Saturday’s Big Challenge

CANTERBURY V DORKING

Worthing over the years has never been an easy place to win; the last time we achieved this was the season we were promoted. Granted, Worthing are having problems with injuries, but a win on the road is exactly what we needed and our position in the league table also improved significantly. I can’t say that we made it easy and staring down the barrel of three scores behind we gave ourselves a challenging situation before we fought our way out of it. The composure we showed to control the final 15 minutes was very pleasing to see and was the difference between the two teams. That and Nathan Morris bagging another hat trick!

This week I’m really looking forward to seeing how we perform against the top team in the league. Dorking have started with maximum points in the first five games and are playing rugby to match this achievement. Last season’s fixture at the Marine Travel ground was decided in the final minute of the game and with both squads stronger than last season I am expecting more of the same.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

v Worthing

PACK POWER PAYS

WORTHING RAIDERS 38 CANTERBURY 45

by David Haigh

Pack power won this game for a Canterbury side that came from fifteen points down to claim a bonus point victory which lifts them into the top half of the National 2 East table. The catch and drive proved to be a lethal weapon, producing four of their five tries with hooker Nathan Morris claiming a hat trick for the second time this season. Fly half Frank Reynolds was anther major contributor, his twenty points made up of four conversions and four penalty goals, adequate compensation for the charged down kick that handed Raiders an early lead through Joe Knight’s converted try. The first half set the tone, a contest between Canterbury’s powerful scrummagers and a pacy Worthing back division in which full back Tom Bowen was a constant danger. Thanks to his two tries, plus conversions and a penalty goal from Tom Derrick the home side led by four points at the end of a hotly contested half. Jamie Stephens countered the early Worthing try through the inevitable catch and drive, Reynolds slotted two penalty goals and three minutes before the break Morris touched down as the Worthing forwards splintered. In the first twenty minutes of the second half the Raiders took charge and inflicted what could have been terminal damage to Canterbury’s hopes. Reynolds landed an early penalty goal but when the home side were handed possession from avoidable errors the backs struck through converted tries from wing Peter Drummond and the elusive Bowen. Going into the final quarter the scoreboard read 23-38. The way back was pointed by centre Garry Jones, the pick of the city side’s threequarter line, who ran in from half way, after ball was turned over, and the forwards began to assert their strengths in clinical fashion. Overwhelmed at the set scrums, Worthing leaked the penalties which gave Canterbury the territory they needed to complete the comeback. Good lineout ball and organised drives proved irresistible with Morris providing the finishing touches which recaptured the lead. Reynolds converted both tries and had the easiest of penalty shots with the last kick of the match.
Canterbury; A.Davies, F.Morgan, G.Jones, T.Best, A.Moss, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, P.Holland, N.Morris D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.De Vries, J.Stephens, C.Murray, T.Oliver. Replacements, E.O.Donoghue, C.Macmillan, H.Furneaux, A.Orris, L.Hollidge

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v Worthing - 30 Sept 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Putting Things Right

WORTHING V CANTERBURY

As a team we take great pride in playing at home. Our performances in front of our extremely loyal home support are very important to us and that’s what makes last Saturday’s game against Wimbledon so disappointing. The good in our game is something we can be proud of but the moments when we are not at our best are way below what we expect of ourselves, and these moments are really hurting us. Two kick chase errors cost us 14 points and when we have reviewed this as a team, we have identified these as effort errors. Effort errors are when we are not putting in the effort required for us to play our game and are not acceptable to us. This weekend our focus is on removing them from our game.
Worthing have had a similar start to the season to ourselves, and I’m expecting a tough clash down on the south coast.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

V Wimbledon

Canterbury Lose Their Way

CANTERBURY 29 WIMBLEDON 32

by David Haigh

Having come from behind to establish a winning position Canterbury saw this game slip away in the late stages as wing Tom Pozniak grabbed Wimbledon’s fifth try. It was the ultimate disappointment for a city side that struggled to find any cohesion, paid heavily for lapses in defence and had a poor day all round. For a team that totally dominated the scrummages there can be few excuses. Although they improved after a dire first half their failure to put the game to bed after overturning a ten point deficit leaves them facing many questions. The signs that all was not well came in a forgettable first forty minutes. Despite having most of the possession and territory a disjointed Canterbury found themselves a point down at the break. Nathan Morris’s catch and drive try, converted by Frank Reynolds, was cancelled by one from Wimbledon’s Marik Touilzak and an Ed Morgan penalty goal. On the resumption there was a greater focus from Canterbury and sound handling produced an early try for Cameron Murray. Reynolds converted, then added a penalty goal, and there were opportunities to build on a nine point lead. But the city side’s defensive frailties let them down badly as clever work and decisive running from the visitors produced three tries. Fly half Morgan sold a sweet dummy for the first and it was followed by two more in the space of a minute. Wing Tom Bracegirdle’s great solo run left everyone in his trail and from the restart the tackles again disappeared as Lewis Bloor finished off an unchallenged break. Two conversions meant Canterbury had all the work to do. A yellow card, one of three handed to Wimbledon, saw the city side take full advantage with a converted Pierce Holland try before a serious injury to the visitors prop Sam Gratton brought a lengthy delay. When play restarted Canterbury seemed to have redeemed themselves when Sam Rogers’ try put them two points in front but kicking away possession proved fatal as Wimbledon won good territory and worked the overlap for Pozniak. There was still time for Canterbury to salvage a win but two botched attacking lineouts later they were left with only a couple of bonus points and the feeling that this sort of form could lead to another season of struggle.

Canterbury: A.Moss, F.Morgan, G.Jones, T.Best, J.Weaver, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, W.McColl, N.Morris, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, S.Rogers, C.Murray, T.Oliver. Replacements: E.O’Donoghue, P.Holland, H.Furneaux, B.Cooper, L.Hollidge.

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v Wimbledon - 23 Sept 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

We Will Focus

Last time we played away at Esher we lost 26-0. To come away eight points behind and fighting to the end there are obviously positives for us to take away from Saturday, but our overwhelming feeling is that we missed an opportunity. After the slowest of starts we were staring down a 17 point deficit. Esher had taken their chances well, but off the back of our cumulative errors. The quality of our current squad showed eventually, and we had two good scores to go in 22-14 at the half. We had all the territory and possession in the second half need to come away with a win, but errors blocked our ability to get over the line. The other disappointment is to leave empty handed. We learnt the lesson last season that good league campaigns are built on continually adding to your points tally, win or lose.
Three games in and our understanding of what we need to do to be at our best is coming into focus. We need to make sure this week against Wimbledon we are clinical with the opportunities we create. Wimbledon visit us off the back of a good win last week against Westcombe Park and our focus will be at being at our best for 80 minutes.

The Pilgrims started their league campaign with a great win at home to Beccehamians. The whole 1st and 2nd XV squad is much stronger this season and there are some very talented players representing the Pilgrims again this week.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Canterbury Fall Short

ESHER 29 CANTERBURY 21

by David Haigh

After a poor start when they conceded seventeen points in the first thirteen minutes Canterbury fought their way back into this game but were never quite accurate enough to recover the lost ground. An Esher side looking for a swift return to National Division One after last season’s relegation used the ball more effectively and held up well in defence when the city side’s pack edged matters in the second half. A last ditch cover tackle in the final moments denied Canterbury not only a fourth try but a couple of bonus points and it was a little harsh on them that their battling efforts went unrewarded. After last week’s blistering early spell against Tonbridge Juddians the city side this time found themselves on the receiving end as the hosts helped themselves to three quick tries. A clean break saw Charlie Morgan grab the first after only two minutes, scrum half Pierre Thompson scored number two from a great counter attack and hooker Andy Hamilton broke off a maul to punish a team that was falling off too many tackles. It could have been worse had Sam Morley managed more than one conversion. From that bleak point the city side began their revival act and it was the pack who breathed life into the game as Tyler Oliver crossed the line from a driving maul. Frank Reynolds’ fine conversion from wide out was another booster but Esher struck again when the defence fatally stood off and wing James Botterill broke a tackle to claim the bonus point try. Canterbury needed another score in the ten minutes before half time and found it through a close range forward effort. Prop Pierce Holland powered over and with Reynolds second conversion they were only eight points adrift at the break and back in business. The second half was a far tighter affair but it was the skills of the Esher backs that saw them pull away again as Botterill ghosted into the line from his wing and Morley converted. It was the struggle to open up that kind of space that blighted the city side’s ambitions and they cracked it only once as replacement Tom Best cleverly stepped his way to the posts. Reynolds converted and the team were on the front foot in the closing stages. Wing Jack Weaver looked a certain scorer but he was forced into touch inches from the line and Canterbury went home frustrated.

Canterbury: A.Moss, F.Morgan, G.Jones, L.Hollidge, J.Weaver, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, P.Holland, N.Morris, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, S.Rogers, C.Murray, T.Oliver. Replacement: E.O.Donoghue, W.McColl, T.Best, P.Farrance, H.Furneaux

Big Improvement

What a difference a week makes. I was so pleased for the players that within a week they turned the disappointment of Sevenoaks into such a strong performance on Saturday. I obviously love a good lineout maul, and to see it produce five tries and really apply pressure on Tonbridge, was something I really enjoyed. I don’t think Nathan Morris minded getting on the score sheet four times either! There are still a few things for us to tighten up on, but we spoke in the week about getting the job done and the players did that without question.
Looking forward to the weekend, Esher will provide another strong test. Following their season in National 1, they will be keen to return at the first time of asking and have a squad to do so. We are stronger than the last time we played in Esher, and I can’t wait to see the players show what they are capable of. For supporters traveling to Esher please note that the entrance fee is £15

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Canterbury’s Crushing Win

CANTERBURY 45 TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS 19

by David Haigh

On a stifling September day it was Canterbury who ran hottest as they crushed Juddians in this feisty Kent derby. The player who applied the heat to the visitors was hooker Nathan Morris who scored four of his side’s seven tries as a dominant pack turned catch and drive opportunities into match winning points. The first Morris score came after only three minutes and by the end of the first quarter Canterbury had secured a four try bonus point and were 26 points ahead. Frank Reynolds’ towering kick into the sun, spilled by the visitors, set up the second try, scored by centre Lewis Hollidge, before Morris twice went to work again in those expertly marshaled mauls. Playing catch up rugby so early in the game set Juddians a serious challenge but they responded with two tries in a four minute spell. Sam Evans opened space for Alex Brown for the first and then lock Perry Parker had his own driving maul moment and Evans converted. It was only a temporary loss of grip for a determined Canterbury and when captain Jamie Stephens took the same route to the line as Morris and Reynolds landed his fourth conversion the city side went into the break 33-12 ahead. A Juddians team looking for salvation made a good start to the second half with a try for hooker Will Holling, and an Evans conversion, but It proved to be their last shot. Canterbury stretched away again as Aiden Moss put a fine finishing touch to some incisive handling, Reynolds adding the extras, and that man Morris was driven over for his fourth on 53 minutes. There was still a twist to the Canterbury tale in the later stages when they were hit by a flurry of cards, one of them a red for lock Shay Kerry. Reduced to defending with twelve men they dug in magnificently to deny Juddians the consolation of a losing bonus point,

Canterbury: A.Moss, F.Morgan, G.Jones, L.Hollidge, A.Orris, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, W.McColl, N.Morris, D.Herriott. S.Kerry, J.Stephens, S.Rogers, C.Murray. Replacements: P.Holland, E.O.Donoghue, H. Furneaux, P.Farrance, T.Best

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v Tonbridge Juddians - 9 Sept 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

ANOTHER DERBY DAY

Canterbury v Tonbridge Juddians

Last week was not the start we were looking for. Two defensive errors cost us 14 points, added to a handful of converted penalties and we ended one point behind. Alfie Orris’s fantastic solo effort at the death nearly snatched it for us but when reviewing the vast quantity of possession we had in the attacking 22, we were nowhere near clinical enough. We created some great line breaks and built pressure but came up with errors at crucial times. We had some very honest words in the post match huddle and changes have been made for this weekend to give other members of the squad a chance to show what they can bring.

Any fixture against Tonbridge always has an extra degree of excitement due to the local rivalry. We will be looking to fix the wrongs of last week and get our season started this Saturday.

CANTERBURY MISS THEIR CHANCES

SEVENOAKS 23 CANTERBURY 22

by David Haigh

The story of this Kent derby on the opening day of the National 2 league season was an all too familiar one for Canterbury. They had the lions share of possession and territory, outscored Oaks by three tries to two but still finished on the wrong end of the scoreline. In the end it was the accuracy of Ben Adams’ goal kicking, three penalties and two conversions, that made the difference but the city side’s ability to squander their assets was the real key. There were echoes of last season’s problems as they failed to make use of their early dominance and Adams booted Oaks into the lead with two penalty goals in the space of three minutes. Frank Reynolds pulled one back but it was not until after a lengthy delay for an unfortunate injury to Sevenoaks fly half Tom Simmonds that Canterbury found a try. The pack’s driving forced a penalty try but it came with a price tag. The referee issued yellow cards to both sides, one to Harvey Furneaux, and restarted the game with a penalty to Oaks. Adams duly obliged from the half way mark and Canterbury reached the break only one point ahead. That should have been an irrelevance given the city side’s domination of the second half but they self destructed. Handling errors, missed overlaps and a back division’s lateral and predictable running played into the grateful arms of a solid home defence. A calm head was missing and all this poor work was punished when mistakes handed Oaks chances to score two tries. Unlike Canterbury they made the most of them. A dropped pass and ball booted upfield saw the home side produce line out ball and a smart move for centre Barney Stone to score. Back went Canterbury and they at last created space for wing Alfie Orris’s unconverted touchdown. That took them within a point but a second error dented their hopes. Full back Lewis Hollidge’s clearance was charged down and Oaks swooped again through Stone. A shocked Canterbury continued to press and after grabbing a third try, scored by replacement Jack Weaver and converted by Reynolds, they seemed poised to snatch the win as Orris broke clear in the last minute. He was stopped a yard short, a penalty was conceded and the side were left to reflect on their own shortcomings.

Canterbury: L.Hollidge, M.Dayes, G.Jones, T.Best, A.Orris, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, P.Holland, N.Morris, D.Herriott, C.Murray, J.Stephens, S.Rogers, H.Furneaux T.Oliver, Replacements, E.O’Donoghue, W.MColl, S.Kerry, T.Williams, J.Weaver