Ella Jenkins v Jersey Women

Emphatic win over travelling Reds

Canterbury Women welcomed Jersey Women, the last time the Reds visited was back in 2015. The match was preceded by a two minutes silence to mark Remembrance Sunday. It is especially important as current serving officer, and Canterbury player, Major A. Willis was away from the pitch leading the commemorative parade with her battalion.

Major A Willis RE, Officer Commanding 5 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 22 Engineer Regiment
Major A Willis RE, Officer Commanding 5 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 22 Engineer Regiment

With an early kick off (noon) to accommodate the return flight, the Reds certainly brought power, passion and energy from the first whistle. This was matched by Canterbury with Lily Adams finishing off a slick attacking phase of play which saw every back involved. Kate Rutherford smoothly slotted the conversion.

From the restart Canterbury were buoyed by with enthusiasm, a text book jackal from Captain Daniella Charles. Janina Hassen running an aching line from outside centre to set up a two on one down the left wing. It saw Alice Hayward take the ball at full pace and score. A quick restart from Rutherford saw Jersey on the back foot with a huge hit coming in from Inger Philpott. Quick rucking and a sniping line break from Rutherford. She dotted the ball down under the post but a high tackle from the Reds, as she made her break, resulted in a penalty try being awarded. Taking Canterbury to a 19-0 lead within 15 minutes.

Jersey hit back from the restart and maintained control of the ball for several phases, hitting back with a converted try. This buoyed the spirits amongst the Reds and within minutes they had scored again closing the gap to 19-14.
The ten minutes which followed saw aggressive tackling from Canterbury driving Jersey deep into their own half. With organised rucking offering scrum half Ella Jenkins a clean platform. The backs ran wonderful lines drawing in the Reds to over commit at the breakdown. Rutherford identified a gap, tapping down to get her name on the score sheet.

Number 8 Hannah Sandeman saw her dogged determination in the contact rewarded with a turnover, twenty metre run including two powerful fends rewarded with a try; converted by Rutherford.

Canterbury headed into halftime with a 31-14 lead and the try bonus point already secured.

With the second half underway, the Canterbury Women were set on controlling the scoreboard and offer further reasons for the incredible supporters to continue to roar!

Alice Hayward made a strong break down the wing to score her second in the corner. Canterbury rang in the changes with the game offering an opportunity for new players to take to the field. Jersey took advantage of the players looking to reorganise their defensive line and touched down for a further 5 points. From this score, Canterbury kicked on with clinical rucking and quick delivery from Jenkins linking to forwards and backs. Lily Adams impressed with her dynamic side stepping which was rewarded with a converted try. Second-row partners Emma Alleyne and Jo Cole-Biroth dominated in the contact area and inspired debutant Olivia Crebbin to carry the ball hard setting up a great platform for scrum-half Jenkins to unleash a fierce fend and get her name on the score sheet. The next try saw the Double Emily show unleashed with a powerful carry from Emily Kent which was lifted gently into the hands of Emily Moriarity who broke the gain line and offloaded to the maverick Lucy Relf who secured a further five points for Canterbury. The final play of the afternoon saw Nicole Money score her first, hopefully of many, try in the back and amber jersey.

Canterbury women would like to say a special thank you to the Mini and Juniors who came to support today, run water on and retrieve the balls.

Great Performance Says Corker

OLD ALBANIAN 17 CANTERBURY 54

by David Haigh

Head Coach Matt Corker said he was ‘proud of a great performance’ after watching his Canterbury side demolish Old Albanians in an invigorating display of attacking rugby which was rewarded with seven tries. At a ground where the city club last won six years ago the victory also left Corker praising the team’s reaction to their disappointing show in the loss to Barnes last time out as they took an iron grip in the first half and never let it slip. They gave warning with a flying start, building the phases before fly half Frank Reynolds grabbed the first try and showed his well known accuracy with the boot with a fine conversion. Albanians took only a minute to find a score of their own as missed tackles ended with an Alex Noot touch down but the rest of the half belonged entirely to Canterbury. An impressive and dominant pack set up the platform for a free flowing back division and after Reynolds landed a penalty goal full back Kurt Heatherley gathered the restart, set off down the wing and his kick ahead was carried on expertly to the line by Garry Jones. Reynolds was again on target from wide out, then kept the scoreboard ticking with a second penalty goal. When an increasingly stretched home side lost a player to a yellow card Canterbury took full advantage through a catch and drive try from Eoin O’Donoghue. The conversion and a third Reynolds penalty goal saw them reach the break with a 30-5 lead but the one box they still had to tick was a bonus point fourth try. Two minutes into the second half they put that right as Reynolds launched his backs again. Jones was given space, scrum half Tom Williams was there to take the try scoring pass and Reynolds converted. Albanians finally found relief as they exploited a yellow card for Tyler Oliver with tries from wing Alex Ricci and hooker Charlie Fleckney and a Sam Jones conversion. But as soon as the Number eight returned Canterbury hit them again with two scores in as many minutes, Heatherley on the overlap and centre Frank Morgan from close range. The city side’s replacements, with young lock Yannick de Mowbray making his debut, made an impact and late on more quick and precise handling opened the way to a final try from Jones. With Reynolds taking a minor knock, skipper Jamie Stephens awarded himself the goal kicking role and calmly slotted the conversion to round off his team’s all round excellence.

Canterbury: K.Heatherley, G.Jones, F.Morgan, W.Waddington, A.Orris, F.Reynolds, T.Williams, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, S.Rogers, T.Mackenzie, T.Oliver. Replacements: A.Cooper, O.Frostick, Y.De Mowbray, C.Thomas, P.Farrance

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v Old Albanian - 9 Nov 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

POOR START PROVES COSTLY

CANTERBURY 13 BARNES 22

by David Haigh

Early errors were to prove costly for an off colour Canterbury who failed to score a point in the second half as they struggled to crack a strong visiting defence. Barnes pounced on mistakes in the first ten minutes to score two of their three tries and although they reached half time only six points in front their shrewd game management helped to earn the win. The omens were not promising for Canterbury when centre Frank Morgan was injured in the pre-match warm-up, forcing a hasty reshuffle of the back division. When the game did get under way Barnes stole the first lineout, won a penalty and skipper Rory Kassapian’s try put them ahead after only three minutes. A dropped ball quickly gave them another foothold and a penalty for a high tackle ended in a driving maul and a try for centre Lewis Jones, converted by Jack Martin. Canterbury had hardly been seen at this point but found a way back after fifteen minutes, building their first real pressure before spreading the attack wide where Kurt Heatherley sent Alfie Orris across in the corner. Frank Reynolds brought more cheer with a conversion from the touchline and it was his boot that promised to open second half opportunities. Before he obliged with two penalty goals, however, there was further trouble. A penalty conceded at the scrum, an area where Barnes mostly had the edge, put Canterbury under the pump again and dragging down a maul illegally on their own line cost seven points from a penalty try. That still left the city team looking slight favourites in the second half and only a great cover tackle denied Garry Jones an early try. Then a turnover seemed certain to bring a score but they blew the chance and in persistent rain, the match developed into an untidy battle of wills. Barnes claimed a good share of territory and Canterbury’s commendable defensive efforts denied them a bonus point try but, in the debit column, they scrambled for ideas in attack. Twelve minutes from the end Martin kicked a simple penalty goal for the visitors to leave the city side needing two scores to grab a win. A lack of bite and an effective strategy in the face of determined tacklers meant the job was beyond them, so they drop to sixth in the National 2 East table.

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

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v Barnes - 26 Oct 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

Canterbury Challenge Fades

TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS 40 CANTERBURY 24

by David Haigh

A second half onslaught, which, yielded five tries, ended Canterbury’s challenge to the unbeaten league leaders. In the final play of the game the city side salvaged a bonus point with a Garry Jones try, so did not come way empty handed, but Juddians power and tactical nous had by then settled the issue. A solid first half saw Canterbury reach the break five points ahead, suggesting this could be another of the tightly contested affairs which have been the hallmark of this Kent derby fixture over the past two seasons. Two Juddians tries in the first ten minutes after the break changed the mood as they dominated territory, switched to an effective mauling game on the heavy pitch before setting up their attackers. Canterbury made a promising start with a try from prop Ollie Frostick after good lineout work but lost the lead after twenty minutes when Harrison Sims crashed over and Sam Evans converted. The reply came through a blind side break, initiated by scrum half Presley Farrance who was a constant threat, and finished with an Aiden Moss try converted by Frank Reynolds. So far, so good for the hefty number of traveling supporters, but the optimism was quickly dampened. The city side, frustrated by penalties that sometimes seemed questionable, were rocked by tries from the lively Connor Lloyd and Duncan Tout, both converted by Evans. Handling errors crept in as they struggled to re-establish themselves and when flanker Tom Nicoll went in for the bonus point score, this one converted by Tom White, things looked ominous for the city side. It came as a relief when space was opened for Alfie Orris to carry strongly before Eoin O’Donoghue went over the line and Reynolds successful kick cut the home lead to nine. But Juddians had more in the locker. With Canterbury pinned back once again tries from White and Tout, and conversions by Tout and Nicoll, eased them to victory before a yellow card for Lloyd opened the way for Jones to grab a point..

Canterbury: H.Young, G.Jones, F.Morgan, W.Waddington, A.Moss, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, S.Rogers, T.Mackenzie, T.Oliver. Replacements: N.Morris, A.Cooper, A.Orris, H.Kenny, T.Williams

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v Tonbridge Juddians - 19 Oct 2024

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton
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