Category: 3rd XV

Canons edge closer to Counties 4 Kent title with gritty win

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

The Canons took one step closer to the Counties 4 Kent title with a hard earned win away at Cliffe Crusaders on Saturday.

Knowing that it would be a tough afternoon if they got dragged into Cliffe’s physical game, the Canons recognised that using their pace and agility would be key in taking the spoils home.

The opening quarter of the game was tight, with the Canons having good field position following great work at the breakdown to turn over any Cliffe possession.  2 penalties from Liam Browne gave the Canons the early lead.  Despite a few squandered opportunities, put down to sickness in the squad and lapses in concentration, the Canons scored the first try of the game through Jake Upward, following good footwork and evasive running from Josh Lamb.  Cliffe responded with a penalty of their own, before Josh Lamb evaded more tackles again to score under the posts in the last play of the half.  Once again converted by Browne, Canterbury led 20-3 at the break.

The Cliffe coach must have delivered a rocket at half time, as the home side came out with much more quality and purpose following the break.  They worked the ball wide before their monstrous second row crashed over in the corner for an unconverted try. 20-8.

The game began to get scrappy and niggly as Cliffe did their reputation no harm with a number of late challenges and throwing handbags in mauls and rucks.  It was the Canons who had the next points, however, following a chip and chase from Browne that was collected by the galloping Upward to score under the posts.  The last quarter of the game continued to be a physical battle, and following a number of injuries and positional changes for the Canons, Cliffe scored 2 late tries to flatter the scoreline.  Nonetheless, the Canons took 4 points home from a tough opposition who a week earlier had beaten Old Williamsonians, who are hot on the heels of the Canons in the league standings.

This weekend brings what could be a season-defining match against second place Old Williamsonians in a top of the league crunch.  Having endured their sole loss of the season in the reverse fixture at the MTG, there is only one outcome on the Canons mind this weekend – win.

Canons dig deep to keep title charge on track

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

With 5 games to go this season, the Canons knew that victory was the only option against a tough Bromley side to ensure that the Counties 4 title comes to the MTG in April.

The game did not start as intended with Bromley quickly scoring from the kickoff with a missed tackle on the wing allowing the fullback space to chip and chase and gather the ball and score under the posts.

The Canons responded however, winning a penalty in front of the post and choosing to take the points – the message before the game being to keep the scoreboard ticking over. This was quickly followed by a try from Captain Ben Jones, who battled over from short range. A second penalty preceded a second score from Will Rayner after some good footwork on the wing before Bromley responded with their own try just before the halftime whistle. At the break, the Canons lead 20 points to 15.

Bromley carried that momentum into the second half, playing with intent and putting pressure on the Canons’ defence. Canterbury‘s discipline started to slip which resulted in a number of penalties for Bromley allowing them to kick deep into the Canons half. Eventually, they made the most of the pressure and scored a converted try to take the lead.

However, it was in the last 15 minutes that the Canons switched back on and showed why they have been so dominant in this league. Good interplay created gaps in the Bromley defence, allowing Josh Lamb to break through and score under the posts. This was followed by a Harry Jackson try who, playing with intent, collected the ball outwide to charge over for a try.
From the kickoff the Canons won back the ball deep in their half and moved it through the hands to allow Lamb to break down the wing to get close before Vaughan Rothery dived over from close range.

With Bromley heads down, the final try of the afternoon was the pick of the bunch. Strong carries got the Canons back into the Bromley half, which allowed Will Rayner to play a beautiful grubber in behind the defence which was collected by Lamb to grab his second of the afternoon. Job done.

With 2 tough away games to come against Cliffe and 2nd place Old Williamsonians (the prior beating the latter this weekend!), the Canons know that their fate is in their hands for the run into the end of the season.

Canons stumble at the summit: Colfeians hold leaders to frustrating draw

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

The Canons were given a wake up call against Old Colfeians on Saturday, being held to a 19-19 draw and reminded that life at the summit of Counties 4 should not be taken be taken for granted

Colfe’s came out of the blocks with intensity and pace, with strong carrying from their forwards creating quick ball for the next phases. The Canons’ defence held firm, however, and it was only a lucky bounce of the ball that allowed Colfe’s to get the ball wide and score in the corner. 5-0. Following the kick off, the Canons upped their own intensity, and after a sustained period in the opposition 22, it was only a silly penalty, of which there were plenty that afternoon, that released pressure and allowed OC’s to exit. Colfes capitalised on this and worked their way up field to eventually bundle over from a close range line out. In the final 5 minutes of the half, Canterbury finally woke up and scored from their own driving lineout to close the gap to 12-5 at the break.

Colfes started the second half with the same intensity, and missed tackles and a good line from their 6 allowed the opposition in under the posts to score their third.
After a talking to and wake up call, Canterbury finally turned on their game. Good play in the midfield allowed the ball to get wide to Will Rayner and score out wide. Josh Lamb slotted the touch line conversion. 19-12.

From kick off, Canterbury collected the ball and again built good phases, putting pressure on the Colfe’s defence. It was only a return of the silly penalties which stopped the Canons from breaking through, forcing them to start their attack again from their half as Colfes exited. Eventually, Canterbury got within 5m of the try line, and captain Harry Nicholson crashed over to score, the conversion scored by Henry Carruthers. 19-19. In the final 10, the momentum was with the Canons, and after Colfes collected the ball following a chip and chase by Canterbury in the final play, their 10 kicked the ball out. A frustrating end, but a fair result on the day. If only there were 5 minutes of the game, the scoreline may have been in the Canons’ favour.

With another away game next week against a Kings College Hospital side who have had mixed results throughout the season, the Canons will look to get back to winning ways and consolidate their position at the top of Counties 4

Canons Claim victory over Faversham to stay top

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

In wet and windy conditions, the Canons battled to a controlled and well deserved victory against Faversham, a team relegated from Counties 3 the previous season.

Cantebury controlled the game from the off, using the power of their pack to create forwards momentum, and pace out wide to run the heavy Faversham forwards around the park. A try for Guy Hilton and 2 tries for Harry Jackson in the first half, punctuated by 2 for Faversham meant the canons led 21-14 at half time.

In the second half and playing down the slope, the Canons were able to open up. Kicking to use the wind to their advantage, the Canons scored their bonus point after some good forwards work through Simon Jaynes (playing against his former club), quickly followed by a breakaway try from their own 22, finished by Adrian Geddes. Tom Halliday scored the 7th after some excellent phase play. Faversham had the last laugh, scoring in the final play of the game after a lapse in concentration by the Canons, with Liam Browne kicking the ball dead 10 seconds before the clock had turned red, giving a 5m scrum to Faversham.

At the half way point of the season, the Canons sit 8 points clear at the top of Counties 4 with 10 wins from 11 games. They welcome Sheppey to the MTG this weekend, looking to continue their form into the second half of the season.

Canons extend unbeaten run

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

BROMLEY 2nd 13 CANTERBURY CANONS 29

The Canons travelled to Bromley looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season and get one back against the club who had taken that badge from the Pilgrims 2 weeks earlier.

The game was evenly matched in the opening quarter, with the Canons absorbing pressure from Bromley in the midfield. After finally getting some possession and instantly working their way into the Bromley 22, there was some good phase play by the forwards , eventually creating enough space for Henry Carruthers to snipe through and score. The game repeated itself after the kick off with Canterbury’s defensive effort stopping every attempt Bromley threw at them, and when the Canons eventually took control of the ball, on the next entry to the Bromley 22, the same result was achieved with Carruthers sniping from close range. Bromley struck back with a rolling maul, but in the last the last play of the half, Canterbury built some good phase play, allowing full back Liam Browne to score out wide.

The second half was a scrappy affair, with knock-ons and penalties taking over. Canterbury were often on the wrong side of these, but due to an immense defensive effort, it took Bromley 25 minutes to eventually break through and score the first points of the half, crashing over from short range after a lineout on the 5m. Canterbury responded a minute later, with Semi Adewole taking a kick return 15m inside of the Canterbury half. He ran through one Bromley player, stepped quite a few more before having the pace to beat another around the outside and score in the corner to get the try bonus point. Canterbury held out strong defensively for the last 10 minutes of the half and deny Bromley any opportunity to score any league points from the game.

A big shout out goes to Mark Stone and Captain Ben Jones, playing out of position and stepping into the front row for this fixture, ensuring the Canons’ perfect start to the season continues.

Match Report – Canterbury 3rd XV vs Cranbrook 2nd XV

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Canterbury 3s sealed the league win with a hard fought victory over a fired up and skillful Cranbrook side.

Cranbrook had beaten Canterbury on the opening game of the season at their ground and were in the running to win the league if they could beat Canterbury and deny them a bonus point.
The home side found space on the outside early in the game, with Sam Merrell gliding over from fullback for the opening score. But ill discipline gave Cranbrook field position and the visitors capitalised with a converted try and a penalty to take them ahead.
Canterbury made the most of the possession they were able to get, however. Ollie Simpson made a half break down the left and put Barney Howard into space, and the centre was able to cut inside 3 defenders and score under the posts. An arcing run by Alex Williams after great hands from Harry Jackson didn’t quite result in a try, but soon after Ben Waite wriggled free and dotted down in the left corner giving the home side a 15-10 platform at half time.
After the break Canterbury put themselves under pressure with repeated penalties given away, but fierce defence and breakdown work by Dan Mills and Jack Waite kept Cranbrook at bay. The pace and handling of the city side gave them plenty of opportunities and paid dividends before long. Slick passing put Mark Stone in the corner, and a sneaky tap and go saw Alex Williams slip through. Cranbrook still threatened, but the game was finally put to bed when a break by Jake Upward led to Dan Gill putting his famous sidestep to good use and scoring by the posts on the final play of the game.
Final score 32-10.
Season record: Played 18, won 15, lost 3.

Match Report – Sevenoaks 4th XV vs Canterbury 3rd XV

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

By John Scurr

Sevenoaks 4th 11pt, Canterbury 3rds 15pts

Canterbury 3rds make a second half comeback to stay top of their league against a strong Sevenoaks side.

The city side had a torrid first half unable to contain Sevenoaks conceding penalties and a well taken try to go in at halftime with an eleven-point deficit. Whatever the team talk was at halftime seemed to do the trick.

The city side started their comeback with Tom short breaking from a rolling maul to burst over wide out to break the duck. This lifted the side and with Jonny Madden quick service from the midfield to give captain Ollie Simpson a try in the corner, all that was left was for Sam Merrell touch down in the other corner to seal the hard earned win.