Category: Match Reports

Match Report – Guernsey Raiders V Canterbury 1st XV

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY 41 GUERNSEY RAIDERS 24

By David Haigh

This was an emphatic victory for the city side and an important one, soothing their fears of being drawn into the National 2 East relegation scrap. After a stunning start which brought a 19 points lead they wobbled slightly under a Raiders revival before taking charge with an impressive second half performance. Six tries were shared between backs and forwards but the foundations of this success were laid by a pack which dominated the set pieces and put Canterbury firmly on the front foot. Hooker Eoin O’Donoghue led the opening burst with a try in the third minute and Guy Hilton was only five minutes behind him. The third score was an individual gem as flanker Cameron Murray marked his last appearance before a spell in Australia with a powerful break. Two conversions from Lewis Hollidge, looking totally at home in his switch to fly half, widened a gap which could have left Raiders in the rear view mirror but they shook off the early lethargy and hit back hard with three tries before the break, one converted by Owen Thomas. Prop Jacob Pinckney from close quarters, wing Antony Armstrong completing a move full of good handling and support work, and in the last minute of the half a Dan Morgan catch and drive score threatened Canterbury’s prospects. Would they lose confidence? The answers came quickly and ruthlessly as they cracked the Raiders defence twice in the first five minutes of the new half. Prop Billy Young surged over for his eleventh try of the season and Hollidge’s half dummy opened his own way to the line. He converted the Young try and as the forwards tightened their stranglehold Raiders were denied the ammunition to find a response. Mounting pressure brought a penalty goal for Hollidge and Tom Williams’ break had the crowd on its feet as his pace did the rest and Hollidge topped up the final try. Guernsey went home with a losing bonus point courtesy of a late catch and drive score by Tom Ceillam but this was Canterbury’s day.

Canterbury: C.Kingsman, G.Hilton (repl T.Williams), W.Waddington, T.Best, F.Morgan (repl G.HIton), L.Hollidge (repl F.Reynolds), B.Cooper, B.Young (repl E.Lusher), E.O’Donoghue (repl C.Macmillan), D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.De Vries (rel H.Furneaux), T.Oliver, C.Murray, J.Stephens

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v Guernsey - 1 April 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton
Old Albanian V 1st XV

Two Fatal Lapses

Posted on | by David Haigh

OLD ALBANIAN 35 CANTERBURY 21

by David Haigh
Two Albanian tries in the final two minutes before half time left Canterbury chasing a game which, until those lapses, was wide open. They chased hard, too, dominating the second half but then, incredibly, threw away the bonus point their hard work deserved. The early action had a familiar feel about it with Canterbury dominating possession and territory without making best use of it and then falling behind the first time their defence was tested. After finding a good touch Albanians set up a series of close drives before Nathan Mitchelow plunged over between the posts and Greg Lound converted. Six minutes later Canterbury, again of the front foot, responded and when their forward battering failed to make an impression they whipped the ball wide to make an overlap try for Guy Hilton which Frank Reynolds topped up with a fine conversion. They fell behind again to a smart Albanian try as wing Jordan Evans made the most of a clever chip kick and kind bounce, but with only seven points in it and the half drawing to a close the city side looked comfortable until those fatal lapses. A missed tackle gave Albanians the opportunity to send Jarryd Sage over for his side’s third try and Canterbury quickly folded again. A scramble in defence, a yellow card for Sam Rogers and a catch and drive try which saw Lound nail his fourth conversion did the damage. From that low point the city side set about a repair job in commanding style. They controlled the second half, playing with pace and verve, chipped away at the deficit with two catch and drive scores from prop Billy Young, both converted, and looked on course for even better things. They denied Albanians a score, survived a yellow card for Reynolds and seemed to have secured a losing bonus point. That was threatened when Lound was given a last minute penalty chance which fell short but with the clock showing red Canterbury just needed to make the ball dead. Instead, they attempted to run from their own line. Was it fine ambition or madness; take your pick? The ball was dropped, it gifted Albanians the softest of touchdowns and left the scoreline telling a wildly unrepresentative story.

Canterbury: C.Kingsman, G.Hilton, W.Waddington, L.Hollidge, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, B.Young, E.O’Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.De Vries, S.Rogers, C.Murray, J.Stephens. Replacements: E.Lusher, C.Macmillan, T.Oliver, P.Farrance

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v Old Albanian - 25 March 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Match report – JUST CHAMPION

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Deal & Betts Lion 3rd 19 Canterbury Zingari 52.

The Zingari gave one of their best all-round performances of the season to cement the Kent Rural C East league title. The Lions started well using a powerful pack to pressure the Canterbury try line before bursting through to open their account. This looked ominous as the city side had to counter the heavier Lions forwards through speed and agility, That opened the way for Will Rayner to break free an go under the posts for his first of his six tries. The city pack found the right formula, their backs feasting on quick ball spread wide early opening up a Lions ragged defence for Will Rayner make two more touch downs. Kevin Stevens, who ended with six conversions, topped them up but next on the score sheet was Jonnie Gaynor. It looked all one way traffic until the Lions forwards worked their way to the city try line and broke through for a converted try. Undeterred, more Canterbury pressure was rewarded when Raynor intercepted and sprinted to the line, and a few minutes later ran through weak tackles to end under the posts. If Canterbury thought they were going to carry on where they had left off, they were mistaken. In the opening minutes of the new half Lions broke free from a maul in midfield for a converted try. Their pack now took on more of the work load but the city defence was up to the job and they eventually got back on the front font. As the game when into the last ten minutes a now visibly stretched the Lions side opened up for Raynor to touch down and Stevens to slot the conversion. Canterbury launched one final attack for their best try of the afternoon, the forwards driving to within a few metres of the line and sending quick ball to the backs where that man Rayner again found the finishing touch.

Match Report - 1st XV V Bury St Edmunds

Match report – 1st XV V Bury St Edmunds

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY 11 BURY ST EDMUNDS 28

By David Haigh

This was Canterbury’s third consecutive loss and after an uninspiring performance they could easily be drawn into the National 2 East relegation battle. The four sides beneath them all have a game in hand and on this poor showing the city side will find it hard to come up with the victory that could make them safe. A lack of finishing firepower once again contributed to their downfall as they failed to turn first half dominance into a meaningful lead. They were ahead by four points at the break but discipline and accuracy deserted them in the second half and Bury strolled home, adding three further tries to their first half opener. That came after Canterbury had exerted all the early pressure but had nothing to show for it. In the fIfteenth minute Bury’s half break made space for wing Mike Stanway and full back Charlie Reed, who never missed from the tee all afternoon, converted the try. Canterbury, despite repeated errors, found a reply with a catch and drive score by Nathan Morris but the only other points came from the boot of Frank Reynolds with two penalty goals, one on the stroke of half time. All that waste was put into perspective when the visitors took the lead just three minutes into the second half. A needless penalty for offside gave them territory, fly half Ben Penfold hoisted a cross kick, Stanway snatched the try and Canterbury were rarely in the game after that. They made life even harder for themselves when Will Waddington and Morris got yellow cards and the nearest they came to another score was a failed penalty shot. Even as the rugby on offer lapsed into the ‘forgettable’ category Bury were never seriously inconvenienced by a side lacking ideas and energy. Reed and their captain Matt Bursey scored the tries which earned them a bonus point win.

Canterbury; C.Kingsman, G.Hilton (rel T.Halliday), W.Waddington, L.Hollidge, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper (repl T.Williams) C.Macmillan (repl B.Young), N.Morrris, E.Lusher (repl D.Herriott), D.Irvine, J.Stephens, H.Furneaux (repl S.Rogers), C.Murray, T.Oliver

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v Bury St Edmunds - 11 Mar 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Match report. Maidstone v Canterbury Pilgrims, 11th March

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

 

Canterbury Pilgrims achieved Promotion at the first attempt in a new league, Counties 2, made up of 1st XV teams and 4 top level clubs 2nd XV’s, A great achievement. Pilgrims travelled to once mighty Maidstone and needed a bonus point win to stay in second place, and guarantee promotion to Counties 1. A league with only 1st XV’s in, where they will play local sides, Ashford, Thanet and Deal and Betteshanger, hopefully on a Friday night under lights! Pilgrims only just scraped a team together, but still a very good one! The first half was more like a war of attrition! 85% of the time the Pilgrims were playing in the opposition half, but things would not go their way. Some excellent play, some fantastic passing, excellent support, strong tackling and more, but the first points on the board game in first half overtime! A Horrendous head high tackle on Presley Farrance went unseen, and some other decision were not going in favour of the visitors! Just before half-time Maidstone had a player yellow carded for a dangerous tackle, from the penalty Jesse De Vries drove over for a converted try, that he took himself, 0-7 to Pilgrims at half-Time. Adam Malik, who had been having a good game, was injured early in the second half. Ollie Finn immediately scored a try, which Jesse failed to convert, 0-12. Good inter-passing by the visitors started to stretch the home side. Tom Ashley-jones was put away out wide after excellent open play rugby, this time Jesse slotted from out by the touchline, 0-19. James read then had a collision with a Maidstone player, but was deemed to have fouled him! Pilgrims were down to 14 as a Yellow card was shown, James came off with a broken nose! During this time Maidstone scored an excellent try out wide, but could not convert. 5-19 Jack Green came on for Adrian Geddes, and Dan Hill, making a welcome return, came on for James Read. A strong move, called ‘Bulldozer’ saw Alex Evans scores a try, duly converted by Jesse De Vries 5-26. Presley, who had another good game, got the ball to Ollie Finn to score his second try, 5-31. Maidstone rallied in the last few minutes, but could not stop the pilgrims gaining promotion, the home side still need to get a point in their last game to avoid relegation. We wish them well. Canterbury play their last game of the league season this Saturday at home v Old Dunstonians. A win by a massive score, like 80-0 could see them take the title, but as they have lost twice to Dover, second is a fantastic achievement and there is going to be a party after the game to celebrate their achievement. Come along and watch Pilgrims at the Marine travel ground, kick off 3:00, on the 18th.

The Marine Travel Ground is going to be the place to watch top rugby next year with the 1st and 2nd teams both playing at a very good level. If you are a player, perhaps you should think about joining before it is too late!

Won 5-31 (H-T 0-7). Ollie Finn, 10, Jesse De Vries 5+6(11), Tom Ashley-Jones, Alex Evans, 5.

 

Match report Zingari V Ashford 3rds

Match Report Canterbury 5th v Ashford 3rd

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Canterbury 27pts. Ashford 3rd 24pts.

The city took on a strong Ashford side that tested Canterbury in their bid to remain top of their table. It was the city that stuck first with a typical charging run from Brad Alchurch touching down in the corner to open the account, but Ashford were not overawed by this early score and probably had their best passage of play of the game breaking through for two trys in the twentieth and twenty seventh minute. Canterbury tightened up with their forwards taking charge in the loose making ground before Matt Capper finished off near the posts, and Jerome Swan to slot the conversion to give the city a slender two-point half time lead.

The second half started well for Canterbury with Jack Rougham out of the blocks breaking the Ashford defence for a well taken try, both sides now were locked in the battle of the forwards with the city having the slight edge in the amount of turnover ball thanks to the contribution of Alex Acaster and the pack. This gave their backs the opportunity to exploit a stretched defence making the pressure pay with a try from Leon Goode putting clear water between the two sides for the first time. The city pack was holding up well both in the set piece and the loose, but a moments lack of concentration and a well-executed move put Ashford back in contention with a well taken converted try. The Zingari had to do it all again with the forwards working their way into striking distance of the Ashford line before eagle eyed Justin Lello spotted a half gap on the blindside of a maul to dive in the corner. This score was needed as Ashford throwing everything into the closing minutes were rewarded setting up a maul a few meters from the Canterbury line then sending the ball wide outstripping the cover to touch down in the corner, too late to alter the outcome but demonstrated the hard-fought nature of this contest. Maybe a closer win than the Zingari would have liked thanks to the competitive nature of Ashford, but a small significant step to their league title ambitions.

Try
Brad Alchurch 1
Matt Capper 1
Jack Rougham 1
Leon Goode 1
Justin Lello 1
Conversion
Jerome Swan 1

Jesse V Park House

Match Report Pilgrims v Park House

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Won 24-8 (H-T 19-3). Eoin O’Dongahue 15, Jesse De Vries 4, Adrian Geddes 5.

The Pilgrims needed to bounce back from the home loss to Dover from last week. Dropping from first to third was not what Canterbury had wanted. This game was so important. With eight
enforced changes is was not going to be easy, 5 in the backs!

The game started well for the home side, Pilgrims putting some good attacking moves together, and early pressure was rewarded with a try scored by Eoin O’Donaghue after good work from Max
Halliday and Adrian Geddes. 5-0, alas Jesse De Vries could not convert.

Park House came straight back at the home side, only good defending kept them out, with excellent tackling from Jake Dengate, throughout the game. Presley Farrance was having an excellent game at scrum half, and Ollie Finn, the ‘supporters player of the day’, played well in a number of positions, as later injuries meant that he had to move around to cover.

Jesse was kicking well for territory, but a few line-outs went begging! Max Halliday went off with a hamstring injury, this will mean his misses the rest of the league season! From a penalty just short of the park House try Line, Eoin drove over for his second try, this time converted by De Vries, 12-0. More park Pressure, who always looked dangerous, resulted in a penalty, which they duly
kicked. 12-3. Just on the stroke of half time Eoin drove through to score his third try for Jesse to convert. At half time the home side lead 19-3. One more try was needed to get the much needed
bonus point.

The second half was a half of errors and scrappy play, the pilgrims spent too much time in their own half defending a hard working Park House team who started this game one place behind in
fourth place. A yellow card to Park, gave Pilgrims the lift they needed. Adrian Geddes, a young player, who has made great progress over the last few weeks, scored an unconverted try, 24-3.
The game was closer that the score was suggesting. From another scrum, an area that Park House were dominating, they broke and scored an unconverted try, 24-8. What seemed like a short
second half ended with a much needed win. A very gutsy team performance, with everyone making an important contribution to the end result. Results elsewhere took Canterbury up to
second, level on Points with local rivals Dover. If both sides remain undefeated in their last two games, Two East Kent sides could be going up to Counties One.

This coming weekend the Pilgrims travel to play Maidstone 1stXV, for another must win game.

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Canterbury Pilgrims vs Park House

Images may be subject to copyright – Ken Matcham
V Barnes

Match report – Canterbury 1st XV V Barnes

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

CANTERBURY 15 BARNES 38

by David Haigh

This was a frustrating Canterbury performance as they gave Barnes a head start and then were too inaccurate to sustain a threatened second half revival. Conceding four tries before the break to one of the league’s in-form sides left them struggling for credibility and although they lifted the tempo of their game in the third quarter too many basic errors killed off the challenge. The visitors went ahead after only three minutes as their backs exposed the Canterbury defence all too easily for Jordan Souter’s try. A Frank Reynolds penalty goal pegged that back but it took a confident Barnes only a minute to fashion a second try scored by wing Paul O’Dell. A penalty gave the visitors the territory for a third score, this time a close quarter finish as lock James Bloxham crashed over and Simon Keller’s second conversion pushed the lead to a comfortable sixteen points. Canterbury did settle more at this stage and while they threatened little in attack the deficit looked manageable if they could hold on to half time. Those hopes were dashed when Dave Irvine went to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on and the penalty conceded put Barnes where they wanted be. Hooker Alex March drove over, Keller converted and the bonus point was in the visitors pocket. How important that score became was highlighted when Canterbury engaged a higher gear after the break. They played with pace and ambition, which paved the way for a good try by Guy Hilton, and going into the last twenty minutes forward pressure made another inroad with an Irvine try and a Reynolds conversion. But all that effort was undermined by dropped passes and possession turned over in contact. Barnes re-asserted control in the late stages with tries for Cameron Leigh and Chris Stegman and a Keller conversion, while Canterbury’s woes were compounded by Sam Sterling’s red card for an illegal tip tackle

Canterbury: C.Kingsman, G.Hilton, S.Sterling, L.Hollidge (repl T.Halliday), F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper (repl T.Williams), B.Young, N.Morris (repl C.Macmillan), E.Lusher (repl D.Herriott), D.Irvine, J.Stephens, H.Furneaux, C.Murray (repl S.Rogers) T.Oliver

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v Barnes - 4 Mar 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Match report – Rochford Hundred V Canterbury 1st XV

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

ROCHFORD HUNDRED 28 CANTERBURY 26

by David Haigh

Going into this game Canterbury Head Coach Matt Corker warned that relegation threatened Rochford would fight like wounded animals after their mauling by Barnes the previous week. Fight they did and so effectively that they edged a tight contest which brought Canterbury two bonus points but disappointment that they could not maintain their recent improved form. Despite starting positively and leading at the break they were too casual and inaccurate to put away some decent first half chances and those failures came to bite them. Harvey Furneaux’s seventh minute try, converted by Frank Reynolds, made Rochford look vulnerable but they soon put that idea to rest. Fly half Tauren Henwood stepped neatly through midfield with a quick reply but it was the city side who held the attacking edge. The forwards did the work again for a Billy Young try, which left Reynolds an easy kick, but that was all they could find. On the stroke of halftime Chris Dudman’s penalty goal sliced the Canterbury lead to six points and they were soon under pressure from a fired up home side after the restart. It earned Rochford territory and penalties and two from the boot of Dudman brought the scores level. Going into the last quarter a disjointed Canterbury, who did not look after the ball, fell behind to a converted try by Rory Gray but then found some momentum of their own. It brought a close quarters try for Dave Irvine, topped up by Reynolds, but missed tackles handed centre Sam Cappaert the hosts a third touchdown with eight minutes left. Dudman’s successful kick left the city side needing a converted score to salvage a draw and they gave the ball width to send Ben Cooper over for a bonus point try. Reynolds was faced with a difficult conversion, which he narrowly missed, and Rochford’s second half battling performance was rewarded.

Canterbury: W.Waddington, G.Hilton (rel C.Kingsman), S.Sterling, L.Hollidge, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper (repl T.Williams), B.Young (repl C.Macmillan), N.Morris (repl E.O’Donoghue), D.Herriott (repl E.Lusher), D.Irvine, J.Stephens, H.Furneaux, C.Murray, T.Oliver.

 

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v Rochford - 25 Feb 2023

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Match report Pilgrims V Dover Sharks

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

The big East Kent derby went to Dover Sharks 1st Team , who devoured the Pilgrims from Canterbury, in front of nearly 400 hundred supporters and a drummer! The real winner of this game was intangible, East Kent Rugby!

The long awaited local derby between the best home record, and best defence, versus the best attacking record in the league. The best side, Dover, won on the evening, in front of a fantastic Dover crowd!

A feisty start, saw Jack Weaver scoring a great try within the first minute, converted by Tom Halliday, to give Pilgrims a 7-0 lead. 6 minutes later, Ex Canterbury Captain, Martyn Beaumont dodged through to score a converted try to level, 7-7. Alarm bells! Jack Weaver got on the end of another pass and managed to get free and drive for the try line, he was tackled, but managed to regain his feet and rolled, got up, and scored, a try, this time Tom missed, 12-7. Almost immediately, the Sharks counter attacked, and a superb cross field kick by Beaumont saw their right wing, Tom Sayers, catch and dive in for a great try out wide, unconverted, 12-12.

With 20 minutes gone, the game was going backwards and forwards, the pilgrims making errors, and the Sharks pressurising. Dover then scored a converted try to take the lead 12-19. With 5 minutes to go before half-time after consistent pressure, Will McColl drove over from close range to score, Tom Halliday converted, and the teams went in at half-time 19-19. Three tries each, a bonus point in the offing! Game on.

The second half was a learning lesson for the Pilgrims, while the Visitors continued to dominate, almost! The home side tried to compete with the away side, and not listen to the referee, who was actually having a good game, but Canterbury were not listening. During a 20 minute nightmare, they went down to 12 players, with 3 yellow cards! This did not help their cause. They were also trying too hard! If only they would listen to their coaches!

It all went downhill when Captain Harry Andrews went off injured, then, soon after, from a silly penalty given away, which Dover kicked from 40 yards out, the Pilgrims found themselves behind, 19-22. Canterbury worked hard to get back, but the Yellow cards kept coming.. Then then Beaumont, did a lovely kick for Tom ‘wonderboy’ Sayers to pick up and dive over for a great try out wide, 19-27. Almost immediately, Player of the match, Sayers did it again, another superb try out wide, his hat-trick, unconverted, the pilgrims could not cope with his pace, 19-32.

The Pilgrims still playing with less than 15 players tried to fight back, but it was like osmosis, Dover struck again! 19-39, surely that was game over! Back game the pilgrims, Adam Malik, scoring his second try of the season, this time converted by Jack Weaver, 26-39. Then Will ‘Bacon’ McColl scored his second try of the day. Could Halliday convert to get a second bonus point? Alas no, the game ended 31-39. The top three positions are now up for grabs with Pilgrims, Dover, and Sevenoaks all within one point. Three games to go, and it looks like bonus points will make the difference.

Thank you to all those that came and supported both teams, you guys made it a great night for all, what an advert for East Kent, and Night games! and to the ball boys who helped to find ball in the darkness!

The Pilgrims have to try and regroup before this coming weekend, when they play 4th placed Park House, at the Marine Travel ground at 2:00, before the Foxes take on Barnes at 3:00. Good day to come to the home of Rugby.

View match photos taken by Ken Matcham – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=100081190308473&set=a.200257012690641