Category: 2nd XV

Vigo vs Pilgrims

Pilgrims Miss Out

Posted on | by David Haigh

VIGO 20 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 19

Pilgrims first experience of the new Counties East league ended in the narrowest of defeats. Throughout the game there was little between the sides with the lead changing hands six times before Vigo took advantage of missed tackles to grab a converted try which proved decisive. Canterbury still had fourteen minutes to turn that round but failed to dent the home defence. Vigo took an early lead with a penalty goal before Ollie Finn crashed over for Pilgrims. It was silly penalties that hampered their first half progress and a yellow card for Luke Webber did not help. That handed the home side another three points before prop Will McColl powered over for a try converted by Dan Hills to recapture the lead. However, it was Vigo who went into half time one point ahead after another penalty gave them the chance to create a converted try. That slim advantage was quickly overtaken in the second half when Tom Halliday sent Ross Howard Howard in for Pilgrims third try, again converted by Hills, to leave them in a good position. Then came came those missed tackles which proved to be their undoing as Vigo nosed in front again with a converted try and the visitors had to be content with a losing bonus point.

Match called off - Maidstone vs Pilgrims

PILGRIMS GAME OFF

Posted on | by David Haigh

Pilgrims opening Counties 2 East league game at home to Maidstone on Saturday, September 3rd has been called off.. The club has been trying to find an alternative fixture but has been unsuccessful. The league game has been postponed at Maidstone’s request as they have safety concerns about a lack of contact training due to the present hard playing surfaces. It is a disappointment for the Pilgrims who were looking forward to making their debut in the new league after an encouraging victory over Thant Wanderers 1st in last week’s pre-season friendly. As other club teams are without scheduled fixtures there will be no rugby at the Marine Travel Ground on Saturday.

Pilgrims vs Thanet Wanderers

Pilgrims Make Good Start

Posted on | by David Haigh

PILGRIMS 19 THANET WANDERERS 12

A strong second half revival earned this Friday night pre-season victory for a largely young, untried Pilgrims side in the clash with local rivals Thanet. The visitors, who included former Canterbury first teamers Jimmy Green and Neil Wakefield, opened the scoring through an unconverted try after ten minutes. Wanderers, a strong, well drilled outfit, were giving Canterbury some problems and went further ahead after 29 minutes. A second try, this time down the right, and a good conversion left the Pilgrims 12 points adrift. Despite losing Adrian Geddes to a head injury the city side were now playing the better, open rugby and looked like scoring on a number of occasions in the last 15 minutes of the half.

The second half started with the visitors looking good but within five minutes Ollie Finn, a new recruit from Ashford who had an outstanding debut, crossed for a try, converted by Dan Hills. In a fast paced game both sides had scoring opportunities but it was Pilgrims who broke out of defence to take the lead. Jake Upward ran 70 metres to score and Hills converted. By now Pilgrims had lost Tom Short, Rob Blunden, Joe Craig and Alex Williams to injuries but it did not dent their confidence or quality as they matched a Wanderers side playing one level above them in the league structure. It was Thanet who began to struggle and the old war horse Dan Gill, following a Craig May latch, stretched the lead with his side’s third try, topped up by Gill’s conversion. The last five minutes were not easy but Pilgrims were full value for their win in front of a very good crowd at the Simon Langton 4G pitch facility.

NEW LEAGUE STRUCTURES ANNOUNCED

Posted on | by David Haigh

The new league structure for National 2 clubs in the 2022/23 season has been released with Canterbury placed in the 14-team National 2 East. Newcomers to this level will be Dorking, North Walsham and Sevenoaks. Kent clubs Blackheath and Tonbridge Juddians, both relegated from Division One last season, are also in the mix. The full list of clubs is Barnes, Blackheath, Bury St Edmunds, Canterbury, Dorking, Guernsey Raiders, Henley, North Walsham, Old Albanian, Rochford Hundred, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge Juddians, Westcliff, Worthing Raiders.

Canterbury Pilgrims will compete in a new Counties 2 Kent competition made up of nine first teams together with the Pilgrims, Westcombe Park 2nd and Sevenoaks 2nd
Counties 2 Kent: Canterbury Pilgrims, Dover, Gillingham Anchorians, Hastings & Bexhill, Maidstone, Old Dunstonians, Old Williamsonians, Park House, Sevenoaks 2, Southwark Lancers, Vigo, Westcombe Park 2.

Welcoming the new structures Head Coach Matt Corker said: “I am excited by the new leagues that our 1st XV and Pilgrims will be entering and feel that it is an extremely positive move for our players. The Pilgrims entry into Counties 2 Kent is a big step forward in our ability as a club to help our players develop and prepare them for national league rugby. The new National 2 East is full of great teams and offers us reduced travel times and more rest weekends which is a great help to players rugby and life balance. It will add a real excitement to pre-season, and I can’t wait for the first game.

Sidcup vs Pilgrims

Match report – Sidcup 2nd vs Canterbury Pilgrims

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

SIDCUP 2ND 12pts  CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 17pts

The Pilgrims travelled to Sidcup for their Invicta A league game with a much-changed side, yet again!. With four players not available after Thursday’s training, a few rabbits had to be pulled out of the hat! (obviously, they did not play). The game started well for the visitors; Tom Halliday made ground, got the ball to Nathan Annakie, who put Tristan Van  Dyk away, and he found Nathan in support to score the opening try.

Pilgrims continued to dominate without adding to that first try until another great run by Annekie set up position, the forwards produced good ball and Harvey Furneaux touched down. Tom Halliday converted. After the break, they went further ahead and Van Dyk’s try seemed to have taken them into the comfort zone.  But that was premature as Sidcup surged back in the last quarter and two tries and a conversion left the result on a knife’s edge.

Fine defence and the occasional slice of luck, however,  saw Pilgrims home and marked a fitting last appearance for captain Toby Rayleigh-Strutt who is going to ‘strutt’ his stuff in Sydney, Australia.

 

View match photos

Photographs may be subject to copyright: Christine van-Dyk
UKC vs Pilgrims

UKC vs Canterbury Pilgrims

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

UKC 19pts CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 24pts

A new look Pilgrims survived a second-half fightback by the students and clung on to claim a tense victory. The home side started well and Canterbury saw little of the ball until debutant Tristan Van-Dyk set off from his own half and chased down a kick ahead for a great individual try. Player/coach Will Hilton converted.

It was not long before the home side built-up pressure to score under the post, to make it 7-7. It was end-to-end stuff before the Pilgrim’s backs opened up a gap for Max Halliday to score out wide. When Halliday stormed through for his second try and Hilton converted things were looking good for Pilgrims but the second half was a different story. Both sides made halftime substitutions but Pilgrims never got going. UK C chipped away at the lead and eventually leveled matters through two tries and a conversion. A yellow card for the student gave the city side their chance and Van Dyk forced his way over in the corner to open up a narrow advantage which they battled to keep. A well-deserved win from a scratch side, but anyone could have won this game. Good entertainment for the crowd. Outstanding performances from Van-Dyk and Dunkerley.

Team

1. Dan Whittaker ,2. Joe Harvey, 21. Dan Gill, 4. Rob Knott, 5. Joe Craig, 6. Harvey Furneaux, 7. Brandon Dunkerley, 8. Haydn Annakie, 9. Dan Eaglestone, 10. Will Hilton, 11. Max Halliday, 12. Tom Halliday, 13. Nathan Annakie, 14. Tristan Van-Dyk, 15. Barney Howard, 16. Joe Rumsey, 18. James Hunt, 19. Nico Englebrecht, 20.Jake Forest

Sidcup 2nds vs Pilgrims

Match Report – Sidcup 2nds VS Canterbury Pilgrims

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

SIDCUP 2ND 22 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 34

It wasn’t until the second half that Pilgrims were able to break free from a good home side and nail down the victory. It was only the fourth game of the season for Canterbury and after a close fought first 40 minutes there were only five points between the teams. Pilgrims led 10-5 thanks to tries from Joe Rumsey and Dan Eaglestone. Sidcup drew level shortly after the interval but Kieran McKenzie’s break saw him touch down and convert his own try. But the home side could not be shaken off as they grabbed a converted try and looked set for another score before Pilgrims turned the tables on them with a Jon Foster try. Further scores from Freddy Sharp and Tom Halliday sealed the win before Sidcup powered over for the final act of a competitive game.

Old Alleynians vs Canterbury Pilgrims

Match Report – Old Alleynians vs Canterbury Pilgrims

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

OLD ALLEYNIANS 2nd 7pts  CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 40pts

All the points came in the first half as Pilgrims eased to their first league victory of the season. There was a hat trick for Leroy Chiapa before the atrocious weather conditions made life difficult for both sides after the break. The game started well for the visitors with Guy Hilton running through to score and brother Will converting. On 12 minutes Dave Heads broke through after good work by the backs and Will Hilton stretched the lead to 14. Pilgrims continued to dominate and there were two  Chiapa touchdowns and another Hilton conversion before the home side found a reply through a converted try.   If Alleynians hoped for a mini-revival they were to be disappointed.   An interception try by Liam Dunseath dashed their hopes and Chiapa peeled off from a  forward drive to record Pilgrims sixth. Hilton converted twice before a scoreless second half reflected the poor conditions.

CRFC vs Sevenoaks

Match Report – Pilgrims vs Sevenoaks 2nds

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

PILGRIMS 10pts SEVENOAKS 2nd 44pts

Good early pressure from Pilgrims saw Joe Rumsey go over for a try on his debut, the conversion was missed and the 5- nil lead was soon pegged back through a penalty goal. Sevenoaks exerted pressure, causing the home side to give away silly penalties. which cost them tries. The  Mighty ‘Oaks kicked for touch, won the lineouts and then twice. pushed over. Suddenly the home side was 5-15 down and were being beaten in the scrum, and bullied round the park!

A good spell by Canterbury, with Will McColl going close with an incisive run and the backs spreading the ball, looked promising but all this failed to close the gap and half-time came with Pilgrims still 10 points adrift.

Jake Forest went off injured, both subs had now been used. The home side dominated for 20 minutes, but could not score. The Sevenoaks defence would not yield, and then they scored their third try. After excellent play from McColl, Elliot Lusher, and Sam Churchyard, wing Mark Shepherd managed to find his way to the line. Guy Hilton missed the conversion but at 10-20, the comeback was still on. Instead, Sevenoaks went into overdrive and slack defence helped.them pile on another 24 points.