Category: Season 2021-22

END OF SEASON SPECTACULAR

CANTERBURY 31 BURY ST EDMUNDS 34

by David Haigh

Canterbury’s season may have ended as it began with a narrow loss to Bury, this time to Charlie Reed’s last minute penalty goal, but this was still a game to savour. The biggest crowd of the season were treated to a feast of ten tries, some of them spectacular, in a cracking contest that had none of that end of term feel about it. Victory was important for Bury as it gave them a top six finish in National 2 South and after building a fourteen point lead in the second half their job seemed almost done. But Canterbury, who had lost their earlier intensity, rediscovered it to dominate the final fifteen minutes and draw level with two exhilarating tries. To then concede that late penalty was a frustrating own goal leaving them with two league points instead of three from the draw their efforts probably deserved. The game was alive from the off with Canterbury taking an early lead through a catch and drive try from Billy Young and Bury hitting back quickly when Ruraidh Williams’ break made a try for Matt Bursey. From then on it was nip and tuck until half time. Lovely foot work from Reed set up the first of Bury wing Ross Taylor’s three touchdowns, Alex Evans rewarded more close range work by the city pack and hooker Fin McCartney claimed Bury’s third try to edge his side ahead again. Canterbury clawed it back in the closing minute of the half, Young again finishing an organised driving maul. Reed’s two conversions against one by Will Hilton saw Bury two points in front at the break and everything nicely poised. However, one of Canterbury’s regular failings has been a drop in concentration in the third quarter and here it surfaced again. Bury’s fast moving wide game exposed them and Taylor completed his hat trick in the space three minutes, the first following a fine break by scrum half Chris Bolton and then capitalising on work by fellow wing Ciarian Leeson. Reed converted both tries and Canterbury had all the work to do. Inspiration for the fight back came from replacement scrum half Tom Williams who spotted space on the blind side and outpaced the Bury defence in a searing 70 metre run. Hilton converted and was left a much easier kick when clever footwork by fly half Frank Reynolds took him over between the posts to bring everything level and ten minutes remaining on the clock. Canterbury seemed to have the momentum but paid the penalty for hanging on to the ball at a ruck and Reed cooly slotted the winner with the last kick of a brilliant match.

Canterbury: W.Hilton, G.Hilton, F.Morgan (repl D.Heads), T. F.Reynolds, B.Cooper (repl T.Williams), A.Cooper, B.Young, E.Lusher (repl D.Herriott), J.De Vries (repl R.Cadman), J.Stephens, A.Evans (repl S.Churchyard), T.King, T.Oliver

View match photos

Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

GUERNSEY 33 CANTERBURY 33

In a terrific climax a penalty try in the last minute of this National 2 South game gave Canterbury a late share of the points after they had squandered a healthy lead.

They opened a 21-point gap in the first nineteen minutes but poor discipline, which cost them three yellow cards, handed Guernsey all the incentive they needed to dominate the second half.
It was the Channel Islander’s own indiscretions, however, that denied them victory as they came under sustained pressure in the dramatic closing minutes.

An impressive driving maul was stopped illegally, and referee Neil Sweeney had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try to Canterbury.

It was all so different in the early stages with Canterbury cruising ahead smoothly with tries from Ben Cooper, half back partner Frank Reynolds and Alex Evans, all converted by Tom Best.

Guernsey got their breath back with a converted try from Anthony Armstrong but despite temporarily losing Frank Morgan to the first of their yellow cards, the city side soon claimed a bonus point with a fourth touchdown when full back Aiden Moss delivered one of his scorching runs.

Guernsey made their extra man count just before half time through Callum Roberts’ try but Canterbury were still sitting in box seat with a fourteen point advantage.

It was a cushion that quickly became deflated in the second half which the home side dominated and as the yellow cards flew, first for Will McColl and then Sam Sterling, the city defences crumbled.

Going into the last quarter Guernsey had forged ahead with tries from Ciaran McGann, Owen Thomas, and Oscar Baird, with Thomas converting them all.

But when Canterbury found themselves in the last chance saloon they kicked down the doors in powerful fashion and it earned them three league points.

