Category: Match Reports

Deacons step things up & worry TJ’s 3’s.

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Deacons step things up & worry TJ’s 3’s.

The sun came out for the last of the 171 weekends in Jan ‘26 as we welcomed TJ’s 3’s to the MTG. Being the only team playing at home we were excited to be back home but knew our opponents would be formidable. It’s been a tricky January where we’ve played the top 3 teams in our league on consecutive weekends. Such a tough schedule brings its own challenges has & we lost a few of our key players to injuries.

Calling up our teammates from across the Zingari, wider club, uni and Colts we fielded another team filled with youth, experience & greying hair and even had some subs to call on.
To our delight the ever capable Jake Upward & Dan Head were available in the back line alongside Herbie Bowler to bolster some serious talent in the pack with Milo Kubicki, Rueben Kerr, Freddie Philpot and Aidan Demery all making appearances for everybody’s favourite Canterbury team.

Losing the toss Canterbury received the kick off playing uphill on the Orchard pitch and started with good intentions. After a number of phases TJ’s got to show us what they had in their arsenal. They tested us across the pitch in the face of some fierce defending by the City boys, tackling hard and shutting down the TJ’s runners. After a prolonged period camped on the Deacons 5m line TJ’s struck first despite the defensive heroics.
It didn’t take long before the visitors found some space on the opposite wing and darted in for a second try, this time converted.

Chasing the restart the Deacons set about making sure TJ’s didn’t have it all their own way with some great carries from the forwards & strong presses against the counter attacks. The game was tougher than a Wetherspoons steak, so much so Oli Toms destroyed his boots through his blistering pace.
Following a strong Canterbury scrum and Dylan Coyle whipping the ball around for some phase play, Milo Kubicki spotted the gap and barrelled through fending off some defenders & setting up an easy conversion for Dan Head’s ever reliable boot.
We were off the mark at 7-12 and not much of the half left.

Sadly the next 12 minutes did not go in our favour. Fatigue set in, we lost some of the communication, focus and confidence that had seen us pull ourselves back into the game. TJ’s ran in a couple of quick, easy tries.

The half time Haribo was in dire need as the whistle went and we headed to the break 7-31 down. A few personnel changes on the cards – Piers Weigh had to stand down due to injury having had a superb game, Connor Langley joined at flanker and young superstar Kirk Taylor moved to fullback.

With Dylan & Herbie trading places we were ready for the second half. Unfortunately we didn’t realise it had already started and TJ’s seized the chance to score once more. Bugger.

So off we went again, chasing another restart worried it was history repeating itself, TJ’s with the wind in their sails and still with most of the half to go.
But once again, as with most of this seasons games the Deacons clicked & worked together. Freddie Philpot was instrumental in so many attacking runs (he also played in 3 different positions by the end of the game) & he deserved to score powering over the line.
Jake Upward & Dan Head controlled the defensive line and the attacking moves and once again the big man Milo got his second with some impressive footwork.

With Dan putting away the extras we found realised the scoreboard was at 21-31 & it was game on! TJ’s were rattled & set about pressuring us to try and find a crack in our defense. With tiring bodies & an empty bench they crossed our line once more but another missed kick saw us trail by 15 points with plenty of time remaining.

With a period where both teams made as many mistakes as each other, up stepped Freddie again tearing into the try area and stopping just short of between the posts to allow a simple conversion. Remarkably now 28-36 and the Deacons were chasing a massive comeback. With a converted try in it & 6 or 7 minutes on the clock (yeah, 6/7……) we were within range.

TJ’s were shook. They came back strong using territory and a well rehearsed set piece to their advantage. A strong rolling maul which (accidentally) collapsed leading to a penalty meant TJ’s were eventually able to cross our line again to take the score to 28-41.

We thought we were still in it, and wanted more. When the final whistle went we all celebrated, 2nd in the league had beaten 2nd from bottom. But the Deacons re-discovered their form & went to the sheds full of pride.

Back on St Valentines Day away to Leigh, lovers (hope it’s not a massacre!)

MOTM x2 – Carter Jefferys for work rate & Jake Upward for intensity

Tries –
Milo Kubicki x 2
Freddie Philpot x 2
Conv – Dan Head x 4

Pilgrims came off 2nd best in a game of 2 very contrasting halves.

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Dartfordians 34

Pilgrims 26

Pilgrims came off 2nd best in a game of 2 very contrasting halves.
The pilgrims travelled to Dartfordians with a number of absentees through injury which forced a number of positional changes in the back line which included flanker Tom Mackenzie stepping in to the centres.
The new combinations took time to click and this was exploited well in the first half by Dartfordians side who were well drilled and had a clear game plan to test the blind side before looking to spread the ball wide which they did 3 times in the first half to race into a 19-0 lead.
This spurred the pilgrims into action and the strong running of the forwards drove Dartfordians back up the slope on a number of occasions only for dropped balls or infringements at the breakdown letting Dartfordians off the hook. Pilgrims task was made even harder when they lost forward Mo Pangarker to injury on the 30 minute mark. Dartfordians kicked a penalty to the corner and drove over out wide to secure a try bonus point before half time and take a 24-0 lead. The pilgrims finally injected some fluency in their attack as they spent the final 5 mins of the half putting Dartfordians under constant pressure. They drove deep into the 22 with a driving maul from a lineout which Dartfordians illegally stopped just short of the line. The resulting penalty was tapped and the pilgrims looked odds on for their first score on the stroke of half time, only to be turned over in the act of driving over the line when a score seemed certain, Dartfordians cleared and the half ended with them leading 24-0.
Pilgrims came out firing in the second half, and with the advantage of the slope it didn’t take long for them to get points on the board. Dartfordians were on the back foot as the pilgrims surged forward and Dartfordians were adjudged to be offside in midfield, knowing he had an advantage flyhalf collins clipped a cross field kick from left to right which the pilgrims dotted down to score, 24-5.
The second soon followed when Gus Lister spotted an opportunity out wide and his exceptional long pass sent wing man Harvey Ingram on a powerful 70 meter run, he was eventually stopped just short of the Dartfordians line but scrum half Hector Valladares was on hand to pick up and dive over. 24-12.
Sensing the momentum shifting against them, Dartfordians became niggly, but it was the pilgrims who found themselves on the receiving end of the referees decisions as not 1 but 2 yellow cards were brandished within a minute- first industrious debutant flanker Mark Stone was yellow carded for handling a loose ball while offside before captain will Hunt was given a 2nd for what the referee described as an accumulation of offences. Being 2 men down with 20 mins to play disrupted the city sides flow and allowed Dartfordians back into the game. They quickly exploited the 2 man advantage to score their fifth try out wide to take the score to 29-12.
Still playing front foot rugby, the pilgrims were quickly back on the attack and good offloading led to a fine line break by flanker Max McCormack who beat a number of defenders to score, well converted by Lister 29-19. Dartfordians then got the decisive score against the run of play, pouncing on a loose ball and using their numerical advantage to move the ball wide and score their 6th try. 34-19.
Back up to full strength with less than 10 mins to play, the pilgrims were back on the front foot and pushing for a bonus point try of their own. Dartfordians were defending with great determination and thwarted a number of promising pilgrims attacks before wing man Mitch Fielder eventually dived over with the clock ticking down to bring the final score 34-26. Dartfordians held on for a deserved victory after their first half performance, the pilgrims will be looking to bounce back at home on 14th February when they take on old reigatians.

Errors Undo Winning Run

Posted on | by David Haigh

HAVANT 28 CANTERBURY 21

by David Haigh

Canterbury’s winning run came to a disappointing end at the hands of a confident Havant who have discovered their best form in recent weeks. Here, their job was made easier by a city side whose basic faults of missed tackles, poor ball retention and questionable decision making added up to one of their weakest performances. It bore no resemblance to the impressive show of the previous week, but at least they managed to come away with a losing bonus point. It was tackle failures that gave Havant the territory to build a fourteen point lead in the opening quarter of an hour; first through a catch and drive try from Sean Shepherd, then a decisive finish by wing Will Perry, both converted by Joel Knight. After those shocks, Canterbury built one or two promising attacks but ruined their chances by giving away penalties and had to work hard to keep their own line intact, in particular a brave last ditch tackle on wing Sam Trodd. Despite the pressure, the city side somehow reached the break only one score behind. In the final minute of the half the forwards established a platform, kept their discipline and scrum half Presley Farrance wriggled over and Frank Reynolds converted. It seemed Canterbury may have opened a new chapter at the start of the second half as they drew level for the first time. Hooker Eoin O’Donoghue had come off the replacements bench and immediately justified the move with a first minute, close quarter try which Reynolds converted. That brought fresh hope but It did not last long as the earlier failings surfaced again. Havant, always looking the more assured, turned over ball, set Perry free and he slipped the scoring pass to Ben Grffin. Knight converted but going into the final quarter Canterbury found some of that elusive cohesion and centre Will Waddington’s fine burst took him under the the posts, leaving Reynolds an easy goal target,. However, that was as good as it got with Havant controlling the late stages, holding possession efficiently and producing the winning try. They again asked questions of the city’s defending, made space on the right flank and Dylan Evans’ converted touchdown won the bonus point and the game.
Canterbury; K.Heatherley, A.Moss, H.Sloan, W.Waddington, L.Talbot, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, J.Dengate, O.Frostick, J.De Vries, J.Stephens, C.McGovern, R.Thomas, J.Walker. Replacements: O.Hewett, E.O’Donoghue, T.Oliver, T.Williams, C.Macmillan

Canons Match Report

Posted on | by Becca Williams

It was a tough afternoon at the office for the Canons as the city side fell to a 52-15 defeat against table toppers Sittingbourne.

 

The Canons knew that they were heading into a physical battle against Sittingbourne, who saw their first defeat of the season the prior week, which provided added venom to the league leaders. Canterbury started positively, and took an early lead following a 45m penalty from Josh Lamb. However the uglier and heavier Sittingbourne soon bounced back for their first try following scrum dominance on a very muddy and boggy top pitch and pushed over from 5m. Within the next 10 minutes, it was déjà vu, as Bourne crossed for a second from another scrum.

Frustration hit the Canons, with silly penalties allowing the visitors to kick the ball into the corner and again maul over from short range. A yellow card followed for Fady Sheta following a no arms tackle, but despite being a man down, the Canons scored next following some good recycling and free flowing rugby. Finding space out wide, Lamb used good footwork to evade the defence and release Kel Katta to score. The conversion was successful and the deficit reduced to 9.  Sittingbourne had the last laugh of the half, again using their forwards to bully their way over and grab the bonus point try.

 

Despite the score line, Sittingbourne had picked up a number of injuries and the game felt in the balance at half time.  However, Sittingbourne rallied in the second half, and again the forwards used their size and power to wear down the Canons defence 4 more times.  The Canons ended positively, with the excellent Henry Carruthers finishing off a passage of excellent offloading to score a consolation.

 

Sittingbourne showed why they are top of the league and pushing for promotion into Counties 2. The Canons now have a 2 week break before travelling to old foes Old Williamsonians for a Valentine’s Day love in.

Canterbury Push League Leaders to the Limit in Hard Fought Home Clash

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Written by Amber Waitimas

 

Canterbury Women vs Dorking (Home) – 26–34

 

It was a well-anticipated home fixture for Canterbury Women as they welcomed league leaders Dorking, who have dominated the competition so far this season. With both sides looking to impose themselves early, the match delivered a high intensity, physical contest from the opening whistle. This fixture also saw six debut players feature for Canterbury’s ever-growing women’s team, highlighting the squad’s continued development.

 

Canterbury kicked off and immediately applied pressure, capitalising on handling errors from Dorking deep inside their own 15. On debut, Meghan Rhodes #3 reacted sharply at the breakdown, picking up loose ball before the forwards drove hard through a series of pick and go phases. The sustained pressure was rewarded when El Crowe #8 crossed for the opening try to give Canterbury a 5–0 lead.

 

Dorking responded to level the scores at 5–5 before adding further points to move ahead 5–10 and then 5–12. Despite this, Canterbury’s scrum proved a major strength throughout the match. Strong, dominant set-piece work consistently provided clean ball, allowing scrum-half and captain Lucy Relf #9 to deliver quick, accurate service and maintain tempo in Canterbury’s attack. Defensively, Emily Moriarty #15 made several one on one try saving hits, repeatedly shutting down Dorking’s attacks and keeping Canterbury in the contest.

 

From a penalty, Canterbury again turned to their forward power, building momentum through repeated pick and go phases before the ball was shifted cleanly through the backs and out to Robyn Gulley #12, who finished well to level the scores at 12–12. Gulley converted her own try. Shortly after, Canterbury were unfortunate not to be awarded a goal-line drop-out, with their hard defensive work leading to Dorking being held up twice over the try line. Dorking then took advantage to extend their lead to 12–17 and then 12–24 at half time.

 

Canterbury came out with renewed intent after the break. From another penalty, the forwards showed patience and control, with Kate Rutherford #19 grounding the ball after a sustained period of pressure. Robyn Gulley #12 added the conversion to reduce the deficit to 19–24. In the pack, Savannah Butt #6 delivered a standout performance, making several dominant tackles and securing key lineout wins, earning Forward of the Match.

 

Dorking responded to push the score to 19–29, but Canterbury refused to let their heads drop. A powerful 20 metre run from El Crowe #8 cut through the defensive line to score once again, with Robyn Gulley #12 converting to close the gap to 26–29. In the backs, Layla Little #13 was outstanding, running excellent support lines and repeatedly breaking through the Dorking defence. Her impact, alongside Robyn Gulley #12, saw the pair work effectively together to identify and exploit gaps, creating sharp attacking opportunities, earning Back of the Match.

 

Late in the contest, Dorking scored on the wing following a penalty to extend their lead to 26–34. A final penalty from the scrum brought the match to a close.

 

Players of the Match were particularly hard to select this week following strong performances across the squad. Forward of the Match went to Savannah Butt #6 for her dominant tackles and key lineout wins, while Back of the Match was awarded to Layla Little #13 for her excellent support lines and ability to break through the Dorking defence. The Women’s Team Sponsor’s Player, awarded by Joe Jupe from JAJ Signals, went to Emma Alleyne #5 in recognition of her consistent hard work across the park, strong attacking lines, and dominance at the breakdown.

 

Despite the result, Canterbury refused to accept defeat and proved why they are a strong team, testing Dorking in a well-contested match from start to finish. The coaching team are particularly proud of the performance and the squad’s commitment, maintaining intensity and hard work for the full 80 minutes of the game.

Canterbury Power Show

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 40 DORKING 7

by David Haigh

In condemning Dorking to their heaviest defeat of the season an in-form Canterbury gave notice that they are becoming serious title contenders. The top two National 2 East sides, Old Albanians and Oundle, must come to the Marine Travel Ground next month while third placed Bury St Edmunds host the city side on February 21st. It could be a defining period of the season and Canterbury will relish the challenge. In a blistering first half they took total control, scoring four converted tries, running up twenty eight unanswered points and wrapping up a bonus. The tone was set by scrum half Tom Williams who celebrated his 100th appearance by scoring the first two tries in a Man of the Match performance. From nervy starters, Canterbury became clinical finishers as Harry Sloan’s angled run cleared the way for Williams’ opener after 15 minutes. The century man needed no assistance for his second contribution, a great individual break and 35 metre dash ending under the posts. Poor discipline from Dorking, which cost them two yellow cards and damaging penalties, saw them next pinned back by a probing kick from Frank Reynolds and they gifted the city side a third try. An overthrown line out ball landed in the arms of Eoin O’Donoghue at the tail and he crossed the line unmolested. It was the hooker who also claimed the bonus point score as the influential Sloan produced another decisive thrust to set it up on the half hour mark. Canterbury’s domination was such that the visitors never entered the home 22 area until late in the half and If they were to get any sort of foothold in the match they needed to use the slope and breeze in the second period. Instead, Canterbury stunned them with a fifth try three minutes after the interval. Charlie McGovern, Kurt Heatherley and Presley Farrance combined beautifully to send Aiden Moss over. Reynolds failed with the conversion for the first time but he soon got the opportunity to make amends. Canterbury mauled and drove at close range and Farrance’s finish made the result a formality. A strangely lacklustre and battered Dorking did respond, briefly, with a try and conversion from fly half Tom Hardwick, but for the rest they were shut out as the city side powered to an impressive eighth win in a row.

Canterbury: K.Heatherley, A.Moss. H.Sloan, W.Waddington, L.Talbot, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, J.De Vries, J.Stephens, C.McGovern, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Replacements: P.Farrance, C.Macmillan, F.Morgan, J.Dengate, J.Walker,

Pilgrims Match Report v Bromley

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Bromley 38 Pilgrims 30

Two late penalty goals ensured Bromley ran out winners and Pilgrims hade to be content with a losing bonus point.
The home side opened the scoring with a chip over the top with Pilgrims defence out of position which allowed the left wing to race through and score an unconverted try.
Pilgrims reply was positive and set the tone for the remainder of the half as they looked dangerous when getting the ball to the edges. They spread good line out ball was spread wide to test the defence before a strong drive from flank forward Tom Mackenzie saw Pilgrims level the score. They were on the front foot again as they asserted their dominance at the lineout, forcing a number of Bromley errors, but it was soft defending that led to the home side taking the lead, slightly against the run of play. Pilgrims looked to have the attack covered, but a missed tackle allowed them in to exploited a simple two on one for a converted score.
Pilgrims responded well and again applied pressure at the set piece which saw Owain Collins reduce the arrears with a well taken penalty goal. The city side had clear ascendancy at the lineout and this was giving the backs a good platform to launch attacks. They moved the ball well before another great line from Mackenzie saw him race through a gap and his classy show and go sent the Bromley defence for a hot dog to put the Pilgrims back into the lead.
From the Kick off, Canterbury were straight back on the front foot with prop Cam MacMillan going on a punishing 20 metre run. Quick ball was moved well before Mackenzie again picked a great line, this time opting to offload to the supporting Paddy Parker who dotted down for the city sides 3rd try and a 12-22 lead.
Pilgrims then gave away needless field position with poor ruck management, giving Bromley a penalty which they kicked to the corner. From the resulting 5m lineout a short pass to the front of the line caught the defence cold and allowed Bromley to add a third unconverted try. Again the city side response was positive, attacking from good line out ball, and when momentum was stopped by a Bromley high tackle Collins stepped up to slot the penalty.
With the half drawing to a close, more suspect Pilgrims defence at the ruck allowed saw Bromley add another score against the run of play to limit Pilgrims half time le to 24-25.
The second half started as an arm wrestle with Pilgrims still having the better of the set piece, but Bromley playing the slope well and looking to keep the city side pinned in their own half.
A rare scrum penalty saw the home side recapture the lead with a penalty goa and then added a further try after a Pilgrims long clearance was returned with interest, poor defensive alignment a allowing them a simple score.
The city side continued to look dangerous and found a deserved bonus point try through a powerful run by AJ Masaka, leaving the game finely balanced 32-30.
Despite having opportunities to add to their tally, good home defence and some questionable decision making saw Bromley close out the game with two well struck penalties. as an entertaining g Pilgrims gave another improved performance with their next game at home to Dartfordians at the MTG in what promises to be a keenly contested affair.

Canons Match Report vs Sittingbourne

Posted on | by Becca Williams

By Tom Short

With 4 weeks having passed since their last league fixture, the Canons faced a difficult trip to early league leaders Sittingbourne in a bid to kick start their season.  The task was made harder with 5 forced changes to the line up on Friday due to illness, injury and call ups to the Pilgrims.

With both teams lining up for a minute’s silence before kick off in memory of a Sittingbourne club stalwart who had recently passed away, the power and size advantage that ‘Bourne possessed was clear to see.   And this was soon shown on the pitch, with Sittingbourne using their power, combined with the skill of their fly half to race into a 3 try advantage after 20 minutes.   Canons heads did not drop, and they were finally kickstarted into life following a dominant tackle by Man of the Match Josh Lamb.  Suddenly passes went to hand, half breaks were made, and the Canons were rewarded with their first try of the game.  Sittingbourne overthrew at a lineout, before Jake Forrest collected and went on a powerful run.  The ball was recycled quickly, and made its way to Lamb who beat 4 defenders before being caught by the ‘Bourne winger 10m out from the try line.  He offloaded to winger Jimmy Carlton, who finished well to get the Canons on the scoreboard.  The Canons continued to dominate for the remainder of the half, but could not cross the whitewash thanks to Bourne’s well organised defence, and as the whistle blew for half time the score stood at 19-7 to the home team.

The Canons carried the momentum immediately into the second half.  Following a knock on from the kick off, Canterbury retained possession from their scrum before Lamb broke the line with silky footwork again to create a two on one with winger Harvey Lee, who finished to bring the Canons within 5 – the try was converted by the faultless boot of Kieran Shave.  As the Canons continued to threaten the Sittingbourne defence, ‘Bourne reverted to type when they had possession.  The ‘Bourne forwards dominated in scrum, and eventually the Canons momentum withered, and despite valiant defensive efforts Sittingbourne collected 3 tries in a 20 minute period, from a collective distance of around 9 yards.   Nonetheless, the Canons had the final say in the game, with hooker Ollie Jeffery powering over from 10 minutes in the final play of the game.  Final score, Sittingbourne 36, Canons 21

 

This Saturday brings what is now deemed to be a grudge match against Old Williamsonians.  The only team to beat the Canons in their victorious Kent Counties 4 season, the weekend presents an intriguing game with both teams searching for a first league win of the season.  Be sure to head the MTG to cheer on the Canons.

Fighting Through the Storm: Canterbury Push Medway in Gritty Battle

Posted on | by Becca Williams

Final Score: Medway 29 – 10 Canterbury
Date: Saturday 5th October

The 5th of October brought a blustery challenge for Canterbury Women as they faced Medway away in the tail end of Storm Amy. With strong gusts affecting play throughout, both sides had to adapt quickly. Illness left Canterbury with reduced numbers, but this didn’t hold the team back from putting in a determined performance against strong opposition.

The game began with a knock-on from the kick-off, giving Medway an early scrum. Canterbury’s pack, however, were unfazed and dominated throughout the contest. The forwards set the tone with big carries from #5 Emma Alleyne, #1 Alex Mills, #8 Amber Waitimas, and #3 Lizzie Deverson, while #2 Inger Philpott, #4 Shepherd, #6 Payne, and #7 Brennan worked hard at the breakdown to secure possession and slow Medway’s attack. The strong winds made lineouts difficult to control, but #6 Rosie Payne worked tirelessly at the back bookend, collecting loose balls in both attack and defence and gaining valuable ground for Canterbury.

Medway were first on the scoreboard, breaking down the wing for the opening try. But Canterbury quickly hit back. A move called by #10 Layla Little opened up space and, after some excellent support play and offloads, #11 Alice Hayward crossed the line for Canterbury’s first try.

The back three, Hayward, #14 Lola Yuille-Clough, and #15 Emily Moriarty, worked tirelessly in the backfield, fielding Medway’s kicks and pushing play back up the pitch. In the centres, #12 El Crowe and #13 Lily Philpott combined well, using strong carries to punch holes in Medway’s defence and keep Canterbury on the front foot. Meanwhile, captain #9 Lucy Relf kept spirits high and the team organised, leading with encouragement and direction.

In the second half, Canterbury began to use the conditions to their advantage. Fly-half Layla Little managed the wind brilliantly, kicking downfield to relieve pressure and exit the 22, or finding touch with penalties awarded from Medway mistakes to gain territory and keep the side moving forward.

Canterbury’s second try came from Little herself, who intercepted a pass 30 metres out, dummied the defence and powered through with a hand-off to score. It was a moment that showed Canterbury’s willingness to fight for every chance.

With around 20 minutes left to play, Canterbury were forced to continue with 14 players after an injury. Despite the setback, the team kept their heads high and worked for each other, showing huge determination to try and prevent conceding any further points.

Despite their efforts, Medway made the most of their chances and stretched the score line to 29–10 by the final whistle. Still, in tough conditions and against the odds, Canterbury showed plenty of heart and resilience.

Forward of the Match went to Lizzie Deverson, who impressed with her work rate and physical presence just one game after her debut. Back of the Match was awarded to Alice Hayward for her tireless running, defensive effort, and leadership in helping to direct the backline.

A gritty performance from Canterbury Women, proving that even in defeat, the team’s fight and spirit remain strong.

The Women’s 1XV now look ahead to their next fixture, which is part of the Papa Johns Community Cup against Beckenham at home on Saturday 26th October. Please come down and support our women.

Match Report: Canterbury Women’s 1XV vs Horsham – League Fixture


Posted on | by Becca Williams

Final Score: Canterbury 37 – Horsham 5

By Amber Waitimas

Canterbury Women’s 1XV opened their league campaign with a strong 37–5 win over Horsham, delivering a full team performance from start to finish.

The tone was set early on with a powerful run from debutant and Number 8 El Crowe, who crossed the line just five minutes in for the opening try. The scoring continued shortly after with a well-taken try by fly-half and co-captain Kate Rutherford, followed by efforts from prop Alex Mills and another debutant, winger Lola Yuille-Clough.

Canterbury showed solid structure throughout, executing moves from the training pitch while also adapting with some free-flowing phases. The forwards laid strong foundations with hard carrying and support play, allowing the backs to move the ball with confidence.

Horsham found a gap early in the second half and was able to convert their pressure into points with a deserved try for their afternoons hard work and efforts. However, Canterbury responded well, maintaining composure and control. Tries followed from Emily Kent, converted by Layla Little, co-captain Lucy Relf, and a second from Kent to round off the match.

Set-piece work in the second half was particularly strong, with hooker Inger Philpott winning the ball in the scrums and the pack putting in a dominant shift around the field.

Defence played a key role throughout, with Canterbury staying focused and aggressive in the tackle. Tries were well spread across both the forwards and backs, reflecting a true team effort.Forward of the Match: Lily-Inger Philpott
Back of the Match: Emily Kent
Both players stood out for their work rate and defensive contribution.

Further honours to all of our debut players this afternoon go to El Crowe, Rosie Payne, Lizzie Deverson, Ellie Rowe, Mary Trimmer and Lola Yuille-Clough. We are excited to follow their journey with us!

Canterbury’s next fixture is away at Medway on Sunday 5th October. Based on previous meetings, it promises to be a well-contested match. All supporters are welcome to come along and be part of the day.