Canterbury into so many errors and misjudgements they cruised home in some comfort.  With a long winter ahead there may be more cloud burst days like this and on this showing the city club, who have now lost four of their five games, will not be looking forward to them.

Canterbury: W.Waddington, K.Braithwaite, A.Moss, T.Best, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, T .Williams, A.Cooper, T.King, D.Herriott, R.Cadman, J De Vries, J.Stephens, S,Rogers, T.Oliver.  Replacements: W.McColl, E.Lusher, W.Hunt, B,Cooper, J.Weaver

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Images subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton