Category: 2nd XV

DEAL & BETTESHANGER LIONS 21 CANTERBURY PILGRMS 32

by John Mitchell

It all started with the minibus stuck in a field! But that’s a story for another day, sorry.

This East Kent derby game started well for Pilgrims, wing Garry Jones being put away for a great try in the first five minutes, converted by Tom McMann, but in wet and windy conditions it was not easy for the kickers. Former Canterbury fly half Ollie Best ,for Lions, and McMann were both off target before Tom found his range with a penalty and made it 10-0. That didn’t last long as Pilgrims infringements at breakdown and scrum were punished with two Best penalty goals. Play, inevitably, was scrappy in the conditions and Canterbury were allowing the home side to dictate matters. But when opportunity came Pilgrims struck. A penalty 20 metres out saw Luke Webber tap and go and the seas just parted for him as he ran through to the posts for a try converted by McMann. Still, Canterbury were giving silly penalties away, again for coming in from the side, and Best duly obliged to make it 9-17 at half-time. Yellow cards played a part after the break. The Lions Number 5 was the first to go and more pressure from Canterbury saw McMann make it 9-20 from yet another penalty. When Will Hunt was sin binned for chat the Lions opted for a scrum, broke away with the help of two missed tackles and scored between the posts. Best converted. With only four points in it was it going to be squeaky bum time for the Pilgrims? However, it was now the side showed its resilience. From open play Sonny Trew-Neville ran an absolutely superb line and offloaded for Tom Halliday to score and McMann converted. Surely they would go on to win! Still the home side caused problems, but Pilgrims held out and then landed a decisive blow with a close range try by prop Will McColl which earned the bonus point. The hosts are not the sort of team to give up, pressed to the end and had the last word with an unconverted try. The final whistle could not come soon enough for Canterbury in this hard fought victory which takes their record to six wins from six, all with a bonus point, and retains their leadership of Counties 1 Kent.

Pilgrims next meet local rivals Dover at home on November 4th, kick-off 2pm. Both these sides were promoted last season, so it promises to be a great game, regardless of current league position or form.

CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 52 DARTFORDIANS 7

The unbeaten Pilgrims unleashed a second half storm of 40 points as they consolidated their lead at the top of the Counties 1 Kent league table. After an untidy first half in which they dominated possession but were restricted to two tries they cut loose against a Dartfordians side that came to Merton Lane as one of Canterbury’s potential challengers but could do little to prevent their heaviest defeat of the season. There were too many errors in the early stages for either side to make an impression but Pilgrims got under way after a powerful break by centre Morgan Dayes led to a try for wing Joe Rumsey. They had to wait until two minutes before the interval before a second score came, this time a close quarter drive from prop Dan Gil converted by Brad Law. There had been little flow to a game punctuated by frequent injury stoppages and penalty awards but on the restart Pilgrims threw the switch. Two tries in the opening five minutes from Will Hunt and Harvey Furneaux brought a bonus point and set the pattern as Canterbury’s pack took charge and Darfordians could only try to limit the damage. A charged down kick gave Pilgrims their next chance and the powerful Luke Webber went over. Dayes hacked on a loose ball before scrum half Hector Valldares got the sixth try, quickly followed by a second from Furneaux. The visitors did break through to create an overlap and a converted try before replacement wing Fady Sheta made the last Pilgrims touchdown, courtesy of Max Halliday’s break, and Law added his sixth successful goal kick.

Pilgrims: M.Halliday, A.Geddes, M.Dayes, B.Law, J.Rumsey, W.Waddington, H.Valldares, A.Malik, B.Dunkerley, P.Holland, W.Hunt, L.Webber, T.Mackenzie, H.Furneaux, A.Evans. Replacements: D.Gill, F.Holland-Oliver, F.Sheta

HEATHFIELD & WALDRON 18 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 34

by John Mitchell

The unbeaten Pilgrims stayed ahead of the Counties 1 Kent pack with this bonus point victory on their first ever visit to Heathfield and Waldron. The game started badly for the visitors. Two knock-ons, holding on, poor scrummaging and a line out throw that was not straight. Result, penalty 3-0 down and they were soon ten points behind after further mistakes in the 5 metre area gave the home side a converted try. So different to last weeks superb performance. Then from a scrum, half backs Tom Williams and Tom McMann made space for Adrian Geddes to score out wide out and McMann converted. They next took full advantage of a yellow card for H&W with Luke Webber driving over from a lineout maul and McMann again adding the extras. Just before the half hour mark Jack Weaver made inroads, linked with McMann and he sent Geddes over for his second try, but the conversion attempt hit the post Now it was the visitors turn to get a yellow, this time Webber paid the price and took a team card for high tackles. A Heathfield and Waldron cross kick seemed bound for touch but Pilgrims kept the ball in play and an unfavourable bounce handed the Sussex side an unconverted try. But their kicker made no mistake from a penalty award and at half time the Pilgrims lead at 19-18 was down to one point. The second half, however, belonged to the Pilgrims. Good pressure and excellent handling saw the ball moved quickly to Tom Williams, now out on the wing, for him to drive over for an unconverted try. The Canterbury forwards were now dominating, with Cameron Macmillan and Jake Dengate leading the way, and the backs were beginning to gel as they sent Sonny Trew-Neville over for another unconverted touchdown to extend the lead to eleven points. The visitors continued to press and Presley Farrance, coming on at Number 9 for the second half, gave the pass for Luke Webber to score the final try and seal the win. Pilgrims top the league with 20 points, four clear of the second and third placed teams, one of whom, Dartfordians, come to The Marine Travel Ground this weekend.

CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 76 CRANBROOK 0

by John Mitchell

This runaway success, which produced twelve unanswered tries, took Pilgrims to the top of the Counties 1 Kent table as they made it three wins from three A good start saw full back Jack Weaver live up to his name as he shredded the defence for the first of his four tries, converted by Tom McMann, and the Weaver/McMann combination repeated the dose minutes later. Cranbrook exerted pressure and one thought they might get back into the game, but Brandon Dunkerley crashed through, Alex Evans picked up to score and that was quickly followed by Weaver’s hat trick touchdown. Tom Halliday was next on the list after fine work by the backs, with McMann converting, and before half time Cranbrook had cracked again. McMann lost his 100 per cent goal kicking record when Adrian Geddes scored wide out but at the break Pilgrims were 40 points clear. The second half started with a yellow card to Cranbrook for a high tackle but for 20 minutes the visitors held firm and their half time team talk obviously helped. But then ‘iron man’ Luke Webber made a decisive run which set up Gus Lister’s try. The wingman got his second soon after, taking a pass from Geddes and selling a sublime dummy and with McMann adding the extras Pilgrims were now past the 50 mark. We were watching some of the best off loading and unselfish passing we have seen for years. Tom Mackenzie, who had an awesome game, got the ball to scrum half Hector Valldares for the next try but a yellow card for Webber meant a period was spent in defence. That ended when Lister stole a ball in his own 22 area and Halliday’s perfect cross kick saw Weaver gather and sprint home for his fourth try. There were till two scores to come, Sony Trew-Neville and Valldares combining from half way for the scrum half to touch down, and finally a great 30 metre burst by impressive captain Alex Evans, both tries converted, rounded off a superb team performance. Jake Dengate received the supporters ‘Man of the Match’ award but it was a great all-round effort. Next week Pilgrims travel to Heathfield and Waldron in Sussex. There is room on the bus if anyone would like to come and support this exciting young squad.

THANET WANDERERS 25 PILGRIMS 28

by John Mitchell

What a game this East Kent derby turned out to be and in the end the difference between the two sides was two penalty goals from the boot of Alex Davies. The game started well for Thanet, who exerted early pressure while Pilgrims made some handling and tackling errors. A penalty goal showed the home side the way and they added a second after poor work at lineout and scrum. Canterbury were playing good open rugby but an attacking move was well intercepted and the Wanderers ran through for a converted try to make it 13-0 in as many minutes. The Pilgrims were on the ropes but a good kick for touch, followed by a much better line-out, saw Cameron Macmillan go over on the back of a rolling maul to score an unconverted try, 13-5. Jesse De Vries was then taken out badly in the air, only a yellow was awarded, and a penalty, which was kicked for touch. More pressure and another good rolling maul, this time Stanley Bull scored from the back of it and Tom McMann converted, 13-12. The Pilgrims were back in the game. Thanet missed a penalty but piled on more pressure. Then from under his own posts, Gus Lister decided to run the ball instead of kick. The decision paid off and the ball was worked the whole length of the field before Adrian Geddes crashed through close to the line and Jake Dengate, who had another outstanding game, went over for an unconverted to give Canterbury a 17-13 half time lead. An excellent comeback from the Pilgrims! The second half started well for Canterbury and despite making handling errors they went further ahead when Tom McMann scored his first try for the club, but again failed to convert. An injury to Stanley Bull was a set back and on 60 minutes Thanet scored from a push over try, and converted, 20-22. Then came the game changer; Tom handed over kicking duties to Alex Davies, who promptly kicked a penalty successfully from around 40 yards. This was followed by another from just inside the opposition half to extend the lead to eight points. Game over? No, Thanet came back to score, but failed to convert. It’s now played two, won two with this bonus point victory making us joint top of Counties 1 Kent with Dartfordians and Ashford. Special mention should be made for a new young scrum half, who was making his men’s debut. Hector Valldares did all you could have asked for in his first senior game at this level, well done young man. This coming Saturday we meet Cranbrook at the Marine Travel ground with a 3:00 kick off.

Canterbury Pilgrims 30 Beccehamians 23

by John Mitchell

Having won promotion into Counties 1, this was always going to be a challenge against the side who were among the front runners last season but Pilgrims made a great start. A team try, perhaps the best they will score all season, gave them a one minute lead. After a move that involved just about everyone Seb Clark went over out wide left, but debutant Tom McMann failed to convert. Within a minute McMann had a kick charged down and suddenly the home side were 5-7 down. The visitors then took control and with a heavier pack looked like they could well run away with it. A converted push over try ensued and Becs were 5-12 up. A solo run by the in-form Max Campbell closed the gap with a try but McMann could not convert. With 26 minutes gone the visitors were making good runs, running good lines and had good possession. Pilgrims were not in the game, and another penalty was slotted to make it 10-15. Then the Pilgrims started to take control, literally camped in the Becs twenty-two, but they could not score. Even with Alex Evans making his presence felt, he was voted supporters best forward. It must be said that every player in the pack had an outstanding game individually but they kept trying to bulldoze their way through and the attack was too narrow. Time and again the away side stopped them from scoring. Canterbury then got a penalty within kicking distance but McMann opted for a kick and line-out. From the throw, the Pilgrims scored a push over try with Stanley Bull carrying over; he was having an outstanding game for someone who was playing colts rugby only last season. McMann got his scoring boots on to convert and the home side went in at half-time 17-15 up. Tom was now in charge, and his second half performance won him the supporters backs man of the match. From a line-out, a sliding maul to the left saw Bull pass out to Cooper, to Dayes to Campbell to Geddes who powered over to score out wide and McMann duly slotted – 24-15. Becs immediately scored from a penalty but McMann replied for Pilgrims to make it 27-18. Twenty minutes gone and the visitors used their power and scored another push over try, but failed to conver. McMann from 37 yards then kicked a great penalty to make it 30-23. A miss a few minutes later gave the home side a very squeaky last ten! A match winning tackle by Ollie McGann, which saw him taken off injured, meant that the home side had to endure five minutes of real pressure. This was duly done and it will be interesting to see how this new side progresses.

Pilgrims: G.Lister, M.Campbell, M.Dayes, S.Trew-Neville, A.Geddes, T.McMann, B.Cooper, C.Macmillan, S.Bull, D.Huntley, J.De Vries, T.Mackenzie J.Dengate, S.Clark, A.Evans. Replacements: H.Andrews, O.McGann, F Holland-Oliver