Category: 1st XV

BLACKHEATH 40  CANTERBURY 12

By David Haigh

The league leaders took control of this game from the first minute and although Canterbury put in a  determined second half effort they were outclassed.   The pattern was set from the kick-off. Canterbury dropped it, Blackheath had field position and their backs sent full back Alex Brown over for the first of their six tries.  Playing down the wind they were 28 points ahead in as many minutes with a bonus point secured and a convincing win looming.   For Canterbury, it was a daunting prospect but it was some familiar failings in attack that hobbled them.  They won a decent share of territory, put pressure on the Blackheath line, and made two clean breaks which should have produced tries. A strong home defence and that lack of a clinical finish denied them.  At the other end it was a different story with Blackheath’s forceful carrying and a back division assured in its handling and running lines bringing further tries for  Steve Leonard, Tom Ffitch and Archie Holland. Ffitch’s immaculate goal kicking put the boot into Canterbury even further.  With the wind behind them the city side recovered their poise in the third quarter and were rewarded with close range tries from Jamie Stephens and Billy Young with Frank Reynolds adding a conversion.    But with Blackheath increasingly in charge of the set scrums, where Canterbury missed the experience of Danny Herriott, who retired with a leg injury leg In the first half, they were able to manage the game comfortably.  Holland burrowed over for his second try, converted by Ffitch, after Canterbury gave away one too many penalties and six minutes from the end scrum half Chris Bell darted through a gap for a smart individual touch down.  Before this game Head Coach Matt Corker said it would be a test of how far his squad had come since the early days of the season. On this evidence, against a very good team, they still have plenty of ground to make up.

Canterbury: W.Waddington, G.Hilton, R.Gladdish, T.Best, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, B.Young, C.Macmillan, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.De Vries, J.Dengate, C.Murray, J.Stephens. Replacements: T.Williams, H.Furneaux, N.Morris, V.Meredith, E.O’Donoghue

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

CANTERBURY 52 WESTCLIFF 14

by David Haigh

The resolution of the Canterbury pack got the New Year away to the best of starts as they laid the foundations of this decisive victory. Full back Will Waddington was the individual star of the show, grabbing three of his side’s eight tries, but it was forward power that made life hard for struggling Westcliff who were rarely allowed to get on the front foot. The city club’s mastery of the testing conditions was another crucial factor and with wind and rain behind them they reached half time 26 points clear and a bonus point in their pocket. The question was whether they could sustain that performance with the elements against them and it was answered emphatically. After conceding an early second half try they erased all doubts and ran away with the game in the final fifteen minutes. The Canterbury forwards made an early statement with tries from Number Right Tyler Oliver and lock Dave Irvine in the opening seven minutes. Frank Reynolds, who went on to land six conversions, added the goal points to both scores. Forceful carrying and close range drives set up prop Billy Young for the third try but it seemed Canterbury might have to settle for that as Westcliff, with the centre partnership of Reece Whiting and Jack Hogarth often prominent, found some momentum. A heavy penalty count and a yellow card for Young put the city side under pressure which they not only survived but produced a bonus point score. A slick off-load, clever footwork from Waddington, and a Reynolds conversion, built a substantial cushion. Westcliff fly half Greg Bannister unpicked some of the threads with a neat interception, a good finish, and an excellent conversion three minutes into the second half but the city side’s response was swift and determined; Reynolds made a scything break to set up Tom Best for the fifth try. There was only one minor hitch to Canterbury’s smooth progress when Westcliff seized on a loose ball and hooker Teddy Edwards won a touchdown which Bannister again converted. The visitors, however, battered at the scrums and leaking penalties, wilted under the late onslaught and could do nothing as the city club backs cut loose. Space was made for Waddington to twice sprint clear and seconds before the final whistle scrum half Tom Williams completed a victory which sees Canterbury move up a place in the National 2 East table.

Canterbury: W.Waddington, G.Hilton, L. Hollidge, T.Best, F. Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, B.Young, N.Morris, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.De Vries, J.Dengate, C.Murray, T.Oliver. Replacements: R.Gladdish, J.Stephens, E.Lusher, T.Williams, C.Macmillan.

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

by David Haigh

Canterbury’s dismal run goes on and they are now without a win since early October. The damage in this game, one of only two in National 2 East to survive the freezing weather, was largely self inflicted as they failed to convert massive second half pressure into points. They had every opportunity to make up for slack first half defending but could manage only a solitary penalty goal. That earned them a losing bonus point but it was a poor return for a side which lacked finishing power and remains anchored near the foot of the league table. After making a promising start to the match with a try from centre Tom Halliday after only two minutes they could find no way past the Hawks who put in an impressive defensive shift to protect their 19-11 half time lead. Henley made a quick response to the early Canterbury score, opening a hole for Number Eight Sam Lunnon who left Max Titchener an easy conversion. A Frank Reynolds penalty goal recaptured the lead but defensive weakness handed the visitors two more tries before the break. Wing Ryan Crowley brushed side weak tackles to claim the first, again converted by Titchener, and was instrumental in pushing the Hawks further ahead as he poached a ball on his own line. When his deep and determined run was halted the support was there to set up Lunnon’s second touchdown. Lineout troubles, where the city side missed the presence of injured skipper Jamie Stephens, frustrated the city side’s scoring opportunities which were limited to Reynolds’ second penalty goal, and before they took a grip on the second half they had a reprieve when Henley dropped the ball with the line wide open. From that point, however, it was Canterbury’s game to win as they dominated the scrums and occupied Hawks territory, All credit to the visiting defenders who stopped anything that moved but Canterbury were convinced they had scored from an attacking lineout. The officials, after consultation, ruled otherwise and the city side could not find another crack in the solid Henley wall.

Canterbury; W.Waddington, F.Morgan, T.Hallliday, T.Best, G.Hilton, F.Reynolds, T.Williams (repl B.Cooper), B.Young (repl C.Macmillan), N.Morris (repl E.O’Donoghue), D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.De Vries, J.Dengate (repl H.Furneaux), C.Murray, T.Oliver

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Two tries in the space of three second half minutes eased Albanians to victory but the scoreline was harsh on Canterbury’s spirited contribution to this National 2 East game. The decisive tries came when the city side were, a little unluckily, down to thirteen players after the referee showed yellow cards to Cameron Macmillan and Frank Reynolds. The visitors took full advantage of that mismatch with a second try from wing Toby Evans while fly half Alex Noot claimed his side’s fifth touchdown. Before those players were sent to the sin bin, replacement prop Macmillan for an alleged accumulation of scrum offences before he even got on the pitch and Reynolds for a high tackle, there were only seven points between the teams and the city side were playing some good rugby. After a slow start, which allowed Albanians to take an eight point lead through a Noot penalty goal and a try by Wilson Ijeh, chasing down a probing kick from Elliot McPhun, Canterbury arrived at half time 13-8 ahead. The margin could have been greater had a city side, who controlled the set scrums, been able to turn pressure into points. They had to be content with two Reynolds penalty goals until the final minute of the half when the fly half spotted a gap and sent Guy Hilton between the post for a converted try. With slope and wind to master after the break it was not a convincing lead and an Albanian side that solved its scrum problems and were quick to identify space took control of the early minutes. A blindside probe ended with a Jarryd Sage try, converted by Noot, and a powerful and impressive run from wingman Evans pushed them into the lead. Canterbury, however, were still positive and finding holes which promised more points. Then came the yellow cards which damaged them beyond repair. When back to full strength they gave a glimpse of what might have been, attacking with purpose and creating a converted try for prop Billy Young, a just reward for his outstanding afternoon’s work.

Canterbury: W.Waddington, G.Hilton, T.Halliday, T.Best, S.Lanre, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, B.Young, N.Morris, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.De Vries, J.Stephens, C.Murray, T.Oliver. Replacements: F.Morgan, J Dengate, C.Macmillan, T.Williams, E Lusher

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton