Category: 2nd XV

Dartfordians 34

Pilgrims 26

Pilgrims came off 2nd best in a game of 2 very contrasting halves.
The pilgrims travelled to Dartfordians with a number of absentees through injury which forced a number of positional changes in the back line which included flanker Tom Mackenzie stepping in to the centres.
The new combinations took time to click and this was exploited well in the first half by Dartfordians side who were well drilled and had a clear game plan to test the blind side before looking to spread the ball wide which they did 3 times in the first half to race into a 19-0 lead.
This spurred the pilgrims into action and the strong running of the forwards drove Dartfordians back up the slope on a number of occasions only for dropped balls or infringements at the breakdown letting Dartfordians off the hook. Pilgrims task was made even harder when they lost forward Mo Pangarker to injury on the 30 minute mark. Dartfordians kicked a penalty to the corner and drove over out wide to secure a try bonus point before half time and take a 24-0 lead. The pilgrims finally injected some fluency in their attack as they spent the final 5 mins of the half putting Dartfordians under constant pressure. They drove deep into the 22 with a driving maul from a lineout which Dartfordians illegally stopped just short of the line. The resulting penalty was tapped and the pilgrims looked odds on for their first score on the stroke of half time, only to be turned over in the act of driving over the line when a score seemed certain, Dartfordians cleared and the half ended with them leading 24-0.
Pilgrims came out firing in the second half, and with the advantage of the slope it didn’t take long for them to get points on the board. Dartfordians were on the back foot as the pilgrims surged forward and Dartfordians were adjudged to be offside in midfield, knowing he had an advantage flyhalf collins clipped a cross field kick from left to right which the pilgrims dotted down to score, 24-5.
The second soon followed when Gus Lister spotted an opportunity out wide and his exceptional long pass sent wing man Harvey Ingram on a powerful 70 meter run, he was eventually stopped just short of the Dartfordians line but scrum half Hector Valladares was on hand to pick up and dive over. 24-12.
Sensing the momentum shifting against them, Dartfordians became niggly, but it was the pilgrims who found themselves on the receiving end of the referees decisions as not 1 but 2 yellow cards were brandished within a minute- first industrious debutant flanker Mark Stone was yellow carded for handling a loose ball while offside before captain will Hunt was given a 2nd for what the referee described as an accumulation of offences. Being 2 men down with 20 mins to play disrupted the city sides flow and allowed Dartfordians back into the game. They quickly exploited the 2 man advantage to score their fifth try out wide to take the score to 29-12.
Still playing front foot rugby, the pilgrims were quickly back on the attack and good offloading led to a fine line break by flanker Max McCormack who beat a number of defenders to score, well converted by Lister 29-19. Dartfordians then got the decisive score against the run of play, pouncing on a loose ball and using their numerical advantage to move the ball wide and score their 6th try. 34-19.
Back up to full strength with less than 10 mins to play, the pilgrims were back on the front foot and pushing for a bonus point try of their own. Dartfordians were defending with great determination and thwarted a number of promising pilgrims attacks before wing man Mitch Fielder eventually dived over with the clock ticking down to bring the final score 34-26. Dartfordians held on for a deserved victory after their first half performance, the pilgrims will be looking to bounce back at home on 14th February when they take on old reigatians.

Bromley 38 Pilgrims 30

Two late penalty goals ensured Bromley ran out winners and Pilgrims hade to be content with a losing bonus point.
The home side opened the scoring with a chip over the top with Pilgrims defence out of position which allowed the left wing to race through and score an unconverted try.
Pilgrims reply was positive and set the tone for the remainder of the half as they looked dangerous when getting the ball to the edges. They spread good line out ball was spread wide to test the defence before a strong drive from flank forward Tom Mackenzie saw Pilgrims level the score. They were on the front foot again as they asserted their dominance at the lineout, forcing a number of Bromley errors, but it was soft defending that led to the home side taking the lead, slightly against the run of play. Pilgrims looked to have the attack covered, but a missed tackle allowed them in to exploited a simple two on one for a converted score.
Pilgrims responded well and again applied pressure at the set piece which saw Owain Collins reduce the arrears with a well taken penalty goal. The city side had clear ascendancy at the lineout and this was giving the backs a good platform to launch attacks. They moved the ball well before another great line from Mackenzie saw him race through a gap and his classy show and go sent the Bromley defence for a hot dog to put the Pilgrims back into the lead.
From the Kick off, Canterbury were straight back on the front foot with prop Cam MacMillan going on a punishing 20 metre run. Quick ball was moved well before Mackenzie again picked a great line, this time opting to offload to the supporting Paddy Parker who dotted down for the city sides 3rd try and a 12-22 lead.
Pilgrims then gave away needless field position with poor ruck management, giving Bromley a penalty which they kicked to the corner. From the resulting 5m lineout a short pass to the front of the line caught the defence cold and allowed Bromley to add a third unconverted try. Again the city side response was positive, attacking from good line out ball, and when momentum was stopped by a Bromley high tackle Collins stepped up to slot the penalty.
With the half drawing to a close, more suspect Pilgrims defence at the ruck allowed saw Bromley add another score against the run of play to limit Pilgrims half time le to 24-25.
The second half started as an arm wrestle with Pilgrims still having the better of the set piece, but Bromley playing the slope well and looking to keep the city side pinned in their own half.
A rare scrum penalty saw the home side recapture the lead with a penalty goa and then added a further try after a Pilgrims long clearance was returned with interest, poor defensive alignment a allowing them a simple score.
The city side continued to look dangerous and found a deserved bonus point try through a powerful run by AJ Masaka, leaving the game finely balanced 32-30.
Despite having opportunities to add to their tally, good home defence and some questionable decision making saw Bromley close out the game with two well struck penalties. as an entertaining g Pilgrims gave another improved performance with their next game at home to Dartfordians at the MTG in what promises to be a keenly contested affair.

Pilgrims 38 – 22 Crowborough

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Canterbury Pilgrims 26 Heathfield & Waldron 3

by Dan Gill

Pilgrims had to work hard at the wet and windy MTG to subdue a Heathfield & Waldron side that has been amongst the pace setter In Counties 1. Skipper Al Evans elected to play up the slope but with the wind in their favour in a first half that saw all of the games points scored.
Despite the conditions both sides were intent on moving the ball but the first try arrived after around eight mins from a well executed catch and drive line out. It allowed hooker Aiden Demery to dot down with Will Hilton narrowly missing his first shot at goal.
An infringement following kick off gave Heathfield a penalty in front of the posts to collect what turned out to be their only points of the afternoon. The Pilgrims responded immediately and after exerting their dominance at the scrum, the forwards set about testing the visiting defence with a series of quick drives that saw Evans force his way over from close range, Hilton this time adding the extras.
Heathfield looked to rally but Pilgrims robust defence absorbed everything they had to offer before going on the attack again. Slick handling from Hilton and Tom Best found full back Harvey Young who hit a very good line to leave a number of defenders in his wake as he touched down under the posts and make the conversion from Hilton a formality.
The bonus point fourth try quickly followed as good play by the forwards made inroads in the Heathfield defence before the backs used quick hands to exploit space down the blind side and send centre Best over in the corner. Hilton expertly added the extras to give the Pilgrims a 26-3 half time lead.
The second half was a combination of good defensive play from both teams and an increasing amount of errors. Pilgrims were in the ascendancy at scrum time and were having the better of the lineouts but despite the wind advantage, being second best at the set piece meant Heathfield were struggling to get a foothold in the game. An element of niggle crept in and yellow cards, two to each side, were handed out but Pilgrims defensive effort was once again top notch in difficult conditions as they saw out another bonus point win against a solid side. The team have a massive test next Saturday as they travel to Sevenoaks who are in second place in the table, just five points behind, in what could be a season defining game.

CRANBROOK 0 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 38

by Dan Gill

The weather was always going to have an impact on Pilgrims ability to play their usual brand of expansive rugby but they overcame that challenge to stay top of Counties Kent One. It didn’t take them long to register the first score of the day with tight head prop Nathan Morris quickest to react when the wind played havoc with a Cranbrook line out and he dived on the loose ball, with Owain Collins adding the extras. The backs on both sides were finding handling difficult with dropped balls and wayward passes halting many promising attacks. It was left to Morris to set the tone for the rest of the half when he forced his way over from close range for his second try.. Prop Dan Gill made an instant impact on his return from injury to force his way over from close range for another score after a series of good pick and go drives by the forwards and push the lead to seventeen. After the first 30 mins the Pilgrims backs started to get to grips with the conditions and were attacking well from deep with Guy Hilton, Adrian Geddes and Max Campbell running the ball back with intent whenever Cranbrook tried to clear their lines. The direct work of Pilgrims back row of Al Evans, Harvey Furneaux and Charlie McGovern should have led to another score but, after doing the hard bit, Evans was held up over the line when trying to run the ball under the posts. Pilgrims were dominant at the scrum and after forcing a penalty they kicked deep into Cranbrook territory. Good line out ball set the platform for the tight forwards to go work. Strong drives from Will Hunt and Jake Dengate made inroads before Gill battered his way over for his second touchdown to secure the bonus point and make the conversion a simple one for Collins The half time lead was 24-0. The second half even more of a challenge for Canterbury as the slope and the elements were in Cranbrook’s favour. But Pilgrims defence has been a major feature of their play this season, and again it was no exception with centres Tom Best and Sonny Trew-Neville shutting down Cranbrook attacks out wide and McGovern, Furneaux, Dengate and hooker Demery dealing with the tight drives well. Cranbrook held out for the first 20 mins of the half before debutant scrum half Henry Carruthers, who was dangerous all afternoon with his sniping runs, jinked past a number of defenders to dot down.. Sonny Trew-Neville then added a sixth try with his trade mark direct running. Will Hilton converted to complete Pilgrims victory as they look forward to a tasty looking contest against Heathfield & Waldron at the MTG in two weeks time.

Pilgrims: Bloomfield, Demery, Morris, Kenny, Hunt, McGovern, Furneaux, Evans, Caruthers, Collins, Geddes, Best, Trew-Neville, Campbell, G HIlton, Gill, Dengate, W Hilton.