Category: 5th XV

By Colin Scurr

The Zingari swept aside Sheppey with an overwhelming display of power and handling from the kick off opening their account with a Henry Collins converted try within the first five minutes after Sheppey lost possession in their own twenty-two. This was followed with Will  Raynor bursting through a tackle touching down near the posts for the simple following conversion. Next in line was wingman Piers Weigh finishing off a move to score in the corner for both his second try in his second game at senior level, with Horan adding the conversion from the tight angel. The city side looked in control their forwards especially in the loose setting up their backs with quick ball exploited first by Will Raynor, and then by Henrey Collins with successful converted try’s. With halftime approaching the final act was Jon Foster making his first appearance for the Zingari and making sure the forwards got in on the act powered over the line for another converted try to give the city side a commanding 42-point halftime lead.

The Second half started looked its was going to be much the same with Henry Carruthers touching down out wide within minutes of the kick off, but Sheppey had other ideas using their forwards to set up position near the Canterbury line before powering over for their first converted try, however, this was soon neutralised with Will Raynor completing his hat trick. Sheppey to their credit started a fight back with their forwards leading the charge giving their backs a few more opportunities with a kick in behind the Canterbury defence that was collected for a well taken converted try. This inspired  Sheppey and they redoubled their efforts putting the city side under some pressure only to find Canterbury could defend, and as the game went into the last quarter the Zingari were back in control winning quick ball from the breakdown that started a try frenzy. First to benefit was Simon Jaynes, and Jon Foster for his second try, followed by Henry Carruthers for his hattrick. Now deep into injury time Callum Townsend Henry Carruthers completed the try tally, and along with Rob Horans accurate boot  gave the Zingari one of their best starts to the season possible.

Zingari 34pts. Gravesend 4th 24pts.

The Zingari entered this contest as underdogs after losing out in an away match earlier in the season, and in the opening moments, it looked as if Gravesend was going to repeat their earlier success scoring in the opening minutes. Already five points down within the first four minutes after some sustained heavy forward pressure Canterbury took stock, and in what can only be described as a lesson in tackling put the heavy Gravesend pack on the back foot. This gave the city backs their opportunity to run the ball that paid off with a converted try, and again with ten minutes before half time spread the ball wide touching down in the corner for a 12-5 halftime lead.

The second half started this time with Canterbury coming out of the blocks securing an early try out wide extending their lead. Gravesend reply was again to use their forward power, but again the Zingari tackling was up to the task stopping the momentum often behind the gain line. Canterbury had the territorial advantage and with the game going into the last quarter broke free in midfield for a clear run under the posts for a converted try. The city side looked in control when they were struck with an injury reducing the side to fourteen with twenty minutes to go. Gravesend took full advantage throwing everything into attack securing a converted try. The Zingari held out until the last minute before the Gravesend forward managed to force their way over the line for a converted try, too late to alter the result but added a degree of respectability to the final score in this very hard-fought contest.

Canterbury 5th v Gravesend 4th
Canterbury 19pts. Gravesend 4th 35pts.

This makeshift Zingari side made a poor start against a well drilled Gravesend fifteen. The home side used their heavier pack to dominate territory and possession and with it came early tries and the conversions with some excellent place kicking. Canterbury reeling from their early battering recovered late in the first half making the most of possession inside the Gravesend twenty-two for Jonnie Gaylor to break the line out wide for the city’s first try. Gravesend reply was almost instant with another try, but Canterbury had the last word with Tom Goode bulldozing his way through the Gravesend defence to reduce the deficit to 28-12 at halftime with the converted try. The second half saw Canterbury come under intense pressure for the first ten minutes conceding another try, but this time unconverted. The Zingari however were looking more comfortable despite losing their only recognised kicker were adapting to their unfamiliar positions. It had been a steep learning curve with a lot of the players adapting to their new positions now put Gravesend on the back foot before putting the ball wide for Dan Till siding in near the posts for a converted try to give an air of respectability to the final score.

click to expand photo

Canterbury 35 – 36 Weavering 1st XV

The Zingari lost out to a strong top of the table well drilled Weavering side by the narrowest possible margin after a hard-fought contest that went down to the wire. After a shaky start Canterbury conceding three try’s and two conversions within the first fifteen minutes until many players drafted into unfamiliar positions began to settle. Desperate to avoid their experience at Edenbridge under similar circumstances a few weeks earlier battled hard, and in the last quarter of the half managed to get the ball wide for the backs to show what they could do with two converted tries’ reducing the deficit. However, it was Weavering who had the last word of the half using their well drilled pack driving deep into Canterbury territory forcing an unconverted try to give them a 24-14 point halftime lead.

The second half saw Weavering make an early strike with an unconverted try to extend their lead. The city forwards redoubled their efforts in the light of this early setback, and Weavering never looked as dominant as they had previously. Both sides defences dominated and it wasn’t until halfway through the second half both sides exchanged converted tries. As the game went into the last quarter the Zingari step up a gear, even their scrum held up, and it wasn’t long before they were putting pressure on the Weavering in all departments. This gave the backs the opportunity to run in another converted try, and a few minutes later a combination of forwards and backs broke through to go under the posts, and with the conversion were within a point. With seven minutes on the clock, it was all to play for, Canterbury pressured the line time and again, but Weavering’s defence held out to give them the win with the narrowest margin in a game that was a credit to both sides.

Zingari 0 – Vigo 2nds 56

The Zingari suffered their worst defeat of the season against a strong Vigo second side. Canterbury was under the cosh from the outset against a well drilled heavy experienced pack. Their direct running sucked in the city defence creating opportunities outside for them to run in two converted try’s in the first ten minutes. There was no let up as the half continued, Vigo adding two more to give them a healthy halftime lead.

The second half started the same way canterbury conceding two more converted trys with the Vigo place kicker seeming to be able to slot the conversions from any angle seemed to seal the Zingari fate. Despite the early pressure you could expected the Zingari to implode. Instead despite conceding two more try’s before the finale whistle showed remarkable resistance. Many of the players out of their normal positions instead collapsing made the opposition work hard for every meter in a show of defiance earning respect in a hard fought contest.

Canterbury 21 – 5 Leigh

The zingari had to endure the hardest opening half of the season so far. Leigh came at them from the start setting up camp just outside the Zingari twenty-two with a move from the training pitch, and quick ball from a scrum created the overlap on the blind side to go over in the corner. With the opening score under their belt leigh’s forwards pressed hard dominating at the set piece, and quite a lot of possession in the loose. However, as the half-progressed the Zingari’s resistance developed, and by halftime they had taken the early sting out of Leigh’s attack. The second half saw a complete change from the start, with the city sides forwards driving deep into Leigh’s territory for Jack Waite to finish off with a try converted by Finn McCabe. Leigh’s forwards rallied but as the half progressed and with some aggressive tackling Leigh found themselves confined more into their half of the pitch. As the game entered the last quarter the city side’s forwards started to gain quality possession feeding their backs who started to make inroads, first to profit was Richard Collins breaking through to touch down out wide, converted by Simon Crossley. This seemed to inspire the backs who repeatedly breeched the gain line keeping Leigh on the back foot. The game got a little fractious at this point but the Zingari forwards stuck to their task again releasing their backs, this time it was Geoge Thomas with a tackle breaking run who sliced through to touch down out wide, leaving Simon Crossley with the difficult conversion hitting the crossbar on the way over to close out the match.

Tries
George Thomas 1
Richard Collins 1
Jack Waite 1

Conversions
Simon Crossley 2
Fin Mc Cabe 1

Canterbury 47 – Sittingbourne 2nd 40

The Zingari avenged their earlier defeat at the hands of Sittingbourne 2nds in an exciting hard-fought contest that went down to the wire. It was the Zingari that opened with will Rayner breaking free on the outside to go over in the corner followed by George Thomas tackle breaking run to go under the posts for the simple conversion. More was to follow as Sittingbourne failed to subdue Canterbury’s backs as they splintered the defence finished with Jake Upward followed father and son pairing in the centres putting away his son George Thomas for his second converted try. This was all beginning to look one way until the last ten minutes of the half when Sittingbourne played to their strengths keeping the ball tight and using their powerful forwards driving within a few meters of the city before crashing over from short range to put themselves on the score board. This tactic proved to be successful and was repeated five minutes later with a score under the posts, and on the stroke of halftime Canterbury succumbed to another driving maul to reduce the city to seven points at halftime.

The start of the second half could not have been worse for the city side to conceding a penalty try after bring down a driving maul on their line levelling the scores. Canterbury who never looked happy against Sittingbourne’s well drilled heavier pack looked happier in the loose, it was down to Jake Forrest to reestablish their lead with a crashing run touching down near the posts. A few minutes later a Will Rayner gathered a poor clearance kick and jinked his way through a scatted defence before touching down behind the posts. Unable to cope with the city backs Sittingbourne reverted to their forward power with a drive from a five-meter lineout to snatch a converted try back. With the game going into the last five minutes, it was time for George Thomas hat trick as he handed off would be tacklers before dotting down behind the posts, and with Sam Roud conversions looked like a winning margin. Sittingbourne had other ideas, and on the stroke of full time they again used their rolling maul to great effect to reduce the city lead. The city side then had to endure six minutes of extra time with both teams battling it out before the Zingari could claim one of their hardest league wins of the season.

Tries

George Thomas 3
Jake Forrest 1
Will Rayner 2
Jake Upward 1

Conversions

Sam Roud 6