Match Reports Archives - Page 2 of 18

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

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

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

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

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

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

CANTERBURY IN CHARGE

Posted on 17th March 2024 | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 33 GUERNSEY RAIDERS 19

by David Haigh

Having put their mark on the game with nineteen unanswered points in the first half Canterbury eased to a solid victory which keeps them in seventh place in the National 2 East table. A late rally by Raiders, which brought them two well worked tries, was never enough to trouble a city side who kept the islanders at comfortable arms length. In the process their five tries earned a bonus point but it wasn’t until the end of the first quarter that the scoreboard got a move on. Frank Morgan scored the first of his two tries after 23 minutes but it was Guernsey, with a stiff breeze in their favour, who dominated the early territory and asked questions of the home defence. Their failure to crack it, the intensity of the tackling forcing them into handling errors, was to prove costly. A lineout turnover led to Morgan’s opener and having got the taste the Canterbury backs split Raiders open again three minutes later. Lewis Hillier batted down a try scoring pass illegally and it cost him a yellow card and his side a penalty try. Prop Elliot Lusher was in support of flanker Eoin O’Donoghue’s run to claim a third before half time and Frank Reynolds conversion stretched the lead further. Guernsey finally found a way to the line twelve minutes into the second half with a catch and drive score by Tom Ceillam, converted by Ciaran McGann, but it was treated as a minor inconvenience. Some of the rugby was untidy but it was Canterbury who held a clear edge and the balance was restored when they worked an overlap for Presley Farrance and Reynolds converted from wide out. The last five minutes of the game saw a flurry of tries, two for Raiders wing Ethan Smith, the first converted by McGann, as the island side went through some excellent phases. Sandwiched between those scores, however, came Morgan again to snap up a converted try and underline Canterbury’s good work after Will Waddington forced a Guernsey error.

CANTERBURY: W.Waddington, G.Jones (repl B.Law), F.Morgan, T.Best (repl B.Cooper), A.Orris, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, E.Lusher, N.Morris (repl C.Macmillan), D.Herriott, S.Kerry (repl W.Hunt), C.Murray, A.Evans (repl T.Mackenzie), E.O’Donoghue, J.Stephens

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

End Of The Run

Posted on 11th March 2024 | by David Haigh

CROWBOROUGH 27 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 7

by John Mitchell

The eighteen game winning run has come to an end as the Pilgrims were outplayed in all departments and beaten by a better side on the day. Despite this first defeat of the season the team are still twelve points clear at the top of Counties 1 Kent and a home victory over Ashford next Saturday would see them crowned as champions. At Crowborough they were without a number of regular players but that does not fully account for a laboured performance full of errors, poor tackling and wrong choices. A sound start was made by both sides but it was first blood to Crowborough, through a penalty goal, while a good move by the Pilgrims ended after a knock on. But it was the home side who were running the game and only a fine tackle from Jack Weaver denied them a certain try. Pilgrims could not get out of their own half and as the mistakes piled up Crowborough scored a converted try and then a lucky bounce brought them a second touchdown. Everything from Canterbury was too slow and their troubles were compounded when Tom Halliday was given a yellow card. The home side took advantage of their extra man to grab a third try, leaving Pilgrims twenty points behind at half time. Boosted by the introduction of replacements, Pilgrims controlled most of the first quarter of the second half. From a line out they got their rolling maul going and crossed the line, but were held up. Minutes later, from a scrum, Luke Webber went over for a try converted by Tom McMann. There was more Pilgrims pressure now and much more control with fly half McMann in charge, but while there were some good individual displays, notably by Jordan Constant and Cameron Macmillan returning from injury, there was still a lack of the normal understanding and continuity. With time running out and Pilgrims frustration showing, the home side scored try number four to earn them a bonus point

Back To Winning Ways

Posted on 10th March 2024 | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 41 NORTH WALSHAM VIKINGS 12

by David Haigh

A muscular afternoon from the Canterbury pack brought to an end a run of three defeats as the city side served up a dominant second half. Four of their six tries were scored by the forwards and it was the collective power of the scrum that won them the fifth through a penalty try. After a tight first half Vikings, the basement side of National 2 East, got a mauling as they struggled with Canterbury’s catch and drive and domination of the set pieces. They got an early warning eight minutes into the game when Nathan Morris, that serial finisher of the catch and drive, registered the first of his two tries and Frank Reynolds converted. Walsham, however, came into this match with the confidence of a good victory over Henley the previous week and were soon testing the Canterbury defence with their all out attacking style. They worked a good try for scrum half Connor Dudley after finding space on the right and continued to keep everyone in a black and amber shirt on their toes. Reynolds slotted a penalty goal to give his side a five point lead at the break but only after Vikings full back Benjy Hewitt had been held up over the line. On the resumption the momentum shifted dramatically to Canterbury as the forwards, in strong arm mood, needed only two minutes to send lock Shay Kerry over. Any lingering doubts about where this game was going were then put to rest as they scored twice in as many minutes. With the Vikings in full retreat a collapsed scrum cost them the penalty try and, next, a fine break by Number Eight Jamie Stephens was capped with an athletic finish from Jessie De Vries. On the hour mark the productive driving maul provided Morris with his fifteenth try of the season, leaving Reynolds to kick his third conversion. The backs finally got among the scorers seven minutes from the end as wing Garry Jones put in a strong effort at the corner and for the out-muscled Vikings came the consolation of a last minute touch down by Tawanda Kandemwa and a good conversion from Ross Magnus.

Canterbury: W.Waddington, G.Jones, F.Morgan, T.Best (repl B.Law), A.Orris, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance (repl B.Cooper), E.Lusher (repl D.Huntley), N.Morris (repl T.Mackenzie), D.Herriott, S.Kerry, J.De Vries, C.Murray (rep A.Evans), E.O’Donoghue, J.Stephens.

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Second Half Fade Out

Posted on 25th February 2024 | by David Haigh

WESTCOMBE PARK 27 CANTERBURY 14

by David Haigh

A dominant second half from ‘Combe settled this Kent derby as an error prone Canterbury failed live up to their early promise. Their nine point half time lead vanished in a rising count of mistakes and turnovers as the hosts picked them off with three unanswered tries. The city side went into the game weakened by injuries and ‘Combe were able to target key areas to telling effect after the break, but that was no excuse for the drop off in judgment and physicality. That poor forty minutes was in direct contrast to the team who controlled much of the first half. Their early attacks brought a yellow card for ‘Combe’s Sam Fombo and an immediate catch and drive try by Nathan Morris. That score was countered by an unconverted try from ‘Combe’s Taine Wagstaff but it was the city side who were playing with greater confidence and they marked it with anther classy seven points. Swift handling and a delayed pass opened the gap for Eoin O’Donoghue to score between the posts and Frank Reynolds’ second conversion was easy. Further points proved more elusive as Canterbury failed to capitalise on close quarter mauls and opted to ignore kickable penalty chances, but at the end of the half they could look back on a decent body of work. When they came out for the second half, however, their memory failed them. A yellow card for replacement Alfie Orris gave ‘Combe their first chance through a catch drive try for Harry Hudson, converted by Nathan Wyman and they never looked back. Winning all the important clashes and seizing on a now muted Canterbury’s errors they were gifted a third try, scored by Mark Muhamman courtesy of some weak defending. Stripped of possession the city side were a shadow of their earlier selves. Wyman’s conversion and a 71st minute penalty goal moved his side eight points ahead and a lost lineout helped ‘Combe to claim a bonus point from the last play of the game through wing Joe Ratcliff’s try.

Canterbury: W.Waddington, G.Jones, F.Morgan, T.Best, B.Law, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, E.Lusher, N.Morris, D.Herriott, J.Stephens, C.Murray, T.Mackenzie, E.O’Donoghue, A.Evans. Replacements: T.Williams, W.Hunt, A.Orris, H.Furneaux, A.Malik.

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Images may be subject to copyright 0 Phillipa Hilton

Pilgrims Closing On Title

Posted on 19th February 2024 | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY PILGRIM 60 CHARLTON PARK 12

by John Mitchell

After this resounding victory, Pilgrims need just nine points from their four remaining games to be crowned champions of Counties 1 Kent. Their fast, attacking brand of rugby overwhelmed a relegation threatened Park with ten tries as they extended the winning run to eighteen matches. From the kick off the Pilgrims meant business. Harry Andrews, from an early lineout, went over to score the first try of the day and fly half Harrison Fermor made a difficult conversion. A good backs move, with Fermor disguising a beautifully weighted pass to Stanley Bull, put Canterbury 12-0 up and after 18 minutes, and more prolonged pressure, Tom Williams scored try number three. A fourth came from Will Hunt after a superb bit of open play by the dominant Pilgrims. Only good defending by the visitors stopped the score board moving and they also found a reply. A five metre scrum saw their heavier pack gain advantage and go over out wide. A yellow card for the visitors, their second, allowed Pilgrims to take advantage and Harvey Furneaux went over, after continued pressure, to make it 27-5 at half time. The second half continued in the same vein. Fast attacking rugby opened the way for Gus Lister to speed through; Stan Bull scored his second try of the day off the back of a maul and try number eight was also a second for Harry Andrews, who powered through a massive gap. Charlton Park could not put any real moves together, as wave after wave of quick ball, being moved left and right negated their superiority in the scrum. The ninth try went to the hard working Adrian Geddes, after a great run by Furneaux, and Harvey himself completed the day’s prolific haul. Four second half conversions by Fermor pushed the score to the sixty mark but a Park side which never stopped working were rewarded with a last minute converted try. Next up for Pilgrims is Crowborough, away, on March 2nd.

Not Quite Good Enough

Posted on 18th February 2024 | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 20 BARNES 29

by David Haigh

After the previous week’s woes this was a better performance from Canterbury but not quite good enough to unseat the title chasing visitors. Approaching the final quarter with a five point lead the city side seemed handily placed but it was Barnes who took took control, added two tries to secure their bonus point and effectively shut down the game. It was a disappointment after solid first half defence restricted Barnes to a Kyle Beattie penalty goal and a catch and drive try from Cameron Ruddock. Try scoring chances were sparse as both sides were guilty of poor ball retention but a Frank Reynolds penalty goal got Canterbury on the scoreboard and with wind and slope to help them after the break the odds on a win were shortened. They started to look a decent bet as Reynolds punished a scrum offence with his second penalty and only five minutes into the half added the conversion to Ben Cooper’s try to take his side in front for the first time. Number Eight Tyler Oliver made the break and gave his scrum half the scoring opportunity. It was Barnes power at the maul that edged them back in front six minutes later as Matt Humphreys claimed their second catch and drive touchdown, converted by Beattie, but Canterbury were quick to counter. Quick hands opened up the left channel for Frank Morgan’s try and a touchline conversion from Reynolds was more good news. But that was the last we saw of Canterbury as an attacking force, apart from the odd break from much too deep. Barnes brought shrewd game management to their play, denied the city side any decent field position and their strengths produced tries for wings Jacques Birch and Paul Webb. Both scores had their origins in that effective maul. They opted to release and spread the attack wide for Birch’s try and scrum half Josh Davies sniped off the back of another close quarter drive to send Webb cruising over. Beattie nailed both conversions to guarantee Canterbury were denied even a losing bonus point.

Canterbury: W.Waddington, G.Jones, F.Morgan (repl W.Hilton), T.Best, B.Law, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper (repl P.Farrance), E.Lusher, E.O’Donoghue (repl N.Morris), D.Herriott (repl D.Huntley), J.De Vries, J.Stephens, A.Evans (repl T.Mackenzie), C.Murray, T.Oliver

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Hilton Boots Pilgrims To Victory

Posted on 12th February 2024 | by David Haigh

DARTFORDIANS 36 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 51

by John Mitchell

This was a severe test against a Dartfordians side who were unbeaten at home this season and still in the hunt for a promotion place. Thanks to late tries and the immaculate goal kicking of Will Hilton, which accounted for 21 of Pilgrims points with all six conversions and three penalties, they were able to hold off the hosts powerful challenge. The home side took an early lead with a pushover try, duly converted, but Pilgrims fought straight back. A trade mark snipe from Presley Farrance created pressure before Freddie Holland-Oliver scored. From the restart, poor reception and an awkward bounce saw the home recapture the lead through a good unconverted try, the conversion hitting the upright. With fourteen minutes gone Hilton slotted his first penalty and soon added a second to push his side one point ahead. Stan Bull made a welcome return after injury and came on for Dan Gill. A home player received a yellow card for not rolling away and from this one man advantage, Pilgrims started to take control. Only good defending by the home side kept them at bay but from a well won lineout they got a second try. Farrance, Tom Halliday and Max Campbell combined to send Jack Weaver over. Wingman Hector Valldares then made 70 metres with a superb run, off loaded to Sonny Trew-Neville who did the rest but for the second time the home side scored from the kick off. No one dealt with the high ball, another bad bounce and the home side went through to score an unconverted try. Next came an impressive Pilgrims score for Max Campbell wide on the right and despite Holland-Oliver’s yellow card for a scrum offence they were 34-17 ahead at the break. Although that looked comfortable it soon changed as Dartfordians took control of the scrums anf got on top. Two quick tries narrowed the gap to three points and the tension showed as tempers frayed. Hilton’s third penalty goal and Dan Gill’s return to bolster the pack steadied the Canterbury ship. Max Campbell wriggled free for his second touchdown and when a red card reduced Dartfordians to fourteen players they were made to pay. From a lineout Brandon Dunkerley fed Weaver who put in a great solo effort to claim Pilgrims sixth try. In a scrappy end to the game Harvey Furneaux was handed a yellow card, Dartfordians scored an unconverted try but Pilgrims had done enough to extend their winning run to seventeen.

Pilgrims: J.Weaver, M.Campbell, S.Trew-Neville, T.Halliday, H.Valldares, W.Hilton, P.Farrance, F.Holland-Oliver, B.Dunkerley, D.Gill, J.Grewar, L.Webber, A.Geddes, H.Furneaux, W.Hunt. Replacements: S.Bull, H.Fermor, J.Constant

Canterbury Second Best

Posted on 11th February 2024 | by David Haigh

DORKING 42 CANTERBURY 22

by David Haigh

In the lead up to this game Canterbury Head Coach Matt Corker challenged his squad to show they were capable of matching the top clubs in National 2 East. At third placed Dorking they failed to make their case against a side whose greater sharpness and accuracy produced seven tries. That try count was bettered only by eight yellow cards dished out by an official who was a stickler for the letter of the law but the flow of the game often suffered in consequence and it was Canterbury who paid the greater price on the scoreboard. After a bright start and a Frank Reynolds penalty goal, tries from Fraser Mosley and Jonny Ellis, and a Henry Anscombe conversion, gave Dorking the lead but a burst by Alex Evans and a corner flag try for Cameron Murray pegged them back. Then came yellow cards in quick succession for Jamie Stephens and Shay Kerry and the home side cashed in on penalties and superior numbers with tries from wing Will Sanders and lock Jasper King. Before half time it was Dorking’s turn to see yellow but any Canterbury chances were squandered as they were turned over in good positions and trailed by fifteen points at the break. The march to the sin bin soon got under way in the second half and with Tyler Oliver and Alfie Orris doing time Dorking began to pull away. The back division, crisp and certain in using possession provided by a mobile pack, did the damage with tries for scrum half George Jackson and centre Tom Howe before the final quarter. By comparison, Canterbury’s efforts to spread the attack looked clunky and in the 67th minute Dorking Number Eight Finn Osborne crowned an impressive display with his side’s seventh try. The hosts were handed the last two of those annoying yellow cards and the city side were able to register late, face saving scores through a penalty try and an overlap opportunity taken by Nathan Morris, converted beautifully by Reynolds. An Anscombe’s penalty goal completed Dorking’s points haul but had he produced a better day with the boot the victory would have been even more emphatic.

Canterbury; W.Waddington, G.Jones, F.Morgan, T.Best, A.Orris (repl B.Law), F.Reynolds, T.Williams (repl B.Cooper), E.Lusher E.O’Donoghue (repl N.Morris), D.Herriott (repl D.Huntley), S.Kerry, J.Stephens, A.Evans (repl T.Mackenzie), C.Murray, T.Oliver

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

By the smallest of margins ..

Posted on 10th February 2024 | by Denys Andrianjafy

Canterbury 35 – 36 Weavering 1st XV

The Zingari lost out to a strong top of the table well drilled Weavering side by the narrowest possible margin after a hard-fought contest that went down to the wire. After a shaky start Canterbury conceding three try’s and two conversions within the first fifteen minutes until many players drafted into unfamiliar positions began to settle. Desperate to avoid their experience at Edenbridge under similar circumstances a few weeks earlier battled hard, and in the last quarter of the half managed to get the ball wide for the backs to show what they could do with two converted tries’ reducing the deficit. However, it was Weavering who had the last word of the half using their well drilled pack driving deep into Canterbury territory forcing an unconverted try to give them a 24-14 point halftime lead.

The second half saw Weavering make an early strike with an unconverted try to extend their lead. The city forwards redoubled their efforts in the light of this early setback, and Weavering never looked as dominant as they had previously. Both sides defences dominated and it wasn’t until halfway through the second half both sides exchanged converted tries. As the game went into the last quarter the Zingari step up a gear, even their scrum held up, and it wasn’t long before they were putting pressure on the Weavering in all departments. This gave the backs the opportunity to run in another converted try, and a few minutes later a combination of forwards and backs broke through to go under the posts, and with the conversion were within a point. With seven minutes on the clock, it was all to play for, Canterbury pressured the line time and again, but Weavering’s defence held out to give them the win with the narrowest margin in a game that was a credit to both sides.

Derby Double For Pilgrims

Posted on 5th February 2024 | by David Haigh

DOVER 31 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 43

by John Mitchell

Another great local derby, perhaps the best game of the season so far and a win that was not assured until the last few minutes after the lead had changed hands five times. Pilgrims started well, with a try from Tom Halliday after only two minutes, but for the rest of the first half it was a huge battle. Dover, with former Canterbury first team captain Martyn Beaumont master minding their response, hit back with two converted tries as Pilgrims gave up possession too easily. Back came Pilgrims and Jack Weaver went close but from a lineout five metres out it was flanker Adrian Geddes who drove through a huge hole for an unconverted try. Pilgrims regained a narrow lead when a great move found prop Adam Malik dodging tackles and delaying his pass until Halliday latched on to it for his second try. Tom Mackenzie then got a yellow card for a high tackle, Dover exerted more pressure and were back in front by four points at half time with an unconverted touchdown. They extended that lead with their fourth try early in the second half and at this point one could see the Pilgrims about to lose their 100% record. They faced, by far, the toughest challenge of the whole season. However, they began to exert pressure on the Dover defence, the penalty count racked up against the home side and Cameron Murray crashed through to earn the bonus point fourth try. Will Hilton found his scoring touch at last, to convert. Could this be the start of a comeback against a Dover side who were playing with great passion and commitment? A yellow card for the hosts gave Canterbury a one man advantage and Presley Farrance, player of the match, with a good run and a lovely disguised pass made a try for Max Campbell, converted by Hilton. The Pilgrims were once more back in the lead. It was Farrance again who set up the next score for Sonny Trew-Neville, converted by Hilton, to put his side in a winning position. But it wasn’t over. With Weaver and Will McColl both in the sin bin Dover struck with a great 70 yard converted try to close the gap to five points. It was down to the wire as Pilgrims ignored an easy penalty shot and three points but in the closing minutes Farrance combined with Campbell before Weaver powered through and Josh Richardson added the goal points to round off a magnificent match and double over Dover this season.