Category: Match Reports

Garry’s Hat Trick Not Enough

Posted on | by David Haigh

GUERNSEY RAIDERS 41 CANTERBURY 23

by Chris Fullbrook

With both sides unbeaten so far this season, Canterbury knew they were facing a stern test as they travelled to Guernsey for round 4 of their National 2 East campaign. It proved to be a trip beyond them as they failed to make the most of their chances, despite a hat trick of tries from wing Garry Jones.

The city side started the stronger of the two, going 8-0 up after five minutes through Jones’ first try and a Frank Reynolds penalty goal. The visitors should have gone further ahead but squandered opportunities when camped on the Guernsey try line as the home side stood resolute.

A penalty kick from Ciaran McGann, after a Canterbury indiscretion, was followed by a quick break and slick hands from the Guernsey back line allowing McGann to ghost through the defence to score and convert his own try. From here on the hosts didn’t let go of their lead. Jones did close the gap, scoring his and his team’s second try leaving the half-time score at 17-13 with Reynolds normally trusty boot unable to add the extras.

As in this season’s previous games, Canterbury became responsible for their own demise as the penalty count increased giving Guernsey the platform to put the game to bed. Three unanswered tries, two scored by back row Welch from catch and drive mauls and one from winger Smith and a McGann conversion took the Raiders lead out to 34-13.

Canterbury, however, did not roll over and enjoyed a purple patch in the third quarter of the game and pressure from their pack gave the opportunity for Frank Morgan to put Jones in at the corner for his hat-trick. Reynolds conversion from out wide and a further penalty gave the visiting side a glimmer of hope, but when a scoring chance was missed at a lineout two metres from the Guernsey line not only the win but also the prospect of valuable bonus points went begging.

To add insult to injury Guernsey had the last say of the match with a try from full-back Roberts, converted by McGann, to earn his side a-deserved victory.

With this loss Canterbury relinquished their position at the top of National 2 East and need to bounce back next week when they entertain one of the league’s newcomers Havant to the Marine Travel Ground.
Canterbury: H.Young, G.Jones, F.Morgan, W.Waddington, K.Heatherley, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, A.Cooper, E.O’Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine. J.Stephens. S.Rogers, H.Furneaux, T.Oliver . Replacements, N.Morris, E.Lusher, P.Farrance, C.Thomas, M.Campbell.

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v Guernsey - 28 Sept 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Three From Three

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 49 WORTHING 21

by David Haigh

Three wins from three make this Canterbury’s best start for several seasons and this time their control produced seven tries against a Worthing team still looking for a first National 2 East victory. The city side made a statement of intent as early as the third minute with a try under the posts from Harvey Furneaux after Number Eight Tyler Oliver, playing his 100th game for the club, made the initial dent in the defence. Frank Reynolds, faultless from the tee all afternoon, converted and although a couple of penalty goals by Charlie Spencer kept the visitors in touch, by half time Canterbury had stretched away with another three tries and secured a bonus point. An obstruction, a penalty and a catch and drive joined and finished by wing Garry Jones, brought the second touchdown and when Worthing’s Kieran Tomlinson was yellow carded they paid the price. The extra space was quickly exploited with a try for centre Will Waddington and although Spencer had landed his third penalty goal Canterbury had something spectacular up their sleeves. A minute before the break scrum half Tom Williams found space and pace near his own 22 area and arced round the defence for the outstanding score of the day which pushed the lead to 28-9. Faced with an uphlll task Worthing produced their own bit of magic four minutes into the second half. Canterbury were in full attack mode when they spilled ball in the shadow of the posts and Worthing skipper Jack Forrest made a punishing break before Spencer scored at the other end and converted his try. Soon, however, the city side were building further pressure and this time they made no mistake as Williams went blind from a maul and sent Jones over for his second try. A yellow card for Furneaux handed Worthing the chance of a catch and drive score for Jimmy Staples but Canterbury’s control of possession gave them the taste for more as Waddington collected a Reynolds chip and opened the way for wing Max Campbell to sprint clear for his first league try. Flanker Chad Thomas powered across the line from close range for the final touchdown and table topping Canterbury now face their sternest challenge when they fly to Guernsey on Saturday to meet another unbeaten side.

Canterbury: H.Young, G.Jones, A.Moss, W.Waddington, K.Heatherley, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, O.Frostick, E.O’Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, S.,Rogers, H.Furneaux, T.Olive. Replacements, A.Cooper, N.Morris, F.Morgan, C.Thomas, M.Campbell

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v Worthing - 21 Sept 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton
Owain Collins

Pilgrims Make It Derby Double

Posted on | by David Haigh

PILGRIMS 43 SEVENOAKS 2nd 17

by Dan Gill

Following last week’s victory at Crowborough, the Pilgrims opened their account at the MTG with a convincing victory over Sevenoaks in what has been a close affair in recent meetings.

Canterbury started brightly and set the tone for the day when they fielded the first kick off and began to drive Oaks back, using the forwards to good effect before looking to find width. After making their way deep into the Oaks 22, a penalty was conceded for not effectively clearing a ruck which was to become a common theme throughout the first half. It wasn’t long, however, before the Pilgrims endeavour was rewarded with the opening try. Outstanding defence from Henry Kenny and Yannick de Moubray forced the turnover and half backs Valladares and McMann sent waves of runners at the Oaks line before centre Sonny Trew-Neville battered his way over near the posts and Tom McMann converted.
The visitors responded immediately as the Pilgrims infringed at the ruck and their fly half stepped up to slot the first of his four penalty goals. His second duly followed after a high tackle was punished making the score closer than the balance of play suggested at 7-6.

Pilgrims picked up the pace and added a second try after good forward play led to Will Hunt forcing his way over from close range for a converted score. The Canterbury defence was proving difficult for Oaks to penetrate, but they kept in touch with two further penalty goals from their adept fly half who had shown himself able to punish any infringements in the Pilgrims own half. A positive response then produced some outstanding rugby. Fly half McMann made a half break and kept the ball alive with an offload that found its way to openside Jake Dengate who stepped off his right foot to burst through a gap. His deft chip was perfectly weighted and full back Jack Cohen didn’t have to break stride as he raced away to score by the posts, making the conversion a formality.

That was quickly followed by an outstanding individual try by young back Owain Collins who fielded a long kick deep in his own half before setting off on a jinking run that saw him beat numerous defenders and dotting down out wide. A great way to mark his first Pilgrims try on his competitive home debut. McMann’s conversion attempt from out wide came back off the post to bring the half to a close at 26-12.

Pilgrims were first on the score sheet after the interval with a first phase try that will put smiles on the coaches faces. The forwards won clean possession from a lineout and the ball was moved smartly to Sonny Trew-Neville who cut through the Oaks back line and his pass sent the supporting Adrian Geddes racing away to score.

Props Aaron Cooper and Elliott Lusher came to the fore with some strong runs forcing the visiting defence on to the back foot and supporters Man of the Match Collins then turned provider as his run and pass set up Cohen to add his second touchdown and take Pilgrims lead to 38-12.

To their credit Sevenoaks rallied and produced some good rugby to force a penalty which they kicked for the corner and scored from a well worked driving maul.
Not to be outdone, Pilgrims set up a driving maul of their own shortly after and captain Alex Evans dotted down for the seventh try of the day to complete a good team performance.

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Images may be subject to copyright – Ken Matcham

TOP OF THE TABLE

Posted on | by David Haigh

SEVENOAKS 14 CANTERBURY 27

by David Haigh

Canterbury lead the early National 2 East table with maximum points after a Kent derby victory which was set up in a dominant first half. At the break the city side were nineteen points clear and well in control but then had to dig in as Sevenoaks dominated possession and won the second half try count by two to one. That said, the result never looked seriously in doubt as Canterbury’s defence passed most of the tests and a breakout ten minutes from the end brought a bonus point try which sealed the result. They seized the initiative early in the game and scrum half Presley Farrance rewarded his forwards pressure by sniping over for the opening try after only twelve minutes. With ‘Oaks on the back foot the situation was ripe for exploitation but Canterbury’s biggest obstacle was their own lack of focus. Too often they lost the ball in contact and an over-anxious back line lacked fluency. A yellow card for home skipper Scott Sedgwick on the half hour, however, opened the way for a second try as wing Garry Jones joined a powerful rolling maul to make the touchdown. It wasn’t until the final minute of the half that another score came and again it was the pack that did the spadework before Chad Thomas plunged over for his first try for the club. Reynolds slotted a second conversion but there was a feeling that the team had left points out there. That became plainer as Sevenoaks began to get a strong foothold in the game but were never clinical enough to make best use of their possession. One the few clean line breaks of the afternoon was then made by city captain Jamie Stephens but the try went begging for want of a final pass and Canterbury had to settle for a Reynolds penalty goal. After that it was mostly a matter of containment. Sedgwick registered the home side’s first try, converted by George Montgomery, after 60 minutes, but even though Kurt Heatherley was sin binned Canterbury found a positive reply and an overhead pass saw Sam Rogers canter over unopposed. The closing minutes belonged to Oaks but their only success was Sedgwick’s second converted try, from a driving maul, when the game was beyond their reach.

Canterbury: H.Young, M.Campbell, A.Moss, F.Morgan, G.Jones, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, C.Macmillan, E.O’Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, C.Thomas, H.Furneaux, T.Oliver. Replacements: O.Frostick, S.Rogers, N.Morris, K.Heatherley, T.Williams,

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v Sevenoaks - 14 Sept 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Pilgrims Take Revenge

Posted on | by David Haigh

Crowborough 15 Canterbury Pilgrims 21

by Dan Gill

Pilgrims opened their Counties 1 Kent title defence with a tough fixture at Steel cross where they lost their 17-game winning run towards the end of last season against a Crowborough side who have been unbeaten at home for over a year. This time they took revenge
The opening minutes were even until Crowborough capitalised on a clear knock on missed by the official to score under the posts making the conversion a formality, giving the home side a 7-0 lead.
The Pilgrims drew level quickly after a well worked line out on the Crow’s 22 saw openside flanker Jake Dengate pick a good line, make a strong run and crash over for the try which fly half Tom McMann converted.
Crowborough were trying to apply pressure but were met with a defensive wall that was proving difficult to break down, with tackles flying in from forwards and backs alike. The home side were the next to score, however, but only after Canterbury were reduced to 14 after hard hitting back row forward Henry Kenny was adjudged to have infringed at the breakdown and received a yellow card. Sonny Trew-Neville had to step into the scrum from the wing and Crowborough utilised good handling skills to exploit the space he had left and score in the corner to make it 12-7 at half time.
After the restart and having returned to a full complement, Pilgrims looked to reassert themselves and came close to scoring after a strong run from full back Jack Cohen, but simple handling errors and mistakes were making the side masters of their own downfall. Crowborough punished some poor breakdown work with a penalty goal before the Pilgrims came back strongly. Captain Alex Evans lead from the front all day with some thunderous tackling and direct running and it was he who had the ball over the line out wide after good work from forwards and backs. He broke from a maul and dived over but the referee saw a cynical infringement in the process and awarded a penalty try.
The home side came close to scoring shortly afterwards, but some dogged defence on their own goal line saw Pilgrims scrum half Hector Valladares latching onto the ball and forcing the penalty after stopping numerous drives.
Pilgrims then had their best spell of the game and an organised driving maul gave the backs a platform and they moved the ball from one side of the pitch to the other to send wing Adrian Geddes over in the corner. Jack Cohen stepped up to slot the touchline conversion to give his side the lead for the first time with eight minutes remaining.
A boisterous home crowd did their best to spur Crow’s into a response, but Pilgrims defence continued to drive them back and only a last ditch tackle on prop James Everatt stopped a further Canterbury score. The Pilgrims showed great determination to avenge last season’s big loss and end Crowborough’s fine home record.

SEVEN TRY BLAST

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 53 COLCHESTER 13

by David Haigh

This thumping victory gave Canterbury an ideal start to the new National 2 East league season. They dominated all areas as they crushed the league newcomers with a blast of seven tries. Although Head Coach Matt Corker said afterwards that there is still work to do he has plenty of talent at his disposal as he looks to smooth any rough edges. The city side’s forwards quickly took control and thirteen points in the first twenty minutes, through Cameron Macmillan’s catch and drive try and a conversion and two Frank Reynolds penalty goals, set the pattern. A Corey Button penalty goal put Colchester on the scoreboard but they were soon learning that life at a higher level will need serious adjustment. Their failure to contain a vibrant Canterbury backs division cost them dearly as Aiden Moss and Garry Jones scored converted tries to push the lead out to 27-3 at half time. The punishment was piled on early in the second half as two expertly marshalled catch and drives brought hooker Eoin O’Donoghue, who enjoyed an outstanding a game, a brace of tries. Colchester’s best spell was born of their ability to read Canterbury errors and a couple of unwise passes were intercepted to give the visitors rare attacking territory. Tries from Mike Stanway and Leroy O’Neil brought them temporary relief but in the last quarter it was business as usual for Canterbury. Frank Morgan sold a neat dummy to get his side’s sixth try and and a brilliant individual effort from replacement scrum half Tom Williams, which started in his own half, rounded off this impressive performance. Eighteen points from the boot of Reynolds, six conversions and two penalty goals, set last season’s top league points scorer firmly on his way once again.
Canterbury: H.Young, G.Jones, A.Moss, F.Morgan, M.Campbell, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, C.Macmillan, E.O’Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, C.Thomas, H.Furneaux, T.Oliver. Replacements: N.Morris, O.Frostick, S.Rogers, T.Williams. K.Heatherley

CANTERBURY GET A REMINDER

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY12 BLACKHEATH 41

by David Haigh

The power and pace of a Blackheath side which won this Friday night pre-season encounter by seven tries to two was a reminder of the standards required at higher levels of the game. The National Division One side bossed the breakdown, were ruthless with the catch and drive, which accounted for three of their tries, two of which were converted, and served up the clean ball on which their back division thrived. It was not, however, all one way traffic. Canterbury had their moments but when they created chances lacked the accuracy to turn them into points. Blackheath opened a seventeen point lead before the city side got things right, handled quickly and sent Garry Jones over for the try. The visitors hit back before the break with a converted touchdown and their forwards were in charge for crucial periods of the second half. The positives for Canterbury in those second forty minutes were that they matched ‘Heath in the set scrums and were unfailingly brave in defence but the visitors still added three more scores. Consolation came in the final play when scrum half Tom Williams, who minutes earlier had made a stunning break, finished off some good work by the backs with a try converted by Frank Reynolds.

CANTERBURY EASE TO VICTORY

Posted on | by David Haigh

HARPENDEN 7 CANTERBURY 52

by David Haigh

Canterbury cantered to victory in this second pre-season friendly, scoring eight tries and dominating their Regional level rivals from the start. Their overwhelming superiority at the set pieces left Harpenden struggling to get into the game and by half time the city side were thirty three points ahead. The biggest value for a 25 strong squad was to get game time and give experience to some younger players and it was one of them, wing Max Campbell, who claimed the opening try from a Frank Reynolds cross kick. Persistent ran did not dampen Canterbury’s ambition and four more tries before the break were all the result of positive rugby. Reynolds counter attack and Eoin O’Donoghue’s burst brought the first of two touchdowns for centre Frank Morgan. His second was created from a well rehearsed lineout move. Close quarter forward power and a catch and drive were both finished by Number Eight Tyler Oliver. Canterbury rang the changes for a second half that was not as tidy as what had gone before. They failed to put the finishing touches to some good attacking positions but still found three good tries to celebrate. Presley Farrance’s break made one for Aiden Moss and the pace of Garry Jones saw him round off the day with the last two touchdowns. Reynolds, in good form with the boot, landed six conversions, while an out gunned Harpenden broke away to earn a penalty try in the final minute.

Bonus Point Finish

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 34 SEVENOAKS 21

by David Haigh

Canterbury ended their league campaign in positive style with this bonus point victory which sealed a seventh place finish in National 2 East. The season’s biggest crowd watched the city club take charge of the first half, ride out a Sevenoaks challenge in the final quarter and send their Kent rivals home empty handed. Three of Canterbury’s four tries came in the first forty minutes and it was the back division that brought a touch of flair to all of them. Frank Morgan got the first after only seven minutes, the centre cantering under the posts when wing Alfie Orris slipped into the line to carve out the gap. A sin binning for flanker Harvey Furneaux might have put a damper his side’s ambitions, but not a bit of it and they scored again. A great turnover over by Tom Mackenzie forced a scrum on the Oaks’ 22 metre line and scrum half Presley Farrance sold the sweetest of dummies to the visitors back row before sprinting over. Sevenoaks hard hardly been seen as an attacking threat but five minutes before the break they took their chance when Canterbury lost possession and a loose ball gave them field position. They forced a five metre scrum then mounted a series of close range drives before Matt McCrae crashed over and Ben Adams converted. That lapse stung Canterbury into the swiftest of replies as they won the ball at the restart, launched the backs and it was Morgan’s show and go that brought him a second try. The league’s top points scorer, Frank Reynolds, landed his third conversion and in the final minute of the half added a penalty goal to open a 24-7 lead. Things got even better just three minutes after the break when the city backs ran the ball from deep, put Orris into space and he stormed home, swatting aside defenders in a spectacular 50 metre run. With another Reynolds conversion and a bonus point in their pocket Canterbury may have thought the job was done and they lost concentration. As they failed to look after the ball it gave Sevenoaks fresh momentum and they punished the home side for their shortcomings. Two tries from centre Barney Stone, both converted by Adams, could have been the prelude to an upset in those last 20 minutes but the city side settled again, albeit uneasily, until a final Reynolds penalty goal gave them back control.

Canterbury; W.Hilton (repl T.Best), G.Jones, F.Morgan, W.Waddington, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance (repl B.Cooper), C.Macmillan (repl D.Huntley), E.O’Donoghue, E.Lusher, C.Murray (repl S.Kerry), J.De Vries, T.Mackenzie (repl N.Morrris), H.Furneaux, J.Stephens

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v Sevenoaks - 27 April 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

The Late, Late Show

Posted on | by David Haigh

HENLEY HAWKS 36 CANTERBURY 35

by David Haigh

The tries flowed, the result went Henley’s way by the barest of margins and Canterbury showed huge resilience to snatch two valuable league points from the final play of the match. Henley’s late score threatened to rob the city of anything and that would have been a serious injustice in a game that was always in the balance. But as the clock ticked into the eighty minute zone they launched one last offensive and Harvey Furneaux put in the essential finishing burst for his second try of the afternoon. Canterbury’s biggest regret will be their failure to put away their first half chances when their scrum was on top and they spent plenty of time on the front foot. A poor start saw them concede a try in the first minute as Hawk’s Guy Rawsthorne completed Alex Hayton’s break and it was the hosts greater ability to finish the job that earned them a 17-8 lead by the break. A Frank Reynolds penalty goal, won by the front row, put Canterbury on the scoreboard but five minute later Hawks hit them with a catch and drive touchdown from Tom Emery. The city side’s lack of accuracy frustrated them although there was plenty to admire about the one try they did manage. With the ball swept wide Will Hilton was on Garry Jones’ shoulder to take his pass and make the score. Hawks matched that after Ryan Crowley’s chip kick led to some clever angles and handling for Rawsthorn’s second touchdown, converted by Max Titchener. Then came a second half that underlined that you cannot afford to pass up those earlier opportunities in this tough National 2 East division. Canterbury started well with a Furneaux try in the first minute, went on to capture the lead twice and outscored Henley overall. It was not quite enough. The accuracy of Reynolds boot was an important feature, with two further penalty goals and three conversions, starting with the Furneaux score. But in a fascinating contest Hawks were always a danger. Crowley slid a kick behind the visiting defence and won the race for the touchdown before Will Waddington hit the line hard for a converted try which edged Canterbury into the lead for the first time. George Wood’s corner flag try and Titchener’s conversion rubbed that out before Reynolds’ final penalty goal, on 68 minutes, made it a one-point game. It was Dave Manning’s late try for Henley and Mitchener’s conversion that seemed to have wrecked Canterbury’s afternoon, but this side now has a bit of old fashioned ‘bottle’ and it deservedly rescued them here.

Canterbury; W.Hilton (repl T.Best), G.Jones (repl P.Farrance), F .Morgan, W.Waddington, A.Orris, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance (repl B.Cooper), C.Macmillan (repl D.Huntley), E.O.Donoghue (repl N.Morris,), W.Lusher, W.Hunt (repl T.Mackenzie), J.De Vries, C.Murray, H.Furneaux, J.Stephen

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v Henley - 13 April 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton