Category: News

AN OUTSTANDING SATURDAY

Sponsors Day is always a special occasion at CRFC, as we take the opportunity to thank everyone who supports us. With second-place Dorking making the trip to The Marine Travel Ground, the stage was set for a brilliant Saturday of rugby.

My challenge to the players has been clear: finish the season by playing your best rugby. This is the business end—the month when league positions are decided—and the only way to finish strong is to secure results. The performance the players delivered summed up everything that’s been positive about this season. They scored some outstanding tries, wrestled back momentum after going behind, and finished on top against one of the best sides in the league. It was, without doubt, a Saturday to remember.

Our focus has always been on getting better—week to week, and season to season. The win against Dorking secured a fourth-place finish, and that achievement is a clear marker of the progress we’ve made once again.
Over the past three years, that progression has been clear: finishing tenth with a third of our games won, then seventh last season with a 50% win rate, and now heading into Saturday guaranteed fourth, with the chance to claim our eighteenth win and a 70% win ratio. It’s been another season full of great memories, with last weekend’s game against Dorking right up there among the very best. Our focus on improvement won’t change and the continued growth within the squad makes next season a truly exciting prospect.

The success we enjoy on the pitch doesn’t happen in isolation — it’s the result of countless hours and the tireless energy of so many individuals across the club and our rugby programme.

This season, 35 players have represented the 1st XV, and our ability to develop players consistently relies heavily on the Pilgrims, who play a vital role in our player pathway. The Pilgrims finished another season as champions and, due to recent rule changes, will compete in Regional 2 South East from September. The opportunities this presents for players in our men’s program cannot be overstated. Achieving back-to-back titles was always going to be a challenge, which makes this success even more special.

Since taking the reins, Jon Foster has revitalised this crucial part of the club. He’s transformed the Pilgrims from a side that, post-COVID, sometimes struggled to field 18 players into a vibrant, competitive, and winning team. Jon will be leaving us this season, and we’re all incredibly grateful for his passion and commitment.
He’s been superbly supported by Dan Gill, who stepped into the role of player-manager this year. Gilly adapted quickly and has done a fantastic job ensuring the Pilgrims were prepared for every logistical challenge that came their way.

I also have to mention Tom Short and his back-to-back champion Cannons. They’ve had another outstanding season and will be promoted again, this time to Counties 3 Kent. The ability for players to move between all the men’s teams has been a key focus for us as a club—and from my perspective, it’s been a major factor in our overall success this season.

I write this column every week, but it’s important to recognise that the success of the team over the last 12 months has come from the efforts of so many people.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH

MATCH PREVIEW
Scoring over sixty points in a national league game is something we will always take pride in. At Oxford, during our conversation at halftime, we weren’t satisfied with the number of points we had conceded and the players set the goal of allowing zero tries in the second half. While we may not have achieved that target, conceding once in the seventy-first minute, the defence in the early exchanges of the second forty set the tone. Under pressure, we put in an important defensive set to ensure that Oxford didn’t score first after the break and we went on to finish extremely strongly.

This has set up a very exciting Saturday tomorrow. Dorking sit second in the table and are on a seven game winning run. With it being our last home game of the season and sponsors day, this is always a great occasion and the fixture has all the ingredients of a great game. Both teams have plenty to play for and the squad are focused on putting in our best performance of the season.

The Pilgrims rounded off their season with a win, battling from behind to finish in style. With the squad stretched, which included Jon Foster making an appearance in the starting lineup, the team showed growth from last season. In this fixture a year ago, after similarly winning the league, the Pilgrims travelled to Beccehamians and lost 63-0. To be in the same position, missing a good number of players and still deliver a result shows the resilience that has been built into this team. It will put them in good stead for when they kick off next season in Regional 2

Matt Corker Head Coach.

SATURDAY PREVIEW

The Pilgrims were crowned the Counties 1 Kent winners for the second season running. They did this with a week to spare thanks to their win away at Heathfield and Waldron. The big difference this year is that next season, they will be allowed to take promotion and play in Regional 2. This is a fantastic achievement and the Pilgrims have by no means had it all their own way, fighting hard throughout the campaign. I think the challenge of repeating success shouldn’t be underestimated and Jon Foster has led the lads all the way to another title win. The challenge of playing in the league above next season is exactly what the Pilgrims, and the club, need as we continue to grow as a place where players of all abilities can develop on and off the pitch.

The 1st XV had a good result of their own, beating Henley for the first time since before Covid. We have endured some painful one-point losses in recent fixtures but the players put in an eighty-minute performance to come from behind in the second half and seal the win. The forwards showed how much our maul has improved, scoring two tries from drives and being very close to a third. Frank Morgan scored two of his own and the players put in a good performance across the board.

To maintain our fourth position we must continue to deliver winning performances. Traveling to Oxford Harlequins on Saturday will be another test. They have averaged 37 points per game over the last seven games and we know our defence will be put under the microscope. This is an area where we have shown great improvements this season and, after a week off, the players are feeling fresh and looking forward the game in front of us.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Heathfield & Waldron 7 Pilgrims 27

by Dan Gill

Pilgrims are champions of Counties Kent One after this clear cut victory and will be promoted to Regional South East 2 next season, Level 6 in the RFU league structure. It is a fine achievement for a side that has now won back to back titles. At Heathfield they quickly settled into their stride as the forwards imposed themselves with a number of strong drives. The backs almost capitalised with their first foray into the Heathfield 22 after a fine break by returning centre Jordan Constant was only stopped by some last ditch defending. Pilgrims were quick to reapply the pressure and drove deep into Heathfield territory before scrum half Hector Valladares found Owain Collins on the short side. His pace saw him dot down for the first score which he also converted. Pilgrims’ defence was once again excellent and their tenacity was forcing mistakes from the home side. A wayward Heathfield lineout was well recovered, the forwards made inroads and the backs moved the ball to wing Gus Lister who evaded the defence to score his 15th try of the season which kept him top of the league try scoring charts. Collins again converted to take the lead to 14-0. The home side were a danger with ball in hand and had pace on the wings, but the aggressive Pilgrims defence continued to keep them at bay and Guy Hilton’s and Collins’ effective running from deep put them on the front foot. Collins took advantage by adding a penalty goal when Heathfield illegally slowed down a ruck to give Pilgrims a 17-0 halftime lead. The home side started the second half brightly, moving the ball to their pacey wide men and only an over hit kick stopped them from scoring. But Pilgrims responded well and stretched the lead to 24 points midway through the half. Veterans Dan Gill and Nathan Morris did well to keep the ball alive before the backs spread the ball to Adrian Geddes who forced his way over in the corner and Collins expertly converted. The fly half then added another three penalty points before an injury to centre Tom Halliday led to Will Hunt stepping out of the back row and into the centre. Heathfield came back strongly but Pilgrims defence again remained resolute, even after Gill received a yellow card for an infringement. Henry Kenny, McCormack and captain Al Evans led the defensive resistance before the team returned to full strength and looked to add a bonus point try. Despite coming close on a number of occasions, it was Heathfield who got the game’s final score, dotting down under the posts in the last play. The day, however, and the title went to Pilgrims.

Pilgrims: Macmillan, Demery, Morris, Kenny, Hunt, McCormack, Divine, Evans, Valladares, Collins, Trew-Neville, Constant, Halliday, Lister, G Hilton, Gill, Everrat, Geddes.