Match photographs may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

CANTERBURY 11 ESHER 33

by David Haigh

High flying Esher were given a thorough Easter test before keeping their National 2 South title hopes on course with two late tries.

The scoreline probably flattered the visitors but here was a side that turned its chances into points while Canterbury, despite rattling the league leaders with their commitmmt and physicality, failed to make the most of theirs.

The city side’s first half effort was among the best of the season as they handled Esher’s kicking game with ease, created presure with some no nonsense rugby and took a six point lead through two Kyan Braithwaite penalty goals.

Adding tries to those points, however, eluded them and despite all the good work they found themselves behind at half time.

Esher scored twice in the final three minutes with Myles Rawstron-Rudd intercepting in Canterbury’s 22 metre area and Jack Lavin finding a gap after Danny Herriot had been yellow carded for pulling down a maul.

Sam Morley added the first of his four conversions.

A promising start to the second half again came to nothing for Canterbury but Esher approached their slightly uneasy situation with more determined forward power.

That earned a 56th minute try for prop Theo Skoumbourdis but they could make no further impression and as the game reached the last quarter it was Canterbury who found a way to the line.

A driving maul and a cut out pass sent Tristan King in at the corner to test Esher’s nerves.

They settled them but left it late with the bonus point try coming from Charlie Crawley in the 73rd minute from a powerful driving maul.

It was also enough to secure the win and in the last act of the game an individual breakaway score came from Phil Cokanasinga, a luxury replacement who usually plies his trade with Premiership London Irish.

Canterbury: A.Moss, G.Hilton, S.Sterling, K.Braithwaite, F.Morgan, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, A.Cooper, B.Young, D.Herriott, J.De Vries, J.Stephens, A.Evans, W.Waddington, T.Oliver.

Replacements: T.Best, E.Lusher, S.Churchyard, D.Heads. T.King.

Match photographs may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

WESTCLIFF 19  CANTERBURY 33

by David Haigh

This was only the second away victory of the season for an inconsistent Canterbury side so the five points they took home from bottom of the table Westcliff were a welcome boost ahead of next Saturday’s meeting with league leaders Esher.

What the scoreline could not disguise, however, was the poor quality of a game in which both sides fed off unforced errors as much as their own skills.

Canterbury’s dominant scrummaging was the backbone of an untidy performance and three second half tries were enough to guarantee a result which should have been more convincing.

Playing into a chilly wind in the first half a patient build up brought a converted try for Dwayne Corcoran after 14 minutes but then the errors set in and Westcliff turned their gifts into points.

A turnover handed them the opportunity to make space for wing Sherif Olanrewaju and a second try followed after a horrible communication failure by the city backs.

Westcliff skipper Greg Bannister picked up, raced 50 metres to the line and added the goal points.

Relentless scrum pressure allowed Canterbury to square matters before half time.

Westcliff came under the cosh, James Scogings was yellow carded after repeated penalty offences and Canterbury finally broke them down with an overlap score from wing Frank Morgan.

After the break that same pack power pushed Canterbury clear with two tries in the space of seven minutes.

Steady pounding of the Westcliff line ended with prop Danny Herriott coming up with ball from under a pile of bodies and the lead was recaptured.

The second saw Westcliff  shunted back at a close range scrum and Number Eight Tyler Oliver made the touchdown.

Both were converted and at 26-12 the game was in the city side’s hands.

As the match went into its final quarter, however, a stubborn Westcliff fought back.

They forced penalties, won territory and lock George Maloney powered over for a try converted by Bannister.

It proved to be their last shot but as scruffy handling and poor control continued to plague both sides it was Canterbury who finished the stronger.

An attack down the left wing channel which at last had some poise about it sealed the game, bringing Morgan his second try and leaving Kyan Braithwaite to slot a fourth conversion.

Canterbury: D. Corcoran (repl A. Moss), G. Hilton, S. Sterling, K. Braithwaite, F. Morgan, B. Cooper (repl D. Heads), A. Cooper (repl J. Otto). B. Young, D. Herriott (repl E. Lusher), J. De Vries, J. Stephens (repl S. Churchyard), A. Evans, W. Waddington, T. Oliver

Match photographs may be subject to copyright – Tim Browne / Westcliff RFC