Category: Season 2021-22

CANTERBURY 24  CLIFTON 38

by David Haigh

From riches to rags then almost back again.

That was the Canterbury story on a day of swinging fortunes which saw the visitors take home a bonus point victory and keep their title hopes just about bubbling.

The scoreline ended the way it did because the city side, after a confident start which earned them a twelve point lead, suddenly switched off.

In a twenty minute spell, either side of half time, their defence fell apart and they conceded 31 unanswered points.

By the time the lights came on again the game had run away from them although a late rally brought a losing bonus point.

What started so well with tries from Royce Cadman, peeling off a driving maul, and Frank Reynolds who chased down a clever sliding kick, began to go down hill in the 33rd minute.

Canterbury, who had defended well up that point, were forced into a goaline drop out but stood transfixed as Clifton full back Alex Howman speared past weak tackles.

He was stopped short of the line but lock Henry Harper finished the job.

By half time it was all square, through a Howman try created by centre Marcus Nel’s clean break and a conversion by Zak Ward.

From the first minute of the second half Canterbury were in deep trouble as they handed Clifton easy territory, fell off tackles and were hit with another rapid three tries.

Nel got one almost from the kick -off, fly half Luke Cozens accurate kicking set up position for a catch drive score for Geroge Taylor and Harper got his second in the 54th minute.

Cozens added two conversions and the damage looked irreparable.  Amid the wreckage, however, Canterbury finally located the switch again and produced the rugby they should have played for the whole 80 minutes.

Delightful interplay by the backs sent Will Waddington under the posts, Kyan Braithwate landed his second conversion and three minutes later came a sliver of light when Will Hilton’s pass put Frank Morgan across for the bonus point try.

But to recover from that painful mid-game period was beyond them and Clifton topped things off with a late
converted try from Fin Sharp.

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

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

REDRUTH 49pts CANTERBURY 10pts

by Andy Rogers

Not helped by a misfiring line out, and shipping seven tries to one, Canterbury’s blunt attack was never a match for promotion chasing Redruth. It was however the visitors who in the first minute opened the scoring when from a turnover in the Redruth 22, Kyan Braithwaite slotting a simple penalty. But that was about as good as it got for a Canterbury side showing plenty of endeavour but very little else. Redruth in contrast, served by their powerful runners in the 10, 12 and 13 channels, proceeded to pick the Canterbury defence apart. Four first half tries, all expertly converted by Redruth’s lively fly half Fraser Honey, had the win and the bonus point wrapped up by half time.

One might be forgiven for thinking this was now a damage limitation exercise for the City men and so it proved as Redruth, now playing with the elements and towards the famous Hellfire Corner, went on to score a further three tries, all again converted by that man Honey.

In contrast, Canterbury had very little attacking threat to offer, saved perhaps by their best moment in the game. It came in the 68th minute when from broken play centre Frank Morgan cut a lovely line through the Redruth defence. Quick hands from 18 year old debutant full back Harry Legg released winger Guy Hilton for a simple run in under the posts, Braithwaite converting. A consolation score maybe but a great example of what this side is capable of when they get it right. The challenge now is to get it right more often.

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

CANTERBURY 30pts HINCKLEY 24pts

by David Haigh

A red card for centre Tom Best three minutes into the second half could have dealt a fatal blow to Canterbury’s prospects but they rose to the challenge brilliantly to dig out a bonus point victory. Their fourteen men went on to outscore the first time visitors by two tries to one in that second half and in the process lift themselves above Hinckley in the National 2 South table. Trailing by four at the turnaround the city side found themselves in deeper trouble soon after Best was banished for foul play. Hinckley centre Shane Nixon punished them with his side’s fourth try as his strong, long range run left Cameron Coates an easy conversion and Canterbury, now eleven points adrift, with it all to do. They found a way through a mixture of positive mindset, grit and opportunism and after fighting to retake the lead they took charge of the last quarter. The city men eased their troubles with a catch and drive try from skipper Jamie Stephens and a smash and grab interception by wing Guy Hilton who stole the ball and ran the length of the field when Hinckley were looking highly dangerous. Those tries, both converted by Kyan Braithwaite, came in the space of four minutes and what Canterbury had they successfully decided to hold. Early in the game there was plenty of enterprise if not accuracy as the city men went into the lead with the first of hooker Billy Young’s two tries from driving mauls. Danny Herriot’s yellow card then gave Hinckley an advantage prop Sam Greening exploited to level matters and Aaron Florenstein pushed them ahead with another short range score. Canterbury hit back through a Braithwaite penalty goal and when Young peeled round another surging maul to touch down they were looking at a narrow half time bonus. Hinckley’s lively scrum half Ben Pointon made them think again as he shot through a hole in a lineout in the final minute of the half and Joe Wilson slotted the conversion. Those swings and roundabouts made for exciting stuff but the real drama was still to come. The sending off tested the city side’s resilience and they can be proud of a response which was crowned by Braithwaite’s late penalty goal after their breakdown battlers forced Hinckley to hold on to the ball illegally.

