It’s a seaside trip for the senior squad this weekend as they continue the pre-season build-up with a game against Brighton on Saturday (August 20th). It’s a 2.30 pm kick-off. If you fancy driving down to Sussex by the Sea the ground address is Waterhall Road, Brighton BN1 8YR.
The final pre-season friendly is at home to Westcombe Park on Friday evening, August 26th. Kick-off will be 7.30/8 pm and all bars and restaurant facilities will be open. Admission to the game is free.
Pace and accuracy shifted this game decisively Bishop’s Stortford’s way as they dominated the second and third quarters. Just one score in front after the opening 20 minutes the Division One side ran in another five tries to remind Canterbury of their status. When the chances were created through sure handling and quick thinking they put them away and while the home side’s competitive instincts never deserted them their lack of accuracy and basic errors hobbled their ambition. That said, Canterbury did hit back strongly in the final quarter of a match played in 20 minute blocks and frequent changes to accommodate expanded squads. Stortford had to defend solidly in the early stages before their backs served notice by creating an overlap try for Charlie Parkhouse converted by Dan Cole, The lead didn’t last long as Will Waddington latched on to a shrewd kick from fly half Frank Reynolds for a Canterbury touchdown which Reynolds converted. Scrum half Connor Lloyd sniped over to recapture the advantage for Stortford but in the next 40 minutes they took command. Tries from Jake Morris, Parkhouse, Charlie Garwood and Luke Bury, plus three Cole conversions, put them well clear, The final session, however, saw Canterbury roar back into the game thanks to a pack which dominated the set scrums. Their work rewarded with a pick up and strong finish from Number Eight Harry Andrews. Tom Best converted and on a pitch that was in top class condition in this hot, dry summer they ended on high note when Best’s break set up a converted score for fellow centre Frankie Morgan.
The senior squad is back in action on Friday this week, August 12th, with the first pre-season fixture against Bishop’s Stortford. Kick-off is 7.30/8pm and the bars and Saucy Flo’s restaurant will be open. Newcomers Nathan Morris, Cameron Murray and Dave Irvine are all expected to be involved against the National Division One side. It is the first of two Friday night fixtures before the season proper opens in September. Kent rivals Westcombe Park visit The Marine Travel Ground on August 26th when the Pilgrims will also be in action against Dartfordians.
The club has added a combination of experience, power and youth to the senior squad in the build-up to the 2022/23 rugby season. Three major signings, hooker Nathan Morris, lock Dave Irvine and back row player Cameron Murray, have been announced. Former England Under 20s player Morris, who joins from Blackheath, has top-class experience at Wasps and London Welsh. He will also take on a new role as the club’s Head of Player Pathway. Dave Irvine returns to The Marine Travel Ground full-time after a brief loan spell with Canterbury last season when he was with Tonbridge Juddians. Young Scot Cameron Murray arrives fresh from training with a leading rugby academy in South Africa and has developed with Glasgow Warriors Under18s.
Welcoming the new trio Head Coach Matt Corker said: “ Being able to bring in a player of Nathan’s calibre is great for the squad. His experience will help us improve and having been lucky enough to play with him many times it is exciting to bring in such a great character.
“Dave Irvine, who has played 110 National One and National Two games, made a great impression during his brief spell with us last season and has fitted into the squad right where he left off.” Of Cameron Murray Corker says: “He is a physical back row player and has come to Canterbury to develop his game even further. His aspiration is to become the best player he can be.”
The bulk of last season’s squad have also committed themselves to the new campaign but there will be notable absentees following the retirement of centre Sam Sterling and versatile hooker/flanker Tristan King. Another disappointment is the gap left by last season’s top points scorer Kyan Braithwaite, who has undergone knee surgery, while wing Dwayne Corcoran is taking a break from rugby.
Canterbury, who have been in full training since last month, will play in the new National Division Two East which starts in September. The club begins its preparation for the league challenges with a home-friendly match against National One Bishop’ Stortford on Friday, August 12th.
There will be two Kent ‘derby’ games in the first month of the new season with Tonbridge Juddians and Blackheath both scheduled to visit the Marine Travel Ground in September. Canterbury meet TJs on September 10th and Blackheath on September 24th. Both were relegated from National One last season. The opening day of the National 2 East season on September 3rd sees Canterbury travel to Norfolk to meet newly promoted North Walsham and to Westcliff on September 17th. North Walsham were our first ever opponents at National level when we were promoted to National 3 in 2006.
The full list of 2022/23 fixtures is available at the National Clubs Association web site: www.ncarugby.com
The club has arranged three pre-season warm up matches in August. Home games against Bishop’s Stortford and Westcombe Park will be played on Friday evenings. Bishop’s Stortford visit on August 12th and ‘Combe on August 26th. An away game at Brighton is scheduled for Saturday, August 20th.
The new league structure for National 2 clubs in the 2022/23 season has been released with Canterbury placed in the 14-team National 2 East. Newcomers to this level will be Dorking, North Walsham and Sevenoaks. Kent clubs Blackheath and Tonbridge Juddians, both relegated from Division One last season, are also in the mix. The full list of clubs is Barnes, Blackheath, Bury St Edmunds, Canterbury, Dorking, Guernsey Raiders, Henley, North Walsham, Old Albanian, Rochford Hundred, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge Juddians, Westcliff, Worthing Raiders.
Canterbury Pilgrims will compete in a new Counties 2 Kent competition made up of nine first teams together with the Pilgrims, Westcombe Park 2nd and Sevenoaks 2nd
Counties 2 Kent: Canterbury Pilgrims, Dover, Gillingham Anchorians, Hastings & Bexhill, Maidstone, Old Dunstonians, Old Williamsonians, Park House, Sevenoaks 2, Southwark Lancers, Vigo, Westcombe Park 2.
Welcoming the new structures Head Coach Matt Corker said: “I am excited by the new leagues that our 1st XV and Pilgrims will be entering and feel that it is an extremely positive move for our players. The Pilgrims entry into Counties 2 Kent is a big step forward in our ability as a club to help our players develop and prepare them for national league rugby. The new National 2 East is full of great teams and offers us reduced travel times and more rest weekends which is a great help to players rugby and life balance. It will add a real excitement to pre-season, and I can’t wait for the first game.
END OF SEASON SPECTACULAR
CANTERBURY 31 BURY ST EDMUNDS 34
by David Haigh
Canterbury’s season may have ended as it began with a narrow loss to Bury, this time to Charlie Reed’s last minute penalty goal, but this was still a game to savour. The biggest crowd of the season were treated to a feast of ten tries, some of them spectacular, in a cracking contest that had none of that end of term feel about it. Victory was important for Bury as it gave them a top six finish in National 2 South and after building a fourteen point lead in the second half their job seemed almost done. But Canterbury, who had lost their earlier intensity, rediscovered it to dominate the final fifteen minutes and draw level with two exhilarating tries. To then concede that late penalty was a frustrating own goal leaving them with two league points instead of three from the draw their efforts probably deserved. The game was alive from the off with Canterbury taking an early lead through a catch and drive try from Billy Young and Bury hitting back quickly when Ruraidh Williams’ break made a try for Matt Bursey. From then on it was nip and tuck until half time. Lovely foot work from Reed set up the first of Bury wing Ross Taylor’s three touchdowns, Alex Evans rewarded more close range work by the city pack and hooker Fin McCartney claimed Bury’s third try to edge his side ahead again. Canterbury clawed it back in the closing minute of the half, Young again finishing an organised driving maul. Reed’s two conversions against one by Will Hilton saw Bury two points in front at the break and everything nicely poised. However, one of Canterbury’s regular failings has been a drop in concentration in the third quarter and here it surfaced again. Bury’s fast moving wide game exposed them and Taylor completed his hat trick in the space three minutes, the first following a fine break by scrum half Chris Bolton and then capitalising on work by fellow wing Ciarian Leeson. Reed converted both tries and Canterbury had all the work to do. Inspiration for the fight back came from replacement scrum half Tom Williams who spotted space on the blind side and outpaced the Bury defence in a searing 70 metre run. Hilton converted and was left a much easier kick when clever footwork by fly half Frank Reynolds took him over between the posts to bring everything level and ten minutes remaining on the clock. Canterbury seemed to have the momentum but paid the penalty for hanging on to the ball at a ruck and Reed cooly slotted the winner with the last kick of a brilliant match.
Canterbury: W.Hilton, G.Hilton, F.Morgan (repl D.Heads), T. F.Reynolds, B.Cooper (repl T.Williams), A.Cooper, B.Young, E.Lusher (repl D.Herriott), J.De Vries (repl R.Cadman), J.Stephens, A.Evans (repl S.Churchyard), T.King, T.Oliver
GUERNSEY 33 CANTERBURY 33
In a terrific climax a penalty try in the last minute of this National 2 South game gave Canterbury a late share of the points after they had squandered a healthy lead.
They opened a 21-point gap in the first nineteen minutes but poor discipline, which cost them three yellow cards, handed Guernsey all the incentive they needed to dominate the second half.
It was the Channel Islander’s own indiscretions, however, that denied them victory as they came under sustained pressure in the dramatic closing minutes.
An impressive driving maul was stopped illegally, and referee Neil Sweeney had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try to Canterbury.
It was all so different in the early stages with Canterbury cruising ahead smoothly with tries from Ben Cooper, half back partner Frank Reynolds and Alex Evans, all converted by Tom Best.
Guernsey got their breath back with a converted try from Anthony Armstrong but despite temporarily losing Frank Morgan to the first of their yellow cards, the city side soon claimed a bonus point with a fourth touchdown when full back Aiden Moss delivered one of his scorching runs.
Guernsey made their extra man count just before half time through Callum Roberts’ try but Canterbury were still sitting in box seat with a fourteen point advantage.
It was a cushion that quickly became deflated in the second half which the home side dominated and as the yellow cards flew, first for Will McColl and then Sam Sterling, the city defences crumbled.
Going into the last quarter Guernsey had forged ahead with tries from Ciaran McGann, Owen Thomas, and Oscar Baird, with Thomas converting them all.
But when Canterbury found themselves in the last chance saloon they kicked down the doors in powerful fashion and it earned them three league points.
Match photographs may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton
CANTERBURY 11 ESHER 33
by David Haigh
High flying Esher were given a thorough Easter test before keeping their National 2 South title hopes on course with two late tries.
The scoreline probably flattered the visitors but here was a side that turned its chances into points while Canterbury, despite rattling the league leaders with their commitmmt and physicality, failed to make the most of theirs.
The city side’s first half effort was among the best of the season as they handled Esher’s kicking game with ease, created presure with some no nonsense rugby and took a six point lead through two Kyan Braithwaite penalty goals.
Adding tries to those points, however, eluded them and despite all the good work they found themselves behind at half time.
Esher scored twice in the final three minutes with Myles Rawstron-Rudd intercepting in Canterbury’s 22 metre area and Jack Lavin finding a gap after Danny Herriot had been yellow carded for pulling down a maul.
Sam Morley added the first of his four conversions.
A promising start to the second half again came to nothing for Canterbury but Esher approached their slightly uneasy situation with more determined forward power.
That earned a 56th minute try for prop Theo Skoumbourdis but they could make no further impression and as the game reached the last quarter it was Canterbury who found a way to the line.
A driving maul and a cut out pass sent Tristan King in at the corner to test Esher’s nerves.
They settled them but left it late with the bonus point try coming from Charlie Crawley in the 73rd minute from a powerful driving maul.
It was also enough to secure the win and in the last act of the game an individual breakaway score came from Phil Cokanasinga, a luxury replacement who usually plies his trade with Premiership London Irish.
Canterbury: A.Moss, G.Hilton, S.Sterling, K.Braithwaite, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, A.Cooper, B.Young, D.Herriott, J.De Vries, J.Stephens, A.Evans, W.Waddington, T.Oliver.
Replacements: T.Best, E.Lusher, S.Churchyard, D.Heads. T.King.
Match photographs may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton
WESTCLIFF 19 CANTERBURY 33
by David Haigh
This was only the second away victory of the season for an inconsistent Canterbury side so the five points they took home from bottom of the table Westcliff were a welcome boost ahead of next Saturday’s meeting with league leaders Esher.
What the scoreline could not disguise, however, was the poor quality of a game in which both sides fed off unforced errors as much as their own skills.
Canterbury’s dominant scrummaging was the backbone of an untidy performance and three second half tries were enough to guarantee a result which should have been more convincing.
Playing into a chilly wind in the first half a patient build up brought a converted try for Dwayne Corcoran after 14 minutes but then the errors set in and Westcliff turned their gifts into points.
A turnover handed them the opportunity to make space for wing Sherif Olanrewaju and a second try followed after a horrible communication failure by the city backs.
Westcliff skipper Greg Bannister picked up, raced 50 metres to the line and added the goal points.
Relentless scrum pressure allowed Canterbury to square matters before half time.
Westcliff came under the cosh, James Scogings was yellow carded after repeated penalty offences and Canterbury finally broke them down with an overlap score from wing Frank Morgan.
After the break that same pack power pushed Canterbury clear with two tries in the space of seven minutes.
Steady pounding of the Westcliff line ended with prop Danny Herriott coming up with ball from under a pile of bodies and the lead was recaptured.
The second saw Westcliff shunted back at a close range scrum and Number Eight Tyler Oliver made the touchdown.
Both were converted and at 26-12 the game was in the city side’s hands.
As the match went into its final quarter, however, a stubborn Westcliff fought back.
They forced penalties, won territory and lock George Maloney powered over for a try converted by Bannister.
It proved to be their last shot but as scruffy handling and poor control continued to plague both sides it was Canterbury who finished the stronger.
An attack down the left wing channel which at last had some poise about it sealed the game, bringing Morgan his second try and leaving Kyan Braithwaite to slot a fourth conversion.
Canterbury: D. Corcoran (repl A. Moss), G. Hilton, S. Sterling, K. Braithwaite, F. Morgan, B. Cooper (repl D. Heads), A. Cooper (repl J. Otto). B. Young, D. Herriott (repl E. Lusher), J. De Vries, J. Stephens (repl S. Churchyard), A. Evans, W. Waddington, T. Oliver
Match photographs may be subject to copyright – Tim Browne / Westcliff RFC
