Category: 5th XV

CANTERBURY 5th 27pts MAIDSTONE VETS 12pts

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Images may be subject to copyright – Jack Lloyd

THANET 3rds 22pts vs CANTERBURY 5ths 32pts

Canterbury took on league leaders Thanet Wanderers in miserable conditions at Callis court. The city side struck first blood with an opening try after Gareth Thomas broke through in the centre to touch down and give Kevin Stevens the simple conversion. Thanet’s response was swift taking a quick tap penalty caught the city’s defence off guard to claim a try wide out. Thanet then turned the screw keeping the city side on the defence only relived by Stevens slotting a penalty, but Thanet’s efforts were rewarded with a converted try just before halftime to give them a slender two-point lead.

The second half didn’t start well for Canterbury conceding an early penalty before the city started to take control twenty minutes into the half with Kevin Stevens picking up from a maul, selling the dummy to go under the posts giving himself the simple conversion. This opened a purple patch for the city, with Patrick Collins slicing through the defence to touch down followed by Richard Collins chasing a kick through a flat defence to gather under the posts for the simple conversion by Stevens. With fifteen minutes to go Thanet stepped up a gear and it was now Canterbury defence that was tested they held out before conceding a converted try at the end of normal time, however deep into injury time, Canterbury were awarded a long-distance penalty that Stevens slotted to put the game out of sight.

CANTERBURY 51pts UKC 2nds 12pts

This was the game that experience triumphed over a young athletic side, while the university had the speed the city had the technique to suppress the fiery student pack. First, it was Canterbury scrum near the university line that gave Julian Hunt the chance to break through for the opening try, followed a few minutes later by a quickly taken penalty setting up a maul for Phil Cottrell to power his way over. Not everything was going Canterbury’s way a missed tackle let the university slide through the defense to go under the post for a converted try, the reply was fairly swift with Will Rayner stretching his legs touching down in the corner, followed by Jerome Weigh powering over from short range giving Kevin Stevens the easy conversion. With halftime approaching the university had the last word with quickly taken penalty scoring out wide to reduce the city’s halftime lead to just ten points.

The second half asked the question could the Zingari keep up this furious pace, but with a Clive Johnson try followed by Pat Collins breaking through for a converted try, and Jerome Weigh claiming his second the city side looked almost out of sight. However, there was a lot of fight left in this University side, it was only Canterbury’s tackling, and ability to win the ball at the critical moments kept their line safe for the next twenty minutes. This famine was only broken by a terrible defensive mix-up on the university’s line giving a sharp Rob Paul the chance to snatch the touch down, and Stevens to add the extra points. Canterbury had a final flourish with Finn Roland finishing off a move out wide for the last play of the match and despite the overwhelming score line one of their most competitive matches of the season.

CANTERBURY 5th 31pts MAIDSTONE VETS 15pts

It was Canterbury who drew first blood in the opening 5 minutes with their wingman Will Rayner side stepping the defence to break free touching down under the posts for the easy conversion. The reply was swift from Maidstone within minutes some powerful running forced their way over for an unconverted try out wide. The Zingari had to fight hard with Maidstone having the best of the territory before Jez Swan forced his way over the line on a rare visit to the Maidstone line for Canterbury’s second converted try. This was compounded just before halftime when Rob Paul picked off a loose midfield pass, and with the interception went under the posts for a converted try giving the city side a comfortable 31- 5 halftime cushion.

The second half saw The Zingari play with more confidence and purpose with Phil Cotteral first on the second half try list followed ten minutes later with Kevin Stevens adding to the total as the game went into the last quarter. At this point Canterbury took their foot off the gas, and paid the price against this experienced Maidstone side intent on breaking down the Canterbury defence soon claimed their reward with an unconverted try. Having lost the initiative, the city defence was tested against the Maidstone onslaught and held out until the final minute when Maidstone claimed their final try, this was not enough to affect the outcome but added a respectable final scoreline that reflected this contest.

CANTERBURY 5^th 52pts ASHFORD 3^rd 31pts

Canterbury struggled against a heavy Ashford pack that looked like it would dominate the game despite Canterbury drawing first blood with a Will Rayner try. Ashford’s reply was swift with a try of their own from short-range and looked to dominate with another try ten minutes later. Slightly against the run of play fullback Tom Blackman who had made a devastating run from inside his own half ended up on the outside to touch down in the corner, quickly followed by Toby Allen breaking through to put the Zingari back in front before Ashford’s forwards took control with another try to level the halftime scores at 19-19.

The second half saw the city pack if not in control more assertive giving their backs attacking opportunities, first with Gareth Thomas scoring two try’s, and Will Rayner taking his second. Ashford came back hard with two try’s of their own, but it was the city who were in the driving seat first with the ball going wide for Toby Allen to finish off. Then in the dying moments Allen again was on hand to win a foot race after an Ashford mix-up in midfield to put the game beyond reach with a try under the posts.

CANTERBURY 53pts FAVERSHAM 2nds 26pts

Canterbury 5ths took on a physical Faversham side that stretched the cities defensive skills in the first half, however it was Canterbury’s Toby Allen to first go on the score sheet only to be forced onto the defensive after Faversham took the lead with one quick try followed by two more converted try’s to nudge them in front. The Zingari response almost immediate with Will Rayner and Dan Mills going over from short range with converted a try, and just before halftime Will Rayner again added one more to give the city a 5 point halftime lead.

The Second half saw Jake Upward add to the tally with a converted try before Faversham efforts were rewarded after a period of pressure on the city’s line with a short range converted try of their own. However, this was the last time Faversham were to threaten the Canterbury line as the pack began to take control, and with the backs spreading the ball wide the gaps began to open for Jake Upward and Will Ratner to add four more try’s, and with Jacob Coffin slotting 4 of the conversions sealed the Zingari win.

CANTERBURY 5^th 41pts.  DEAL & BETTESHANGER 3rds. 32pts

Canterbury welcomed a slightly depleted Deal & Betteshanger side, however, Canterbury was able to make up their numbers for an extremely competitive and entertaining game. The city side had to work hard against a well-drilled Lions pack, but they could not check Canterbury’s backs to the city the halftime lead. The second half saw the lions come back before the city side took control to seal the victory in what turned out to be a spirited display from both sides.

Canterbury 5^th 5pts.  Thanet 3rds. 35pts

Canterbury 5^th lost their chance to go top of the table this week against a strong well drilled Thanet 3rd team. The city side battled well in the first half although always under pressure and thanks to a Jerome Weigh try held the visitors to within a ten-point lead at half time. The Zingari did well for most of the second half keeping Thanet within range, however, Canterbury paid the price for playing catch-up giving Thanet the opportunity to open the flood gates, and to add to their woes it was later learned Matt Capper had suffered a broken collar bone.

UKC 2nd 14pts Canterbury 5th 19pts

The 5ths were severely tested by a youthful and unbeaten Kent University side before they registered their third Kent Rural League win in a row. The City forwards needed all their experience to overcome the students and provide the ammunition for the back division to strike with two tries from Will Rayner. UKC hit back with two converted scores of their own before Jerome Weigh forced his way over. That try and two conversions from Kevin Stevens saw the City side back into the lead and great defending made sure they survived the final twenty minutes.

CANTERBURY  5^th 61pts.  FOLKSTONE 3rds. 0pts

The city side never looked in any real danger in their 3^rd league match of the season. Folkestone battled well in the first half, their forwards restricting the amount of quality ball Canterbury could scavenge, and even managed to cross the city line at one point only to have the try disallowed. This however was not enough, first Jerome Weigh opened the account for the city, followed by Toby Allen and Joe Rumsey touching down after some penetrating midfield breaks, and with Kevin Stevens adding all the conversions gave Canterbury a comfortable lead at halftime.

The second half saw the city forwards begin to take control producing some quick ball that was spread wide producing holes in the Folkstone defence with ruthless efficiency. The tries soon began to mount with Richard Collins and Will Rayner both breaking through scoring with two tries each. This was followed by Rob Paul and James Limmer getting on the score sheet, and Jacob Coffin adding three out of four conversions sealed the match for the home side.