Category: Match Reports

by David Haigh

Canterbury’s dismal run goes on and they are now without a win since early October. The damage in this game, one of only two in National 2 East to survive the freezing weather, was largely self inflicted as they failed to convert massive second half pressure into points. They had every opportunity to make up for slack first half defending but could manage only a solitary penalty goal. That earned them a losing bonus point but it was a poor return for a side which lacked finishing power and remains anchored near the foot of the league table. After making a promising start to the match with a try from centre Tom Halliday after only two minutes they could find no way past the Hawks who put in an impressive defensive shift to protect their 19-11 half time lead. Henley made a quick response to the early Canterbury score, opening a hole for Number Eight Sam Lunnon who left Max Titchener an easy conversion. A Frank Reynolds penalty goal recaptured the lead but defensive weakness handed the visitors two more tries before the break. Wing Ryan Crowley brushed side weak tackles to claim the first, again converted by Titchener, and was instrumental in pushing the Hawks further ahead as he poached a ball on his own line. When his deep and determined run was halted the support was there to set up Lunnon’s second touchdown. Lineout troubles, where the city side missed the presence of injured skipper Jamie Stephens, frustrated the city side’s scoring opportunities which were limited to Reynolds’ second penalty goal, and before they took a grip on the second half they had a reprieve when Henley dropped the ball with the line wide open. From that point, however, it was Canterbury’s game to win as they dominated the scrums and occupied Hawks territory, All credit to the visiting defenders who stopped anything that moved but Canterbury were convinced they had scored from an attacking lineout. The officials, after consultation, ruled otherwise and the city side could not find another crack in the solid Henley wall.

Canterbury; W.Waddington, F.Morgan, T.Hallliday, T.Best, G.Hilton, F.Reynolds, T.Williams (repl B.Cooper), B.Young (repl C.Macmillan), N.Morris (repl E.O’Donoghue), D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.De Vries, J.Dengate (repl H.Furneaux), C.Murray, T.Oliver

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Two tries in the space of three second half minutes eased Albanians to victory but the scoreline was harsh on Canterbury’s spirited contribution to this National 2 East game. The decisive tries came when the city side were, a little unluckily, down to thirteen players after the referee showed yellow cards to Cameron Macmillan and Frank Reynolds. The visitors took full advantage of that mismatch with a second try from wing Toby Evans while fly half Alex Noot claimed his side’s fifth touchdown. Before those players were sent to the sin bin, replacement prop Macmillan for an alleged accumulation of scrum offences before he even got on the pitch and Reynolds for a high tackle, there were only seven points between the teams and the city side were playing some good rugby. After a slow start, which allowed Albanians to take an eight point lead through a Noot penalty goal and a try by Wilson Ijeh, chasing down a probing kick from Elliot McPhun, Canterbury arrived at half time 13-8 ahead. The margin could have been greater had a city side, who controlled the set scrums, been able to turn pressure into points. They had to be content with two Reynolds penalty goals until the final minute of the half when the fly half spotted a gap and sent Guy Hilton between the post for a converted try. With slope and wind to master after the break it was not a convincing lead and an Albanian side that solved its scrum problems and were quick to identify space took control of the early minutes. A blindside probe ended with a Jarryd Sage try, converted by Noot, and a powerful and impressive run from wingman Evans pushed them into the lead. Canterbury, however, were still positive and finding holes which promised more points. Then came the yellow cards which damaged them beyond repair. When back to full strength they gave a glimpse of what might have been, attacking with purpose and creating a converted try for prop Billy Young, a just reward for his outstanding afternoon’s work.

Canterbury: W.Waddington, G.Hilton, T.Halliday, T.Best, S.Lanre, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, B.Young, N.Morris, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.De Vries, J.Stephens, C.Murray, T.Oliver. Replacements: F.Morgan, J Dengate, C.Macmillan, T.Williams, E Lusher

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Bury St Edmunds 31 Canterbury 17

by Andy Rogers

Injury and illness may have shaped selection for this league encounter at Bury – with four players making their first start of the season – but the outcome was all too familiar. Plenty of endeavour, particularly in the second half but by then the initiative had been lost and so had the game.

As in the previous week, Canterbury shipped their first try within two minutes when Bury winger Mick Stanway waltzed his way through a gaping hole in the defence. In trying to gain a foothold in the game the city side repeatedly failed to kick effectively, inviting Bury’s talented back three to run the ball wide. A 13th-minute try from No 8 Ruaraidh Williams stretched the home side’s lead to fourteen points.
Guilty of far too many unforced errors and poor tactical kicking Canterbury did strike on 20 minutes when No 8 Tyler Oliver scored a pushover but whilst the hard work was there the precision needed was not. A further Bury try from Matt Bursey, converted by Kodie Hawkins, saw them go in at the break 21 – 5 to the good.

Twenty five minutes into the second half and Bury had put the game to bed with further tries from Ben Cooper, from a catch and drive, and full back Will Affleck’s interception and 60 metre sprint. It was an unlucky blow just as Canterbury were building some attacking momentum.

With the game now beyond them, the city side went on to grab two scores in the final ten minutes as they searched for a consolation losing bonus point. Relentless carrying from inspirational skipper Jamie Stephens led to tries for winger Guy Hilton and debutant loose head Cameron Macmillan, with Frank Reynolds adding one conversion. Alas, even that single point was to elude them.

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images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

BARNES 37  CANTERBURY 26

By David Haigh

Having donated victory to Barnes with a dreadful first half performance, Canterbury hauled themselves off the floor to win won a losing bonus point from the final play of the match. At half time they were trailing by twenty two points and when the home side ran in their fourth try six minutes after the break the city club’s prospects looked even bleaker. Then, late in the day, they became serious competitors and scored three converted tries. There was too much ground to make up to snatch a victory but the lift in momentum was welcome after Barnes had clearly been the better side.   They went ahead in the first minute when Rory Kassapian easily brushed off the tacklers on his way to the line and Simon Keller converted.  It was the first of several gifts Canterbury offered and were eagerly accepted in that first 40 minutes when the home side looked dangerous every time they had the ball. Keller scored and converted the second try after his pack had done the spadework and the fly half added two penalty goals before Canterbury made any impression.  Cameron Murray’s close range try offered a glimpse of daylight but that was snuffed out within three minutes when the gift package was opened again. A pass to no one in particular was seized on by Barnes and Josh Souter left Josh Davies a simple conversion.   The signs that Canterbury might have something to contribute emerged early second half with strong carrying from replacement Alex Evans and the consistent Murray.  That didn’t prevent Barnes full back Paddy McDuell from setting up the bonus point try  for Will Lewin when he turned  a clearance kick into an opportunity and stretched the lead to twenty seven. But now came the shift in fortunes. Despite struggling at the set scrums the city club started to find territory. Frank Morgan was  held up over the line before the backs worked space for Guy Hilton who sent Ben Cooper in for the touchdown. Frank Reynolds converted before there was another set back with a Barnes try for James Crabtree.  However,  Canterbury were now the confident team as Barnes collected two yellow cards and Eoin O’Donoghue, on his senior debut, completed a driving maul with the third try. The forwards then won the bonus point in the final minute as Nathan Morris powered over. Respect if not victory had been restored.

Canterbury; R.Howard, (repl T.Halliday), G.Hilton, W.Waddington T.Best, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, B.Young, N.Morris (repl E.O’Donoghue). D.Herriott (repl A.Cooper), D.Irvine, (repl A.Evans), J.Stephens, H.Andrews, C.Murray, T.Oliver.

CANTERBURY 31 ROCHFORD HUNDRED 12

by David Haigh

For Canterbury, relief as they ended a four game losing run with a bonus point victory and won praise from Head Coach Matt Corker: “I am really pleased for the players after a difficult period.” he said. ” Our composure and the way we played territory in the second half was excellent.” Two tries in the final ten minutes sealed the win after Rochford had cut a comfortable seventeen point lead to just five and once again raised doubts about Canterbury’s resilience. Too often the closing stages have been the city side’s downfall but this time they had the game and the power to pass the test with scores from Ben Cooper and Alex Evans. They knew they had work to do after a largely dominant but patchy first half was marred by errors and ended with a modest ten point lead. Frank Reynolds, who made an important contribution with a flawless display from the tee, converting all four tries, put the first points on the board with a penalty goal but it was not until the 28th minute that Canterbury could top it up. The visitors defence for once went missing and Tyler Oliver scored under the posts. Rochford, however, could be quietly pleased as they had the breeze and the slope in their favour after the break. They made an early impact in the second half but a try saving tackle by Will Calder and a great turnover from Frankie Morgan rescued Canterbury and from that point they took control of the third quarter. Rochford leaked penalties and when Reynolds kicked his side into the corner the pack did the rest with a driving maul and touch down from prop Elliot Lusher. All seemed well in the Canterbury camp until the Rochford backs, quiet for much of the day, sprung to life and produced two tries in the space of four minutes. Centre Damian Brambley scored them both, the first from a move to savour, and with a Chris Dudman conversion trouble loomed for Canterbury. It was then that a new found character and good decision making were rewarded. Reynolds and Tom Best combined neatly to send scrum half Ben Cooper in for the third try and a tiring Rochford were firmly trapped in their own territory. As the game wound down they were pressured into another penalty, the city forwards pounced with a powerful driving maul and Alex Evans completed a job well done.

Canterbury: R.Howard, W.Calder (repl M.Halliday), W.Waddington (repl T.Halliday), T.Best, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, B.Young (repl A.Cooper), N.Morris, D.Herriott (repl E.Lusher), D.Irvine (repl A.Evans), J.Stephens, H.Andrews, C.Murray, T.Oliver