CANTERBURY 35 SEVENOAKS 22
by David Haigh
Canterbury go into the Christmas break on a high with this bonus point victory which cements their fourth place in National 2 East. After the stellar performance at Dorking the previous week it was a solid, rather than spectacular, show against a Sevenoaks side who themselves came into the the game on a three match winning streak. They were a point ahead at half time but the city side scored three of their five tries in the second half as their domination of scrums and lineouts kept them firmly in control. The first points of the match came from the boot of Sevenoaks full back Ben Adams, with a 24th minute penalty goal, but that brought an immediate response from a Canterbury team playing cannily into the strong wind. Frank Morgan carried hard into the ‘Oaks defence and, once there, the pack made the most of it with a try from hooker Eoin O’Donoghue, converted by Frank Reynolds. That was countered by Oaks wing Harry Barker, who grabbed a pinpoint cross kick from Ed Shepherdson, and Canterbury then handed the visitors a second try, this one converted by Adams. A spilled pass was booted 50 metres down field and when the chasers arrived Drew Forrester made a good pick up to score and open an eight point lead. But the visitors were still vulnerable and when Canterbury probed again Barney Stone was yellow carded and Oaks were punished by a close range try from Tyler Oliver. With Reynolds adding the goal points it rewarded a good first half containing effort. Going down wind after the break the city men quickly put their stamp on the game. It took two minutes for the backs to launch Alfie Orris for the third try and the powerful wing then turned provider for the next score, bursting through a hole and sending Morgan across for the bonus point touch down. Reynolds, who does not miss much these days, converted both tries and completed a full house when O’Donoghue claimed his second try after the mighty home pack, where flanker Chad Thomas had an impressive afternoon, drove a maul over 20 metres. His late yellow card was a disappointment but Oaks, starved of primary possession to make any lasting impact, did make their extra man count with a try from prop Sam Begbie, converted by Adams. They still went home empty handed.
Canterbury: K.Heatherley, A.Orris, F.Morgan, W.Waddington, T.Williams, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, O.Frostick, E.O.Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, C.Thomas, S.Rogers, T.Oliver. Replacements: N.Morris, H.Furneaux, C.McGovern, H.Young, W.Hilton
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Last night in Leicester, the 2024 Club Mirror Awards brought together hundreds of people from across the UK to celebrate the exceptional achievements of clubs nationwide. Hosted by the charismatic John Inverdale, the gala evening at Leicester’s Athena was a dazzling affair, filled with glamour, entertainment, and a palpable sense of community spirit.
