Zingari 2024-25

It was always going to be tough.

Canterbury 5th v Gravesend 4th
Canterbury 19pts. Gravesend 4th 35pts.

This makeshift Zingari side made a poor start against a well drilled Gravesend fifteen. The home side used their heavier pack to dominate territory and possession and with it came early tries and the conversions with some excellent place kicking. Canterbury reeling from their early battering recovered late in the first half making the most of possession inside the Gravesend twenty-two for Jonnie Gaylor to break the line out wide for the city’s first try. Gravesend reply was almost instant with another try, but Canterbury had the last word with Tom Goode bulldozing his way through the Gravesend defence to reduce the deficit to 28-12 at halftime with the converted try. The second half saw Canterbury come under intense pressure for the first ten minutes conceding another try, but this time unconverted. The Zingari however were looking more comfortable despite losing their only recognised kicker were adapting to their unfamiliar positions. It had been a steep learning curve with a lot of the players adapting to their new positions now put Gravesend on the back foot before putting the ball wide for Dan Till siding in near the posts for a converted try to give an air of respectability to the final score.

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Pilgrims Dig Deep

PARK HOUSE 9 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 15

by Dan Gill

After a two week week lay-off the Pilgrims travelled to Park House for what is never an easy fixture. The opening exchanges underlined this with Park’s significantly heavier pack looking to exert pressure at scrum time, and the Pilgrims young and pacey backline spreading the ball at every opportunity. A torrential down pour just after kick off made handling more difficult and this played into Park’s hands as they sent their heavy runners at the Canterbury line. One of the Pilgrims strengths is their defence and this was underlined early on with a number of strong tackles, notably from centre Jordan Constant. Despite this, their over eagerness led to a number of offside penalties which the very capable Park House fly half punished with three goals to build a 9-0 lead. Some stern words from skipper Al Evans and a couple of personnel changes allowed the Pilgrims to finish the half on the front foot with Tom McMann uncharacteristically missing a simple shot at goal before adding a penalty to cut the deficit to six points.
Pilgrims started the second half brightly and after some solid running from the forwards, the backs clicked into gear with slick handling in poor conditions. This opened space and after a number of quick drives by the forwards, wingman Alfie Orris burst through to score an unconverted try. Just as Canterbury were gaining some momentum, a yellow card for scrum half Hector Valladares swung the initiative back in Park’s favour. They exerted pressure at the scrums, but the Pilgrims made up for this by being tenacious in defence and having the better of the lineout exchanges – debutant hooker Aiden Demery throwing well in the wet- which kept the game finely balanced until canterbury were restored to a full complement. This brought almost instant success after winger Max Campbell, who was exceptional under the high ball all day, plucked a ball out of the sky with one hand before releasing Orris and Owain Collins and Gus Lister finished a well worked move to score by the posts. With Will Hilton adding the extras Pilgrims took the lead. They soon found themselves on the back foot once again with numerous handling errors and a yellow card for repeated infringements to debutant prop Hristo Hristov. An earlier injury meant the Pilgrims couldn’t field a competent front row so for the final nine minutes of the game scrums were uncontested and under league rules the Pilgrims had to lose another man so were reduced to thirteen. Park House themselves went down to fourteen after a high tackle but despite their best efforts, dogged defending, typified by supporters man of the Match Aiden Demery, saw Pilgrims come away with a win that keeps them at the top of Counties Kent One.
The team return to action on Friday when they welcome local rivals Deal & Betteshanger to the MTG- Kick off 7:30pm.

REYNOLDS PUTS THE BOOT IN

CANTERBURY 39 WESTCOMBE PARK 22

by David Haigh

A goal kicking master class by Frank Reynolds under pinned this clear cut victory for Canterbury as they took the spoils from a typically physical Kent derby. The fly half ended the day with a personal tally of 29 points, made up of six penalty goals, three conversions and threw in a try for good measure. It was not all about one man, however, as the pressure piled on ‘Combe in the second half by the impressive city side gave Reynolds the chance to really put the boot in. After reaching the break with a slender three point lead Canterbury were able to control and contain in equal measure, score a further nineteen points and restrict the visitors to a solitary late try. This was a more disciplined performance by the city men after the trials of the previous week and this time it was Combe who were often on the wrong end of the referee’s whistle. Two yellow cards cost them points in the first half although they opened the scoring with a Toby Wallace penalty goal and it might have been more but for Reynolds announcing himself with a try saving tackle on ‘Combe scrum half Mikel Davies. His first penalty goal leveled matters and Canterbury then built a healthy 17-3 lead. Tyler Oliver completed a strong close quarter drive by the pack and when ‘Combe found themselves down to thirteen players, with Kyan Braithwaite and Sam Fombo in the sin bin, Reynolds darted over between the posts. It was Canterbury’s over ambition that brought the visitors back into contention when they turned over ball and full back Wallace went 60 metres for his converted try. There was another Reynolds penalty goal but on the cusp of half time Presley Farrance’s deliberate knock on cost him a yellow card and from the penalty an efficient catch and drive ended in a Fombo try, converted by Wallace. That, for long periods, was the last seen of ‘Combe as an attacking force as Canterbury, with the breeze and slope in their favour, took control. The penalty count grew and Reynolds landed two more before Canterbury’s third try took them sixteen points clear. It was a good one, too, as they spread the ball wide to the left, gave Garry Jones space to accelerate outside the defence and his inside pass saw Frank Morgan hold off all pursuers. Two more Reynolds penalties, five minutes apart, sealed the game before Nick Cook’s try gave Combe the last word. Neither side managed a try bonus point but this win lifted Canterbury to fourth place in the National 2 East table ahead of next week’s visit to unbeaten leaders Tonbridge Juddians.

Canterbury: K.Heatherley, G.Jones, F.Morgan, W.Waddington, A.Moss, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, O.Frostick, E. O’Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, C.Thomas, T.Mackenzie, T.Oliver. Replacements: N.Morris, H.Kenny, D.Huntley, H.Young, T.Williams

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v Westcombe Park - 12 Oct 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

CANTERBURY HANG ON

CANTERBURY 36 HAVANT 31

by David Haigh

From a position of comfort Canterbury found themselves in a fight for survival before they came away with their fourth win of the National 2 East season to claim maximum points. The biggest battle, however, was with their own poor discipline as a red card for flanker Harvey Furneaux in the second half left them a man short for 30 minutes, and their problems were compounded by three earlier sin binnings. Havant, trailing by 24 points, exploited the situation with a hat trick of tries from hooker Sean Shepherd, the last coming in the 80th minute to earn his side a second bonus point. There was little sign of the upheaval to come when Canterbury, after a tight opening quarter edged by the visitors, built a 24-12 half time lead and two tries in the first eight minutes after the break pointed to a routine victory. They established that position of strength despite first half yellow cards for Dave Irvine and Garry Jones. A Frank Reynolds penalty goal got the city side on the scoreboard after only two minutes but conceding penalties cost them tries by Havant forwards Steve Jenkinson and Sam Vince and a Joel Knight conversion. Those scores sandwiched Canterbury’ s opening try when they picked off an overthrown lineout, won a penalty and Eoin O’Donoghue plunged over from the maul. Then Canterbury began to pull away as Aiden Moss finished off some precise handling in style and the impressive O’Donoghue peeled off a driving maul to register his second. The early second half strikes, as O’Donoghue sent Moss across the line on the overlap and Sam Rogers timed his pass perfectly for Max Campbell to go clear for the fifth try, seemed to have settled matters, particularly with Reynolds missing only one shot at goal. A yellow card for Henry Kenny was not welcome but in the 51st minute an isolated fracas broke out and Furneaux was singled out for punishment. Havant saw their chance and a Canterbury side still too often on the wrong side of the referee gave them plenty of scope to mount a massive offensive through their pack. Shepherd’s tries all came from powerful close quarter work and two conversions by Knight added to the pressure. Canterbury hung on, just, but left themselves with big questions to address.
Canterbury: K.Heatherley, G.Jones, F.Morgan, W. Waddington, A.Moss, F. Reynolds, T. Williams, A.Cooper, E.O’Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, S.Rogers, H.Furneaux, C.Thomas. Replacements: H.Kenny, O.Frostick, P.Farrance, M.Campbell, N.Morris

 

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v Havant - 5 Oct 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Garry’s Hat Trick Not Enough

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

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

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

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

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

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