Category: Match Preview

Toughest Challenge

Posted on | by David Haigh

SATURDAY PROSPECTS

Nine from nine! It has been a great start to the season across the 1st XV, Pilgrims & Canons and all still remain unbeaten three games in. This weekend the first team travel to Guernsey for our toughest challenge of the season so far. The journey does add an extra logistical dimension and Guernsey are also three out of three. It is an exciting battle so early on the season and if we look back to this fixture last season we were proud of the performance we put in, coming away with a win for the first time in recent history. Guernsey are in a much stronger place this season and we will need to raise our performance another level to experience the same success.
Against Worthing we took a noticeable step forward. We set our focus on improving our execution and we did that, reducing our penalty and turnover count. There is still more to do in these areas and going into a tougher contest on Saturday we will need to minimise the opportunities we give Guernsey. This game has come at a good time for us and I can’t wait to see the players rise to the challenge.

For those of you who saw the Pilgrims Friday night game against Ashford, you were treated to a close first half with only three points the difference before the Pilgrims found their stride finishing up 38-7 winners. Unfortunately, this week’s fixture against Charlton Park has been cancelled due to them being unable to raise a team. Charlton Park are a proud club with a long history running back to 1893 and it is a stark reminder of how many clubs are fighting against decreasing playing numbers. As a rugby community we need to keep working hard to find new ways to support each other for the good of the game.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Work Still To Do

Posted on | by David Haigh

WEEKEND PROSPECTS

Two from two and six from six across the 1st XV, Pilgrims and Canons, not a bad start!

A result away at Sevenoaks is one that we have been hunting down for the past three seasons. Five points on the road, at a ground we haven’t won at in recent years is something that we are most definitely proud of, but on review we know there is still a lot to work on. We clocked up 16 penalties and 21 turnovers, a combined loss of possession that is double our target. Our lineout maul dominance and some emotional defence sets ultimately proved the difference, but we must be more effective with the ball if we want to play the brand of rugby that we are aiming for and show the improvements we believe we are making. This weekend against Worthing we will be focused on taking a big step forward in our attacking execution.

The Pilgrims ran out 43-17 winners against Sevenoaks 2nd XV in a convincing performance. They look to continue this strong form against Ashford tonight (Friday) 7.30pm kick off. The Pilgrims squad is full of players pushing for 1st XV places and this is driving the group forward every session we have together. The Pilgrims Friday night lights were unmissable evenings last season, and I fully expect the same from this one.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

BEST NEEDED AT SEVENOAKS

Posted on | by David Haigh

SATURDAY PROSPECTS

Last season we didn’t get off to the start we wanted with an opening-day loss against this week’s opposition, so starting strongly has been a key focus during preseason. Scoring 50 points at home, even considering it was Colchester’s first game in National 2, is a result we can be proud of. There were some fantastic team efforts and standout individual tries that built the score. That said, we’re not getting ahead of ourselves — there is plenty to work on and we know we must improve week by week to build a winning habit.

Sevenoaks away has been a tough fixture for us in recent seasons, as local derbies often are. Over the last two years our performances in this match have been below our own expectations and we have come up short on both occasions. This year, we’re determined to change that and we know we need to be at our best. Saturday will be a great measure of how far we have come.

The Pilgrims also put last season behind them, contributing to a clean sweep for the Men’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd XV. Crowborough have been tough to beat at home over the past two seasons so leaving with a win is a brilliant result for the Pilgrims to build on. The Cannons kicked off their Counties 4 Kent campaign in style with a commanding 60-12 win over Medway’s 3rd XV, no mean feat as the league’s new boys.

The Pilgrims are the other half of this week’s double-header against Sevenoaks and will be looking to keep up their momentum at home on Saturday.

Matt Corker. Head Coach

TARGETING A STRONG START

Posted on | by David Haigh

SATURDAY PROSPECTS

As we turn the page on preseason, this week represents the transition from preparation to action with our first league fixture awaiting us on Saturday. The squad has been outstanding over the past ten weeks, meeting every challenge we have thrown at them head-on. The data shows what we’ve already seen in training — most of the squad is in the best physical shape they’ve been in for the last four years, which is a credit to their hard work.

Having retained the majority of the squad for a second season we have come into this preseason further along the road than in previous years. Our strong finish to last season has given us a solid platform to build on and the new additions to the group have only strengthened us, adding depth and real competition for places.

The three warm-up games have been competitive and exactly what we needed. Esher and Blackheath provided us with valuable insights into where we’re strong and where we need to sharpen up. Harpenden gave us a different kind of challenge — a wet, physical game on a 3G pitch. That was important preparation as the three newly promoted teams this season all play on similar surfaces, so the experience will serve us well.

The Blackheath game was a great learning experience. It reminded us how crucial it is to make the most of the opportunities we create. That’s the next step we need to take if we want to start our league campaign on the right foot.

Colchester arrive at the Marine Travel Ground off the back of an exceptional season. They only lost two matches and finished 15 points clear of second place. Last season’s opener didn’t go the way we’d hoped and we’ve spent the summer preparing to ensure we start better this time around. Tomorrow is our chance to show what we are capable of and set the tone for the season ahead.

The Pilgrims’ trip to Crowborough highlights the level of competition we’ve got within the squad. The strength of the team travelling there speaks for itself. Crowborough was their final game of last season and those involved haven’t forgotten the bad result. They’re eager to put that right and give a much better account of themselves this time around.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

THE HENLEY CHALLENGE

Posted on | by David Haigh

MATCH PREVIEW: HENLEY HAWKS

Saturday was our first victory against Bury in the last three seasons and the team had to dig deep, literally uphill and into the wind, to earn the win. Games hinge on key moments and our ability to win these, doing the right thing at the right times, proved to be the difference. Frank Reynolds had another great day off the tee, and when the Bury kicker was having a very different afternoon our fly half’s contribution was also crucial. We could have put ourselves under less pressure had we given away fewer penalties, especially in the open exchanges. This weekend we have the same referee and need to learn those lessons quickly.
Henley continue to have another good season currently sitting in 5th, one place ahead of their 6th place this time last year. With two games to go they will also be looking to finish strongly in their last home fixture of the season. We have had some great games at Dry Leas over the years, and with the sun expected to be out the stage is set for another. Our focus is on bringing the performance we know we are capable of.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

SATURDAY’S DOUBLE HEADER

Posted on | by David Haigh

MATCH PREVIEW: BURY ST EDMUNDS

The final block is upon is and we still have a great deal to play for. Sitting 7th in National 2 East, we know that there are potentially four teams within three points of us. When the final whistle goes on the 27th April if we want to feel proud of our progress this season the results in these next three games are very important. That’s why they call it the business end of the season.
We had the opportunity to go unbeaten in our last block of three games but fell at the final hurdle. Away at Old Albanians our defensive performance was below standard and the last two weeks we have been working on the things that bring our defence to life. I’m looking forward to seeing how the team builds on this progress tomorrow; we have shown what we can do in training but must transfer this to match day.
The other game at the Marine Travel Ground is happening straight after the final whistle of the 1st XV, when our Under 18 colts will take on Bury in Saturday’s double header. It’s a great opportunity to see the Canterbury 1st XV of the future.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Let’s Make It Three

Posted on | by David Haigh

MATCH PREVIEW: OLD ALBANIAN
The big difference this season from the previous one is our ability to back up results and the momentum that allows us to build. The season that we were promoted by March we were a juggernaut rolling downhill and even on days where results shouldn’t have gone our way, we found a way to win. The best teams have an air of inevitability and this is a quality we have shown at different stages of the season, but is a tag that we want to wear constantly. For us to mix it with the top of the league we know losses have to be few and far between, to date Esher have only lost three times this season, and tomorrow we face Old Albanians who have been strong in this league for a long time. The last block of three games we were winless, this three game block we have the opportunity to win three from three but it will take a full 80 minute performance for us to achieve this.

The Pilgrims did it! The crowning glory for a fantastic season culminated in them winning the league at home on Saturday with two games to go. The pride in the players faces at the final whistle is a memory that I will cherish. They deserve all the credit for the commitment they have shown, and for me this was built on the results that they have churned out even when facing large personnel changes. Jon Foster, John Mitchell and Justin Loveridge have set the tone and created a team where lads develop as players and as men. Many players have progressed to represent the 1st XV and everyone who has pulled on a Pilgrims shirt this season has had a great rugby experience. Back to back league titles, what a year.o

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Under The Microscope

Posted on | by David Haigh

The swing in the level of our performance between the first and second half against Westcombe Park is something that we have had to process. The week off gave us the opportunity to put the game under the microscope and the senior players lead our review. We were well below what we expect of ourselves, and the disappointment was made acutely more painful as it was a fixture that we all wanted to show the best version of ourselves. The local rivalry means a lot to the players, coaches and the club as a whole and the error strewn second half is not the team we want to be.

The last two weeks training has been focused, and work on our ability to maintain possession and our execution at the lineout has quickly started to change our outcomes. This Saturday will be the real test of this and we are fully aware that North Walsham’s league position is not a reflection of the rugby they are playing. Everything is pointing to the sun being out at The Marine Travel ground and I am expecting a battle between two attacking minded teams.

The Pilgrims have another chance to play against Crowborough after last Saturday’s cancellation. Howfield Manor hosted the team last week for a nutritious pre-match breakfast only for the news the game was off to come in as the bus was arriving at Howfield. There was disappointment, but not enough to spoil the lads breakfast! So this week it is a case of Take 2, as the Pilgrims look to maintain their unbeaten run.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Beefing Up Defence

Posted on | by David Haigh

WEEKEND PREVIEW

We needed a reaction from the players after the Dorking game and our performance against Barnes was much improved. Our adjustment to the recent refocus on the new tackle height laws was exactly what we have been working on, only conceding one high tackle penalty. The challenge for us is to continue to dominate collisions at the lower height. Last season this was more straight forward as we coached a big impact from the second tackler. This is an area that referees are now concentrating on, even more so than the beginning of the season, and it has become difficult to have the same impact below the sternum as the second man. We have been working on strategies to be dominant in defence and this weekend is an opportunity to show how far we have progressed in this area.

The main story of the day last Saturday was the number of turnovers we conceded immediately after strong line breaks. This happened on eight occasions, the majority of the time after making considerable metres. It killed our ability to apply pressure through possession and the score board. To be at the top of this league you have to be clinical and we paid the price for our inaccuracy. The positive side of this coin is that we are creating so many good attacking opportunities and our work on is clear.

This weekend is the last of this three game block before a week off and it’s a big derby in the calendar away at Westcombe Park. Both Teams will be focused on finishing strongly and as we get into the business end of the season it’s all to play for.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Weekend Focus

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY v BARNES

One year later and although the margin was slightly smaller, we came away from Dorking with a very familiar taste in our mouth. Losing to good teams is something that we have to process and learning these lessons is how we will grow as a team. This opportunity is lost when we don’t produce anything near the plan, or we don’t meet the minimum level of physicality that is necessary to win in this league. The frustration is that when we do get to these levels we are match for anyone, but talk is cheap and we only measure ourselves by what we put on tape each Saturday.
Our focus for this week is clear; with another strong opposition visiting the Marine Travel Ground on Saturday we are concentrating on what we need to individually contribute to the team performance for us to win. Five per cent off mentally and you are miles off on the scoreboard; if that is the lesson that we learn from Dorking the disappointment won’t be in vain. We will only know when we see what we put on tape this weekend.
The Pilgrims came through their hardest fought win of the season at third place Dartfordians. The depth of the squad is being tested, as it is this time of the year, and the team battled through to finish on top, scoring over fifty points. With five games to go, only a couple of wins will secure the Pilgrims the league title in their first season at this level. The team know they will not come easy as they try and achieve something very special.

Matt Corker, Head Coach