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

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Images may be subject to copyright  – Phillipa Hilton

HENLEY HAWKS 12 CANTERBURY 10

by David Haigh

For much of this game Canterbury were the better side but were left with just two Dwayne Corcoran tries and a losing bonus point. Their failure to turn opportunity into points has become a recurring problem and here it surfaced again. Justice may have been done had they converted a last minute penalty but it proved too difficult. In hindsight, the decision to turn down two earlier and easier shots at goal proved costly in a tight contest that was high in commitment but short on quality.

Canterbury’s hunt for tries rather than points from the boot were misplaced and it was the Hawks, who got both their scores from driving mauls, who were better in that area. However, it was a penalty, the quick tapped variety, that saw the city side into the lead after 14 minutes as it paved the way for Corcoran’s first touchdown. Both sides were plagued by handling errors but it was the Henley forwards who eventually nudged them ahead, Canterbury conceded penalties, Hawks drove hard from the lineout, and lock Ben Harrison claimed the try. Cail Cookland’s conversion from the touchline was good but Canterbury survived further damage after Dave Irvine’ yellow card to end the half two points behind. The second forty minutes was a tale of frustration as Canterbury were in control for long periods but when Hawks did find a foothold they made it count. Another organised driving maul was topped off by hooker Tom Emery’s try but the city side rebuilt and their pressure was at last rewarded through good work by the backs. Kyan Braithwaite made space for Corcoran to dive over by the corner flag which left ten minutes to find a winning score. Canterbury came close, but not close enough.

Canterbury
K.Braithwaite, G.Hilton, F.Morgan (repl S.Sterling), T.Best, D.Corcoran,F.Reynolds, B.Cooper (repl D.Heads), A.Cooper (repl E.Lusher), B.Young (repl J.Otto), D.Herriott, R.Cadman, D.Irvine, J.De Vries (repl J.Stephens), W.Waddington. T.Oliver

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton

CANTERBURY 21 BARNES 12

By David Haigh

It was the staying power of a Canterbury side, who came alive in the second half, that sealed this hard won victory. Trailing by twelve points at the break after failing to solve the puzzles set by the Barnes defence their determination was rewarded with three tries. They fell behind early on after being pinned on their own line and centre Peter Weightman powered over to leave Rob Kirby a simple conversion. The city side had plenty of territory and opportunity to put that right but lacked the accuracy and patience to turn it into points and a second Barnes score brought more hurt. Despite a fine, try-saving cover tackle by Dwayne Corcoran, the visiting pack completed the job by driving James Bloxham over the line from close range. There was no more damage but it left Canterbury with plenty of attacking problems to solve and twelve minutes into the second half they began to find solutions. A turnover was won, the ball spread wide and wingman Corcoran left the Barnes defence flat-footed as he cut inside to touch down by the posts. Kyan Braithwaite converted but the game was into the last ten minutes before Canterbury nosed in front. The visitors were under increasing pressure and it told when new boy Dave Irvine, making his home debut, charged down scrum half Miles Lloyd’s kick, gathered and scored. Braithwaite nailed the conversion for a vital two points. That looked precarious as Barnes fought back in the closing minutes but a great turnover and raking kick earned Canterbury a five metre scrum. It was a department they dominated throughout the game and this time their powerful eight man drive won a decisive penalty try.

Canterbury: A. Moss M.Halliday (repl F.Morgan), S.Sterling, K.Braithwaite, D. Corcoran, T.Best (repl F.Reynolds), B.Cooper, A.Cooper (repl E.Lusher), B.Young, D.Herriott, R.Cadman, S.Churchyard (repl D. Irvine). J.De Vries, W.Waddington, T.Oliver

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Images may be subject to copyright – Phillipa Hilton