Category: Match Reports

Match Report: Gravesend 3’s v Deacons

Posted on | by Becca Williams

The mighty Deacons travelled to Gravesend and took their first win of the season in a close game of 43-41. When the boys arrived they expected to have 16 players, however travel issues and some late drop out meant that they started the game with 13 players.

Gravesend had a quick start scoring their first try within the first 5 minutes of the game. The Deacons weren’t going out without a fight. The boys defended with everything they had making hit after hit. But Gravesend weren’t letting up either. After they had scored 3 tries the boys faced another player loss due to concussion.
It wasn’t looking great for Deacons but they kept fighting. Two tries late in the first half meant that the boys stayed in the game finishing the first half with a score of 34-12 to Gravesend.

The boys knew they had their work cut out for them but were ready to leave it all on the field. The second half marked a turn around with deacons scoring quickly after kick off. But they didn’t stop there. The Deacons kept the ball in the second half fighting Gravesend with everything they had. The boys worked hard to stay in the Gravesend half and eventually were in the lead. But another injury and a yellow card meant that the deacons were now down to 10 players on the field. Gravesend seized this chance and converted their own try to make the score 41-36. The Gravesend crowd roared with excitement but the Deacons didn’t let this get to them. The Deacons answered this with their own converted try in overtime to win them the game.

MOTM – Josh Lamb for great kicks from hand and from the tee, an unrelenting effort in defence and great running with the ball

Match Report: Zingari 85 Sheppey 2’s 14

Posted on | by Becca Williams

By Colin Scurr

The Zingari swept aside Sheppey with an overwhelming display of power and handling from the kick off opening their account with a Henry Collins converted try within the first five minutes after Sheppey lost possession in their own twenty-two. This was followed with Will  Raynor bursting through a tackle touching down near the posts for the simple following conversion. Next in line was wingman Piers Weigh finishing off a move to score in the corner for both his second try in his second game at senior level, with Horan adding the conversion from the tight angel. The city side looked in control their forwards especially in the loose setting up their backs with quick ball exploited first by Will Raynor, and then by Henrey Collins with successful converted try’s. With halftime approaching the final act was Jon Foster making his first appearance for the Zingari and making sure the forwards got in on the act powered over the line for another converted try to give the city side a commanding 42-point halftime lead.

The Second half started looked its was going to be much the same with Henry Carruthers touching down out wide within minutes of the kick off, but Sheppey had other ideas using their forwards to set up position near the Canterbury line before powering over for their first converted try, however, this was soon neutralised with Will Raynor completing his hat trick. Sheppey to their credit started a fight back with their forwards leading the charge giving their backs a few more opportunities with a kick in behind the Canterbury defence that was collected for a well taken converted try. This inspired  Sheppey and they redoubled their efforts putting the city side under some pressure only to find Canterbury could defend, and as the game went into the last quarter the Zingari were back in control winning quick ball from the breakdown that started a try frenzy. First to benefit was Simon Jaynes, and Jon Foster for his second try, followed by Henry Carruthers for his hattrick. Now deep into injury time Callum Townsend Henry Carruthers completed the try tally, and along with Rob Horans accurate boot  gave the Zingari one of their best starts to the season possible.

Match Report Dartford Valley 19 Canons 14

Posted on | by Becca Williams

The Canons continue to chase their first win of the campaign as they fell to defeat against Dartford Valley.

In blustery conditions, the Canons absorbed pressure well in the first half playing into a strong wind. Knowing that they would have the advantage of the weather in the second half, the Canons restricted Dartford Valley to 2 tries, both scored from close range. 12-0 to DV at half time.

With clear instructions at half time as to how the team needed to play, the second half did not go to plan with DV scoring in the first minute from the kick off. Not deterred, the Canons fought back begin, with Liam Browne scoring the first of 3 penalty kicks 10 minutes into the half. Handling errors plagued the Canons however, which nullified any momentum that was building. In the 60th minute, Josh Lamb crossed the try line for the Canons, following some good play in the midfield. Penalties started to rack up against DV, but the Canons could not capitalise. Browne kicked his third penalty in the final play of the game to ensure the Canons scored a losing bonus point. Full time 19-14.

It was an improved performance for the Canons, who continue to settle into life in Kent Counties 3. With the next league game not until 11th October, the Canons have plenty of time to refresh themselves before facing early league leaders Sittingbourne.

Match Report: Zingari 75 Lordswood 2’s 28

Posted on | by Becca Williams

By Colin Scurr

The Zingari opened their seasons account with an emphatic win against an inexperienced Lordswood side, despite the final scoreline Lordswood showed resilience making Canterbury fight for every point. From the kick off the Zingari had Lordswood pined on their own line before Brad Alchurch making another return after taking a season out, burst his way over the line under the posts for the following simple conversion. The Zingari kept up the pressure with a kick and chase picked up by Henry Collins touching down near the posts for the following conversion, and twenty minutes into the half Ollie Simpson showed his pace outstripping the defence to score out wide. Within two minutes the city side struck again with Henrey Collins breaking the defensive line for another converted try. This was followed a few minutes later with the ball traveling down the line to find wing Piers Weigh making his first appearance at senior rugby scoring with a try out wide with the following conversion. Lordswood could have folded, but after period of scrappy play broke the city defence with a converted try of their own, however the Zingari had the last word of the half with another Brad Alchurch converted try, and with the bonus of Rob Horan slotting the conversions Canterbury a substantial halftime lead.

 

The second half started much the same this time Ollie Simpson picking his way through adding to his tally with another converted try, if Canterbury thought it was all over, they were in for a check as Lordswood although not so good in the loose had done well at the set piece took advantage, and ten minutes into the half  snatched back a converted try. The Zingari soon struck back with another try,  but were coming under pressure from that Lords wood set piece, only a wild pass from Lordswood allowed Jonny Gaynor the interception to go the length of the field to touch down. Again, Lordswood would not lay down and after some missed tackles

Lordswood snatched another try back. With the match going into the last quarter the Zingari hit back in the thirty-eight minutes with a ollie Simpson hat trick followed by another Jonny Gaynor try and his hat trick. However, with the game now well into injury time Lordswood refused to give up snatching a deserved consolation converted try with the last play.

Match Report: Horsham 41 Pilgrims 25

Posted on | by Becca Williams

The Pilgrims travelled away to Horsham for their first away day in Regional 2 and were left frustrated as errors once again proved costly at this level.
They started brightly and exerted early pressure but this was quickly undone when a speculative kick in behind from Horsham was allowed to bounce and Horsham were 7-0 up after five minutes.

The city side regrouped and a series of well worked phases fashioned 2 kickable penalty opportunities which Olly Ashley-Jones slotted to bring the score back to 7-6 before Horsham added their 2nd try after poor pilgrims tackling allowed them to dot down beside the posts. 14-6.
The Pilgrims responded positively again and Horsham’s repeated attempts to slow the ball down at the breakdown saw them reduced to 14 men. A fine break from Al Evans was well supported by scrum half Lloyd who took a short pass and raced away to score under the posts 14-13.

An injury to centre Mitch Fielder saw Ed Thompson introduced and the back line reshuffled, and before they could settle more missed tackles created space out wide for Horsham to score and take the score to 19-13.
Pilgrims were looking dangerous on attack as they looked for an instant reply, but poor handling in midfield saw the ball spilled, Horsham reacted quickest to gather the loose ball and they added their 4th try to take the half time score to 24-13.

The pilgrims looked threatening as they began the 2nd half on the front foot with a series of strong carries and tackles by the forwards who were shading the physical contest. An injury to fullback Harvey Ingram and a yellow card for a late tackle by Tom Mackenzie made Pilgrims task more difficult and Horsham used the numerical advantage to good effect to move the ball effectively to space out wide and scored again to make it 31-13.

The pilgrims forwards then showed their desire with a series of good drives culminating in Stan Bull taking a tap penalty 5metres out and crashing over to score,31-18.

Horsham were then given another yellow card after a high shot on wing Adrian Geddes, but added a further try after another handling error allowed them to pounce and move the ball out wide to score. 36-18.

Pilgrims showed great heart to dig deep for a response and after a fine break by Stan Bull, wing Gary Jones was on hand to take the offload and score a converted try, 36-25.

Pilgrims were now firmly on the front foot and had momentum. Strong forward drives saw No.8 Al Evans power over only for the referee to not see the grounding and come back for advantage. The pilgrims then moved the ball wide and thought they had their bonus point try, only for the referee to judge the pilgrims had obstructed potential tacklers and award Horsham a pressure relieving penalty. With the clock running down, Horsham scored a well worked try to take the game away from the Pilgrims and make the final score 41-25.

Canterbury Falter On Day One

Posted on | by David Haigh

BARNES 26 CANTERBURY 14

by David Haigh

A strong start but a confused ending saw Canterbury falter on this opening day of the new National 2 East season. “That was our best start at Barnes for several seasons said a disappointed Head Coach Matt Corker. “We later went away from the game plan and that was fatal.” You could see why Corker found it so frustrating because the city side played a full part in an untidy but highly competitive game. With five minutes left they were trailing by only one score but over- ambitious play near their own line handed Barnes Number Eight Dan Robertson his fourth try and Canterbury were left without even a losing bonus point. Solid work from the pack put pressure on Barnes in the early stages but it wasn’t until the 25th minute that their defence cracked to a driving maul try by Eoin O’Donoghue, converted by Frank Reynolds. The hosts found momentum in the second quarter, won penalties and, taking their cue from the Canterbury score, the efficiency of their maul gave them a narrow 12-7 lead by halftime with two tries from Robertson and a conversion by Elliot Haydon. The city side were back in front six minutes into the second half. Following an interception and break by flanker Mo Pangarker, a player in outstanding form on his return from long term injury, they drove hard and patiently at the home line until Harry Sloan touched down between the posts and Reynolds again converted. It was their failures in defending the catch and drive that saw that advantage vanish after just two minutes as Robertson and Haydon clocked up another seven points. Barnes now began to dictate territory but if the close quarter mauls had been a problem for the city side the rest of the defending was beyond reproach as they kept the home side at bay, They still had opportunities to attack but runs by Luke Talbot, Will Waddington and Aiden Moss went unrewarded. With Barnes pressing again in the late minutes some wild Canterbury passing gave them that final opportunity and they did not miss out.

Canterbury: L.Talbot, H.Furneaux, H.Sloan, W.Waddington, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, L.Young, E.O’Donoghue, H.Drane, J.Stephens, C.McGovern, R.Thomas, M.Pangarker, T.Oliver, Replacements: O.Frostick, C.Macmillan, J.De Vries, A.English, A.Moss.

Match Report: Canterbury 19 Tonbridge Juddians 22

Posted on | by Becca Williams

This was another promising performance from the Canterbury squad as the club builds towards the start of the National 2 East season next month.

Only a late try from National One new boys Juddians, denied the City side a victory that their hard work deserved. They suffered nothing in comparison to a team that has bolstered by heavyweight signings and in most areas were every but their equals.

At half-time they led 19-10 through tries from scrum-half Presley Farrance, full-back Luke Talbot scoring against his old club and Number Eight Tyler Oliver.

Farrance scored after eight minutes with a razor-sharp interception, Talbot put in a lovely individual break after fielding a clearance kick, while Oliver put the finish to a series of pick and goes by the Canterbury pack. Frank Reynolds converted two of the scores whilst the TJs kicker was off target with both of his side’s touchdowns.

The visitors third try came in the 55th minute and although they enjoyed a slightly better share of the possession, they could not crack the Canterbury defence again. It was a scrum error that cost the City side the game as they lost the ball three minutes from time and the visitors made it count with their fourth touchdown, this one converted.

Canterbury complete their pre-season programme on Friday evening with a visit to National One neighbours Blackheath (KO 8pm) while the Pilgrims meet Deal & Betteshanger at the Marine Travel Ground (KO 7.30pm)

Luke Talbot

LAST MINUTE LOSS

Posted on | by David Haigh

ESHER 31 CANTERBURY 24

by David Haigh

A last minute try gave Esher the final word in this competitive pre-season friendly but Canterbury Head Coach Matt Corker could take plenty of positives from the performance of his senior squad. The downside was a facial injury to unlucky wing Alfie Orris who was in powerful form as the city side took control of the early stages and built a twelve point lead. The coaching panel said they will be asking the team to play with real pace this season, and they were as good as their word as the starting lineup put width on their game from the kick-off. It was rewarded by a third minute try from new signing Luke Talbot but the second score came from another area of strength – a pack which quickly stamped its authority on the set pieces and carried hard. They forced a penalty, set up a catch and drive which was finished by hooker Eoin O’Donoghue and converted by Frank Reynolds. Esher has seen little of the ball up to that point but when they finally got the chance they took it smartly with a try and by half time had drawn level through a converted score. With both sides making changes to give all their squads a first outing the second half lacked the fluency of the first 40 minutes but the contest remained tight. Canterbury grabbed an early try as they built pressure and centre Frank Morgan’s strength took him over the line and Reynolds was again on target. Esher came back with an unconverted try, but it was the final quarter that shifted the balance in their favour. A much changed city pack came under pressure and Esher took the lead for the first time with a converted catch and drive score. A similar effort from Canterbury’s new boy, Ryley Thomas, leveled matters at 24-24, and that seemed a fair reflection of the game. However, penalties were given away and Esher forward power won it with the last move.

Four For Eoin As Tom Says Farewell

Posted on | by David Haigh

COLCHESTER 33 CANTERBURY 50

by David Haigh

Canterbury’s season ended as it started, with victory over a Colchester side which has failed to survive its first experience of National 2 East rugby. In an entertaining, but messy affair which produced thirteen tries, the city club started well, were rightly punished for making simple errors either side of half time, but then wrestled back control with three tries in the last eleven minutes. The player who enjoyed himself most was Canterbury hooker Eoin O’ Donoghue who scored four of the team’s eight touchdowns, the best a 50 metre sprint which killed off all those perceptions of plodding front row forwards. He opened the scoring from a trademark catch and drive after seven minutes and further tries followed for Garry Jones and Henry Kenny. Despite the league’s leading goal kicker, Frank Reynolds, having a rare off day, the lead looked comfortable. Colchester pulled one back when good work by their lively scrum half was completed by Brett Cutbush and converted by Jack Edwards, but O’Donoghue’s second, supplemented by Reynolds, earned the bonus point. It was in the closing stages of the half that Canterbury went into slipshod mode and paid the price. A neat offload put Danny Whiteman across the line seconds before the break and Edwards conversion cut the lead to eight. The city side made a poor start to the second half and an Edwards try drew Colchester closer. The pressure became suffocating when both Garry Jones and Danny Herriott found themselves in the sin bin and against thirteen men Colchester took the lead with a converted try from Cameron Kerr. O’Donoghue came to the rescue, scooping up a dropped ball and setting off for his long distance score, converted by Reynolds, but the pressure was still on. A Haydn Sykes’ try and Edwards’ conversion saw Colchester go back in front but Canterbury now showed their staying power as they regained control of possession. O’Donoghue got his fourth but the most popular try of the day was set up by Tom Best, playing his 319th and final game before going into retirement. It was a kick and chase which Tom Williams finished off under the posts. With Reynolds substituted, Best converted the try. A catch and drive saw prop Cameron Macmillan close out the game with the final touchdown and Best’s successful kick ended his distinguished club career on a winning and scoring note.

Canterbury: A.Moss, F.Morgan, H.Sloan, T.Best, G.Jones, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, H.Kenny, J.Stephens, C.Thomas, C.McGovern, T.Oliver. Replacements: D. Herriott, W.Waddington, W.Calder, J.De Vries, C.Macmillan.

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v Colchester - 26 April 2025

Photos may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Canterbury Pack Late Punch

Posted on | by David Haigh

CANTERBURY 42 DORKING 35

by David Haigh

Two tries in the closing ten minutes from a rampaging Canterbury pack finally settled a pulsating game in which the result always hung in the balance. This victory guarantees the city club will end the National 2 East campaign in fourth place, their highest position for three seasons. It also extinguished Dorking’s hopes of taking the league title which now goes to Kent side Tonbridge Juddians. A magnificent crowd at the Marine Travel Ground had plenty to entertain them with some outstanding individual tries among the ten shared by the teams, the lead changing hands four times and a final home appearance for retiring Canterbury stalwarts Tom Best and Danny Herriott. In a cagey opening quarter, two Frank Reynolds penalty goals and a converted Frank Morgan try built a thirteen point lead. The try came from a Dorking handling error with Harry Sloan kicking the loose ball on to set up the score. That stirred the visitors and a powerful finish from lock Jasper King and the first of Henry Anscombe’s five conversions sparked the tit for tat nature of what followed. Next, came a great score from city full back Aiden Moss who returned a clearance kick by skewering every defender in a 45 metre run to the posts. Reynolds again obliged but by half time Dorking had crept into a single point lead. They made a catch and drive position pay with a try from Callum Watson and, two minutes before the break, full back Max Coyle matched Moss’s effort with a brilliant run and finish. There was further trouble for Canterbury after the restart when Dorking worked blind side space for wing Bryan Hotston’s try. Reynolds third penalty goal shaved three points off the visitors lead after Dorking skipper Will Scholes’ was handed a yellow card, a subtle shift in the the balance of pack power gave Canterbury fresh momentum and opened the way for Sloan’s try from a close quarter lineout. That brought an immediate response as Anscombe grabbed Dorking’s fifth touchdown to restore a five point lead, but then came the decisive late stages when Canterbury’s forwards took control. On 71 minutes a driving maul carried Tyler Oliver over the line, Reynolds converted, and with three minutes remaining they did a repeat performance as Eoin O’Donoghue’s try closed out an absorbing match.

Canterbury: A.Moss, F.Morgan, H.Sloan, W.Waddington, G.Jones, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, J.De Vries, J.Stephens, C.Thomas, C.McGovern, T.Oliver. Replacements: H.Kenny, D.Herriott, C.Macmillan, T.Best, W.Calder

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v Dorking - 12 April 2025

Photos may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton