Match Preview Archives - Page 3 of 6

NATIONAL LEAGUE 2 EAST	View League Table
PRE-SEASON
Date	Opposition	Venue	Score
17-Aug-24	Esher	H	26 - 45
24-Aug-24	Harpenden	A	7 - 52
30-Aug-24	Blackheath	H	12 - 41
NATIONAL EAST LEAGUE 2
Date	Opposition	Venue	Score
07-Sep-24	Colchester	H	53 - 13
14-Sep-24	Sevenoaks	A
21-Sep-24	Worthing	H
28-Sep-24	Guernsey	A
05-Oct-24	Havant	H
12-Oct-24	Westcombe Park	H
19-Oct-24	Tonbridge Juddians	A
26-Oct-24	Barnes	H
09-Nov-24	Old Albanian	A
16-Nov-24	Bury St Edmunds	H
23-Nov-24	Henley	A
07-Dec-24	Oxford Harlequins	H
14-Dec-24	Dorking	A
21-Dec-24	Sevenoaks	H
11-Jan-25	Worthing	A
18-Jan-25	Guernsey	H
25-Jan-25	Havant	A
08-Feb-25	Westcombe Park	A
15-Feb-25	Tonbridge Juddians	H
01-Mar-25	Barnes	A
08-Mar-25	Old Albanian	H
15-Mar-25	Bury St Edmunds	A
22-Mar-15	Henley	H
05-Apr-25	Oxford Harlequins	A
12-Apr-25	Dorking	H
26-Apr-25	Colchester	A

WOMEN'S NC 1 SOUTH EAST (SOUTH)	View League Table
PRE-SEASON
Date	Opposition	Venue	Score
WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP SOUTH EAST 2
Date	Opposition	Venue	Score
15-Sep-24	Horsham Women	A
22-Sep-24	Medway ladies	H
13-Oct-24	Dartford Valley Ladies	A
20-Oct-24	Heathfield & W Ladies	A
10-Nov-24	Jersey RFC Women	H
24-Nov-24	Pulborough Women	A
15-Dec-24	Tonbridge Juddian Ladies	H
05-Jan-24	Medway ladies	A
19-Jan-24	Dartford Valley Ladies	H
09-Feb-25	Heathfield & W Ladies	H
23-Feb-25	Jersey RFC Women	A
09-Mar-25	Pulborough Women	H
23-Mar-25	Tonbridge Juddian Ladies	A
06-Apr-24	Horsham Women	H

COUNTIES 1 KENT	View League Table
PRE-SEASON
Date	Opposition	Venue	Score
24-Aug-24	Deal and Betteshanger Lions	A	MATCH CANCELLED
31-Aug-24	Gravesend 1st	H	0 - 10
COUNTIES 1 KENT
Date	Opposition	Venue	Score
07-Sep-24	Crowborough	A	15 - 21
14-Sep-24	Sevenoaks II	H
20-Sep-24	Ashford	H
28-Sep-24	Charlton Park	H
12-Oct-24	Park House	A
19-Oct-24	Deal & Betteshanger	H
26-Oct-24	Bromley	A
09-Nov-24	Beccehamian	H
16-Nov-24	Dover	A
23-Nov-24	Cranbrook	A
07-Dec-24	Heathfield & Waldron	H
14-Dec-24	Sevenoaks II	A
21-Dec-24	Ashford	A
04-Jan-25	Charlton Park	A
11-Jan-25	Park House	H
18-Jan-25	Deal & Betteshanger	A
01-Feb-25	Bromley	H
15-Feb-25	Beccehamian	A
01-Mar-25	Dover	H
08-Mar-25	Cranbrook	H
22-Mar-25	Heathfield & Waldron	A
05-Apr-25	Crowborough	H

COUNTIES 4 KENT	View League Table
PRE-SEASON
Date	Opposition	Venue	Score
31-Aug-24	Gravesend 2	H	5 - 3
COUNTIES 4 KENT
Date	Opposition	Venue	Score
07-Sep-24	Medway III	H	60 - 12
14-Sep-24	Sheppey	A
21-Sep-24	Rye	H
28-Sep-24	Dartfordians II	A
12-Oct-24	Old Colfeians II	H
19-Oct-24	Foots Cray	A
26-Oct-24	Kings College Hospital	H
09-Nov-24	Bromley II	A
16-Nov-24	Cliffe Crusaders	H
23-Nov-24	Old Williamsonians	H
07-Dec-24	Faversham	A
14-Dec-24	Sheppey	H
21-Dec-24	Rye	A
04-Jan-25	Dartfordians II	H
11-Jan-25	Old Colfeians II	A
18-Jan-25	Foots Cray	H
01-Feb-25	Kings College Hospital	A
15-Feb-25	Bromley II	H
01-Mar-25	Cliffe Crusaders	A
08-Mar-25	Old Williamsonians	A
22-Mar-25	Faversham	H
5-AprIl-25	Medway III	A

KENT RURAL B
Date	Opposition	Venue	Score
14-Sep-24	SHEPPEY 2NDS	H
21-Sep-24	LEIGH 1ST	A
28-Sep-24	GRAVESEND 3RDS	H
05-Oct-24	DEAL 2NDS	A
12-Oct-24	VIGO 2	A
19-Oct-24	MAIDSTONE 2	H
26-Oct-24	THANET 3	A
09-Nov-24	SITTINGBOURNE 2	H
23-Nov-24	DOVER 3	H
30-Nov-24	LEIGH	H
14-Dec-24	SHEPPEY 2	A
04-Jan-25	GRAVESEND 3	A
11-Jan-25	VIGO 2	H
18-Jan-25	MAIDSTONE 2	A
25-Jan-25	ASHFORD BARBARIANS	H
01-Feb-25	THANET 3	H
15-Feb-25	SITTINGBOURNE 2	A
08-Mar-25	DOVER 3	A
22-Mar-25	ASHFORD BARBARIANS	A
05-Apr-25	DEAL 2	H

KENT RURAL C
Date	Opposition	Venue	Score
14-Sep-24	NEW ASH GREEN 2	H
21-Sep-24	DEAL 3	A
05-Oct-24	FAVERSHAM 2	A
12-Oct-24	FOLKESTONE 3	A
19-Oct-24	GRAVESEND 4	A
09-Nov-24	OLD GRAVESENDIANS 2	H
16-Nov-24	GILLINGHAM 2	A
23-Nov-24	LORDSWOOD 2	H
30-Nov-24	DEAL 3	H
07-Dec-24	WHITSTABLE 2	A
14-Dec-24	NEW ASH GREEN 2	A
11-Jan-25	FOLKESTONE 3	H
25-Jan-25	GRAVESEND 4	H
15-Feb-25	OLD GRAVESENDIANS 2	A
01-Mar-25	GILLINGHAM 2	H
08-Mar-25	LORDSWOOD 2	A
29-Mar-25	WHITSTABLE 2	H
05-Apr-25	FAVERSHAM 2	H

Double Derby Day

Posted on 3rd November 2023 | by David Haigh

Two weeks off at this time of the season isn’t something that we are used to having, but it has given us an opportunity to give the players some rest, but also to get some quality training under our belts. Last week we had a “Big Week” of training, and we focused on a few areas of our game, which after Thursday night’s team run, have started to bear fruit. It has also been a good time for players to return from injury and the squad is back close to full strength.
This has come at a good time for us with an important run of fixtures ahead over the next three weeks, starting this weekend with Westcombe Park at home. The local derbies that are a product of the recent league restructure never fail to produce great games and I don’t expect Saturday to be any different.
The Pilgrims are also back in action, also at home, against Dover. These games were full of spice last season and we ended up losing home and away. Both teams getting promoted gives us another opportunity to go head to head as the Pilgrims look to continue their strong start to the season.
Two massive derby games, both at the Marine Travel ground, why would you want to be anywhere else!

Matt Corker, Head Coach

TOP TABLE CLASH

Posted on 13th October 2023 | by David Haigh

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PILGRIMS V DARTFORDIANS

One club team at the top of their league are our very own Pilgrims. Last weekend they travelled for the first time to Heathfield and Waldron and after a slow start came out strong in the second half to claim another bonus point victory. The Pilgrims keep marching on.

They welcome one of their serious challengers, Dartfordians, to the Marine Travel ground this weekend with a clear focus on continuing their strong start to the Counties 1 Kent season.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Another Big Test

Posted on 13th October 2023 | by David Haigh

BARNES v CANTERBURY

Where we are in our journey, to be five points short at the final whistle against the top team in the league could be something for us to be happy with, but we’re not. Two relatively simple defensive errors from us early on gave Dorking a strong start and at a critical point in the second half when we were camped in the Dorking 22m we couldn’t convert enough of our chances into points. The higher we go the less chances we will have and the smaller the margin for error becomes. This is what we are working to change in our game and when we get it right, we will be the ruthless team we know we can be.

The last game of this block for the 1st XV, before we take a two week break, sees us travel to Barnes. Barnes are sitting in second place after only dropping points to Dorking and we know this will be another test. We have been focusing on increasing our accuracy this week and transferring the quality of our Thursday night training sessions into our Saturday afternoon performances

Matt Corker, Head Coach.

PILGRIMS PERFECT START

Posted on 6th October 2023 | by David Haigh

HEATHFIELD & WALDRON v PILGRIMS

The Pilgrims made it three out of three wins, running up a big score against Cranbrook. All those who came to the Marine travel ground last week to watch were treated to a 12 try-fest with some great handling and speed on display. To think this section of the club two seasons ago was really struggling and it is fantastic to see it now thriving. Credit must go to Jon Foster and John Mitchell for the energy they put into the team on a weekly basis, and also to the players for committing to make it such an enjoyable team to play for.

The Pilgrims travel to Heathfield and Waldron to continue their perfect start to the season. They know that they can’t afford to let their high standards slip if they want to come away with maximum points.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Saturday’s Big Challenge

Posted on 6th October 2023 | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY V DORKING

Worthing over the years has never been an easy place to win; the last time we achieved this was the season we were promoted. Granted, Worthing are having problems with injuries, but a win on the road is exactly what we needed and our position in the league table also improved significantly. I can’t say that we made it easy and staring down the barrel of three scores behind we gave ourselves a challenging situation before we fought our way out of it. The composure we showed to control the final 15 minutes was very pleasing to see and was the difference between the two teams. That and Nathan Morris bagging another hat trick!

This week I’m really looking forward to seeing how we perform against the top team in the league. Dorking have started with maximum points in the first five games and are playing rugby to match this achievement. Last season’s fixture at the Marine Travel ground was decided in the final minute of the game and with both squads stronger than last season I am expecting more of the same.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Pilgrims Focus On Home Win

Posted on 29th September 2023 | by David Haigh

PILGRIMS v CRANBROOK

The Pilgrims are looking to continue their strong start to the Counties 1 Kent season against Cranbrook who visit the Marine Travel Ground on Saturday. The team continues to grow in confidence after another hard fought win on the road against Thanet and are getting stronger every week. The competition in training is really driving standards within the squad and we are still having approaching 50 players training twice a week which is a great sign of the environment that the players are creating. There are a number of changes to the Pilgrims squad which did so well last weekend but this is still a very competitive outfit

Matt Corker, Head Coach.

Putting Things Right

Posted on 29th September 2023 | by David Haigh

WORTHING V CANTERBURY

As a team we take great pride in playing at home. Our performances in front of our extremely loyal home support are very important to us and that’s what makes last Saturday’s game against Wimbledon so disappointing. The good in our game is something we can be proud of but the moments when we are not at our best are way below what we expect of ourselves, and these moments are really hurting us. Two kick chase errors cost us 14 points and when we have reviewed this as a team, we have identified these as effort errors. Effort errors are when we are not putting in the effort required for us to play our game and are not acceptable to us. This weekend our focus is on removing them from our game.
Worthing have had a similar start to the season to ourselves, and I’m expecting a tough clash down on the south coast.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

We Will Focus

Posted on 22nd September 2023 | by David Haigh

Last time we played away at Esher we lost 26-0. To come away eight points behind and fighting to the end there are obviously positives for us to take away from Saturday, but our overwhelming feeling is that we missed an opportunity. After the slowest of starts we were staring down a 17 point deficit. Esher had taken their chances well, but off the back of our cumulative errors. The quality of our current squad showed eventually, and we had two good scores to go in 22-14 at the half. We had all the territory and possession in the second half need to come away with a win, but errors blocked our ability to get over the line. The other disappointment is to leave empty handed. We learnt the lesson last season that good league campaigns are built on continually adding to your points tally, win or lose.
Three games in and our understanding of what we need to do to be at our best is coming into focus. We need to make sure this week against Wimbledon we are clinical with the opportunities we create. Wimbledon visit us off the back of a good win last week against Westcombe Park and our focus will be at being at our best for 80 minutes.

The Pilgrims started their league campaign with a great win at home to Beccehamians. The whole 1st and 2nd XV squad is much stronger this season and there are some very talented players representing the Pilgrims again this week.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Derby Day For Pilgrims

Posted on 22nd September 2023 | by David Haigh

Thanet Wanderers v Pilgrims

It’s East Kent derby time for the Pilgrims who travel to met Thanet Wanderers first team at St Peter’s, Broadstairs on Saturday, kick-of 3pm. We had planned to play the game on Friday evening under floodlights but our old rivals were unable to get permission from the local council who own the ground. The side will be looking to build on last week’s encouraging start to their Counties Kent 1 season. With scrum half Ben Cooper called up for first team duty Hector Valldares gets his opportunity in the Number 9 shirt. Number Eight Alex Evans captains the team.

Pilgrims First Test

Posted on 15th September 2023 | by David Haigh

It will be an interesting test for the Pilgrims on Saturday as they play their first Counties One Kent league fixture at home to Beccehamians, kick-off 3pm. After their successful promotion campaign last season they find themselves as the only club second team in the higher league. The side will be captained by scrum half Ben Cooper and the squad has a great mix of youth and experience.