Category: 2nd XV

BROMLEY 26 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 28

by John Mitchell

The newly crowned champions of Kent 1 left it to the last minute to save themselves from a second defeat of the season. Will Hilton’s penalty goal came to the rescue after Pilgrims saw a comfortable sixteen points half time lead whittled away by a resurgent Bromley. After falling behind to an early penalty goal Canterbury took charge of the first half and once they had worked some errors out of their system forged ahead when Gus Lister surged through for an excellent try. Hilton converted and quickly added a long range penalty goal. A second Bromley penalty goal cut into the lead but the last ten minutes of the half belonged to the visitors. A great individual try from scrum half Hector Valldares, converted by Hilton, was followed by the best score of the day from Sonny Trew-Neville. Bromley came out with all guns blazing in the second half. Within the first minute they had scored and converted before Hilton replied with another well taken penalty. Weak defending did not help as the home side struck again with an unconverted try and suddenly the score was 18-25. Then came the rain, sleet and wind and Bromley scored try number three. Again they missed the conversion but Pilgrims dug deep and should have scored at least two tries. But the home side defended well and with two minutes left they slotted a penalty to take the lead. It looked like Pilgrims had lost the game, but with 30 seconds left on the clock Hilton stepped up and, under immense pressure, made the winning kick.

On 6th April, Pilgrims go to Beccehamians for their last game of the season. The Canons, club’s 3rd XV, will travel with them looking for a victory which would make them Counties 5 Kent league champions

CROWBOROUGH 27 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 7

by John Mitchell

The eighteen game winning run has come to an end as the Pilgrims were outplayed in all departments and beaten by a better side on the day. Despite this first defeat of the season the team are still twelve points clear at the top of Counties 1 Kent and a home victory over Ashford next Saturday would see them crowned as champions. At Crowborough they were without a number of regular players but that does not fully account for a laboured performance full of errors, poor tackling and wrong choices. A sound start was made by both sides but it was first blood to Crowborough, through a penalty goal, while a good move by the Pilgrims ended after a knock on. But it was the home side who were running the game and only a fine tackle from Jack Weaver denied them a certain try. Pilgrims could not get out of their own half and as the mistakes piled up Crowborough scored a converted try and then a lucky bounce brought them a second touchdown. Everything from Canterbury was too slow and their troubles were compounded when Tom Halliday was given a yellow card. The home side took advantage of their extra man to grab a third try, leaving Pilgrims twenty points behind at half time. Boosted by the introduction of replacements, Pilgrims controlled most of the first quarter of the second half. From a line out they got their rolling maul going and crossed the line, but were held up. Minutes later, from a scrum, Luke Webber went over for a try converted by Tom McMann. There was more Pilgrims pressure now and much more control with fly half McMann in charge, but while there were some good individual displays, notably by Jordan Constant and Cameron Macmillan returning from injury, there was still a lack of the normal understanding and continuity. With time running out and Pilgrims frustration showing, the home side scored try number four to earn them a bonus point

CANTERBURY PILGRIM 60 CHARLTON PARK 12

by John Mitchell

After this resounding victory, Pilgrims need just nine points from their four remaining games to be crowned champions of Counties 1 Kent. Their fast, attacking brand of rugby overwhelmed a relegation threatened Park with ten tries as they extended the winning run to eighteen matches. From the kick off the Pilgrims meant business. Harry Andrews, from an early lineout, went over to score the first try of the day and fly half Harrison Fermor made a difficult conversion. A good backs move, with Fermor disguising a beautifully weighted pass to Stanley Bull, put Canterbury 12-0 up and after 18 minutes, and more prolonged pressure, Tom Williams scored try number three. A fourth came from Will Hunt after a superb bit of open play by the dominant Pilgrims. Only good defending by the visitors stopped the score board moving and they also found a reply. A five metre scrum saw their heavier pack gain advantage and go over out wide. A yellow card for the visitors, their second, allowed Pilgrims to take advantage and Harvey Furneaux went over, after continued pressure, to make it 27-5 at half time. The second half continued in the same vein. Fast attacking rugby opened the way for Gus Lister to speed through; Stan Bull scored his second try of the day off the back of a maul and try number eight was also a second for Harry Andrews, who powered through a massive gap. Charlton Park could not put any real moves together, as wave after wave of quick ball, being moved left and right negated their superiority in the scrum. The ninth try went to the hard working Adrian Geddes, after a great run by Furneaux, and Harvey himself completed the day’s prolific haul. Four second half conversions by Fermor pushed the score to the sixty mark but a Park side which never stopped working were rewarded with a last minute converted try. Next up for Pilgrims is Crowborough, away, on March 2nd.

DARTFORDIANS 36 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 51

by John Mitchell

This was a severe test against a Dartfordians side who were unbeaten at home this season and still in the hunt for a promotion place. Thanks to late tries and the immaculate goal kicking of Will Hilton, which accounted for 21 of Pilgrims points with all six conversions and three penalties, they were able to hold off the hosts powerful challenge. The home side took an early lead with a pushover try, duly converted, but Pilgrims fought straight back. A trade mark snipe from Presley Farrance created pressure before Freddie Holland-Oliver scored. From the restart, poor reception and an awkward bounce saw the home recapture the lead through a good unconverted try, the conversion hitting the upright. With fourteen minutes gone Hilton slotted his first penalty and soon added a second to push his side one point ahead. Stan Bull made a welcome return after injury and came on for Dan Gill. A home player received a yellow card for not rolling away and from this one man advantage, Pilgrims started to take control. Only good defending by the home side kept them at bay but from a well won lineout they got a second try. Farrance, Tom Halliday and Max Campbell combined to send Jack Weaver over. Wingman Hector Valldares then made 70 metres with a superb run, off loaded to Sonny Trew-Neville who did the rest but for the second time the home side scored from the kick off. No one dealt with the high ball, another bad bounce and the home side went through to score an unconverted try. Next came an impressive Pilgrims score for Max Campbell wide on the right and despite Holland-Oliver’s yellow card for a scrum offence they were 34-17 ahead at the break. Although that looked comfortable it soon changed as Dartfordians took control of the scrums anf got on top. Two quick tries narrowed the gap to three points and the tension showed as tempers frayed. Hilton’s third penalty goal and Dan Gill’s return to bolster the pack steadied the Canterbury ship. Max Campbell wriggled free for his second touchdown and when a red card reduced Dartfordians to fourteen players they were made to pay. From a lineout Brandon Dunkerley fed Weaver who put in a great solo effort to claim Pilgrims sixth try. In a scrappy end to the game Harvey Furneaux was handed a yellow card, Dartfordians scored an unconverted try but Pilgrims had done enough to extend their winning run to seventeen.

Pilgrims: J.Weaver, M.Campbell, S.Trew-Neville, T.Halliday, H.Valldares, W.Hilton, P.Farrance, F.Holland-Oliver, B.Dunkerley, D.Gill, J.Grewar, L.Webber, A.Geddes, H.Furneaux, W.Hunt. Replacements: S.Bull, H.Fermor, J.Constant

DOVER 31 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 43

by John Mitchell

Another great local derby, perhaps the best game of the season so far and a win that was not assured until the last few minutes after the lead had changed hands five times. Pilgrims started well, with a try from Tom Halliday after only two minutes, but for the rest of the first half it was a huge battle. Dover, with former Canterbury first team captain Martyn Beaumont master minding their response, hit back with two converted tries as Pilgrims gave up possession too easily. Back came Pilgrims and Jack Weaver went close but from a lineout five metres out it was flanker Adrian Geddes who drove through a huge hole for an unconverted try. Pilgrims regained a narrow lead when a great move found prop Adam Malik dodging tackles and delaying his pass until Halliday latched on to it for his second try. Tom Mackenzie then got a yellow card for a high tackle, Dover exerted more pressure and were back in front by four points at half time with an unconverted touchdown. They extended that lead with their fourth try early in the second half and at this point one could see the Pilgrims about to lose their 100% record. They faced, by far, the toughest challenge of the whole season. However, they began to exert pressure on the Dover defence, the penalty count racked up against the home side and Cameron Murray crashed through to earn the bonus point fourth try. Will Hilton found his scoring touch at last, to convert. Could this be the start of a comeback against a Dover side who were playing with great passion and commitment? A yellow card for the hosts gave Canterbury a one man advantage and Presley Farrance, player of the match, with a good run and a lovely disguised pass made a try for Max Campbell, converted by Hilton. The Pilgrims were once more back in the lead. It was Farrance again who set up the next score for Sonny Trew-Neville, converted by Hilton, to put his side in a winning position. But it wasn’t over. With Weaver and Will McColl both in the sin bin Dover struck with a great 70 yard converted try to close the gap to five points. It was down to the wire as Pilgrims ignored an easy penalty shot and three points but in the closing minutes Farrance combined with Campbell before Weaver powered through and Josh Richardson added the goal points to round off a magnificent match and double over Dover this season.

CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 38 DEAL & BETTESHANGER LIONS 17

By John Mitchell

A great game of rugby with local rivals Deal and Betteshanger giving unbeaten Pilgrims a real run for their money on Friday. evening It was not until late in the second half that the match was decided when fitness proved the difference. Despite an early injury to hooker Brandon Dunkerley, Pilgrims built a nineteen point lead before the Lions roared back. Within minutes Tom Halliday pounced on a loose ball and won the kick and chase to the line for an unconverted try. Next, a move was started and finished by Presley Farrance, with important assists from Adrian Geddes and Luke Webber, and Josh Richardson converted the try. The pressure didn’t let up and from a line-out quick handling by the backs saw Sonny Trew-Neville cross and it was duly converted by Richardson. From those reverses the visitors began a strong fight back. They had always looked dangerous and broke through twice before half time. Poor defending by the home side also played a part as the visitors scored converted tries, the second a pushover, which brought them to 19-14 at the break. Within minutes of the restart the impressive Will Hunt went over to earn Pilgrims their four try bonus point and Richardson duly converted. But they were then forced into defending for long periods and only a brilliant try saving tackle by Tom Mackenzie, after he had chased back 70 metres, kept the home line intact. Deal had to settle for a penalty goal when Max Campbell received a Yellow card at the subsequent ruck. It was now 26-17 but while the Lions were playing excellent open rugby they could not crack Pilgrims again. In the last quarter fitness would start to tell. It was leading try scorer Farrance who did the damage and as the pressure on Lions built he added two more to his season’s list which now stands at fifteen. Those touchdowns and a Will Hilton conversion sealed a great game with the scoreline flattering Pilgrims.

With the first team without a game next Saturday why not make the short trip to Dover where Pilgrims have another tasty league encounter. Kick-off is 2pm

CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 45 HEATHFIELD & WALDRON 22

by John MItchell

The last time these two sides met, back in October, it was a closely fought affair and although Pilgrims pulled away in the very late stages it was no different this time. On a sticky pitch the visitors sent out an early warning as they got a maul moving and scored a pushover try, which was converted. Canterbury soon got back in the game with some excellent passing and a slick move put Brad Law away for a try. It was quickly followed by a wonderful line break as Presley Farrance carved a huge hole in the Heathfield defence and Gus Lister came on to the ball at speed. Farrance converted the try and a second from Law soon followed. Another driving maul score saw the visitors eat into the Pilgrims lead and they came even closer with a successful penalty goal. That stirred the home side into action again and by half time they had established what seemed to be a comfortable position. A wonderful team effort put Adrian Geddes, who was having a stormer at flanker, away to score and a fifth came from a typical Farrance effort. Lister converted both tries to make it 31-15 at the break. Within 30 seconds of the restart the visitors charged down a poor clearance kick from Farrance to close the gap with a converted try and it stayed like that until the closing minutes. The game became scrappy and ill disciplined with poor ball handling and brilliant defensive work by Heathfield. Canterbury were close to what would have been the try of the season, but the ball was judged to have been held up over the line but in the final three minutes they scored twice. Farrance got both tries and Will Hilton converted them to ensure that Pilgrims stay top of Counties One Kent having now played 14 won 14. This week they travel to Dartfordians who are second in the league.