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Mark Mowbray’s journey with the Black and Amber began in 1995, when he left Slough RFC to be closer to his children. From that moment, he became a cornerstone of the club, embodying the spirit, camaraderie, and resilience that defined the team. Over the years, Mark played across much of the Men’s outfit, joining countless tours both in the U.K. and Europe. It was during the Leuven tour that he earned the nickname “Damage”, a testament to his fearless style of play and larger-than-life presence on and off the pitch.

In 2005, following spinal surgery, Mark made a remarkable comeback. He played a full season (2005/06) and capped it off with an end-of-season tour to Newquay alongside his son, Michael. That year was particularly memorable, with the Gazette noting it as his best points season—though they humorously admitted they weren’t sure which “M. Mowbray” had scored them.

Mark finally retired in 2014 after the Clifton Match, closing a chapter of nearly two decades of dedication. Even after retirement, he occasionally laced up his boots for charity matches, continuing to give back to the sport and community he loved.

In 2018, Mark was diagnosed with terminal cancer. True to his character, he faced the challenge with courage and dignity, fighting for seven and a half years. On 5th October, he passed peacefully in his sleep, leaving behind a legacy of strength, friendship, and devotion to the game.
Mark Mowbray will be remembered not only for his contributions on the field but also for the warmth and loyalty he showed to his teammates, friends, and family. Our prayers and heartfelt wishes go out to his loved ones during this difficult time. His memory will forever remain part of the Black and Amber family.

CANTERBURY 34 GUERNSEY 8

by David Haigh

The third win in a row, a hat trick of tries for hooker Eoin O’Donoghue and a maximum return of five points made this a good day at the office for Canterbury. It is clear, also, they enjoy working at home, having lost only once at The Marine Travel Ground this season and after a flurry of three tries in the first twenty minutes never looked in much danger of defeat. Guernsey took an early lead through full back Callum Roberts’ interception try but were a side lacking bite and were quickly found out. Wing Alfie Orris, making his first appearance after a preseason injury, set Canterbury on their way as he fielded a kick on half way, powered through a hesitant defence and support runner Aiden Moss cantered over from Presley Farrance’s pass. The visitors were quickly under pressure again as Canterbury put the ball through their hands at every opportunity and a sweeping attack on the left flank was completed by the ever alert O’Donoghue. His second try was delayed, briefly, by an exchange of penalty goals from Guernsey’s Ciaran McGann and Frank Reynolds but, from the restart, the city side struck again. This time it was Moss who made the decisive break and O’Donoghue stepped past the last defender, leaving Reynolds to land his second conversion. They thought Harry Sloan had bagged a fourth try, but were called back for an earlier infringement and had to be content with 22-8 half time lead. It took 19 minutes of the second half before the bonus point touchdown was added. That was down to some dogged resistance from Guernsey and failings in the city side’s accuracy. When the score came it was a trademark catch and drive which gave O’Donoghue his opportunity. Guernsey, denied possession by superior lineout skills and the home side’s ability to turn over ball, continued to battle but could do nothing to counter more impressive handling in the 67th minute. Skipper Jamie Stephens surprised everyone with a turn of foot which ended under the posts and Reynolds converted. Two further scoring chanced were mangled in the scrappy closing minutes but it would be harsh to criticise an ambitious display from this Canterbury side.
Canterbury: L.Talbot, G.Jones, A.Moss, W.Waddington, A.Orris, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, O.Frostick, J.Stephens, C.McGovern, J.Walker, R.Thomas, T.Oliver. Replacements: L.Young, H.Sloan, T.Williams, J.Dengate, J.De Vries.

MATCH PREVIEW

Oxford Harlequins away gave us the opportunity to back up our win against London Welsh and the players put in a strong performance in challenging conditions. Through a dominant set piece and effective ball movement, we secured the bonus point by half time. Even though the second half was less eventful, we finished as 19–42 winners.
That’s not the whole story, though. We lost both Jamie Stephens and Eoin O’Donoghue early in the second half and Mo Pangarker followed shortly after scoring his try. Ryley Thomas played the final ten minutes in the second row and Presley Farrance shifted to Number 6. Even with all this disruption, the last ten minutes showed the true character of this team. Despite the game already being won, the lads were stubbornly defiant and refused to give Oxford a losing bonus point. I thought it was important to share that final defensive play with the team at training last night. The character they showed is something to be proud of and a great sign of how our defence has progressed this season.
The week off also gave me the chance to watch the Pilgrims play live for the first time this season. It was great to see Jesse De Vries, Alfie Orris and Harry Sloan all return from recent injury layoffs—and all come through the game unscathed. And what a game it was. To go twenty-one points behind and still come out on top 30–26 shows how this team is rising to the challenge of Regional 2. The second-half performance is where the match was won, and when the final whistle blew you could see what it meant to the players—and to coach Mal Graves. The Pilgrims now have four wins from their last five games as they travel to fourth-place Beckenham looking to continue their strong run of results.
After a week off, the 1st XV welcome Guernsey Raiders to the Marine Travel Ground. Guernsey sit one place and two points ahead of us as we begin the final block of the year. With only three games to go before the Christmas break, we know how important it is to continue our recent run of results. Fixtures with Guernsey are always closely fought affairs and we know it will take our best to get the win

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH

Deacons vs Deal & Betts 2’s Match Report

Fantastic Fours Fall Short but not without stunning Deal by the infamous Pete Demery

Deacons 21 – Deal & Betts 32

On an afternoon where any normal person would stay inside enjoying appropriate snacks and refreshments, the Deacons assembled to run out against an old foe Deal & Betts. After an attritional run of 4 consecutive games, getting a full squad out was a challenge and once more some of our Zingari fellows stepped in to assist.
With barely 15 on the field and no front row to contest at scrum time we knew it would be a tough afternoon.
The weather levelled the playing field a little and we knew we might have to get creative with some key forwards missing from our usually strong set piece plays.

At kick off Deacons received & looked to move the ball around the field to overcome a very organised Deal defence. Handling errors were inevitable given the conditions & frenetic pace of play, there were more dropped balls than the u12’s squad! The uncontested scrums were welcome respite for the larger of us on the field.

Deal drew first blood but not until deep into the first half; a well worked try squeezed in at the corner. Deals kicker had a tricky day missing all the conversion attempts (despite the opposition linesman giving a conversion that missed the middle of the uprights by about 4 nautical miles).
Deacons battled well until the 25 minute mark when Deal struck again, once more around the fringes before a quick 3rd try after a devastating rolling maul. We were rocked, and periodically suffering with going a man down with injuries and an empty bench.
The first half ended with Deal on 22 points to our 0, we had to regroup over our halftime Haribo and we weren’t going down without a fight.

After a small reshuffle and some tactical changes with positional play we went into the second half with our tails up taking the fight to Deal. It didn’t disappoint despite a quick Deal try after the restart.

We played the Deacons way. Upped the fun, worked as a team and communicated well causing chaos at lineout time.

At 10, Dan Head moved the forwards around the breakdowns & delivered a kicking masterclass from the fringes at try time.
Oli Toms, David Hierro and Adam Malik combined to carry the ball brilliantly up the middle of the field.
Callum Townsend on his second shift as flanker cleared in attack and tackled phenomenally in defence, jumping in the lineout as if he’d been doing it years.
Rob Horan worked brilliantly from 12 to organise the backline with great territory kicking and Harry Stanley (Harry Standout more like!) at fullback was key to our attack and the last line of defence – battling through breaking a finger at some point – I was wondering what he was pointing at!

Returning to the Deacons from uni Reilly Fleming demonstrated he’d missed us, stepping into a flanking role away from the backs his presence reassuring us around the field before dotting down between the posts.

Man of the match went to Ed Exley for barreling over the line with 2 tries in the corner, running hard and beating tackles.
After another period of sustained attack and a number of Deal penalties in their own 22, Deacons scored again. With Dan’s superb kicking the score all of a sudden stood at 21-27 game on with 10 left to go! Deal were rocked and scrambled, hitting back with a try through their pack.

With no time left on the clock we pushed and pushed to get back over the Deal line but ultimately came up short losing the battle with time but winning the second half.

If we’d had another 20 I’ve no doubt we would’ve won, we retired to the changing rooms broken, bloodied, muddied and in great spirits. A fantastic effort by all.

POTM – Ed Exley (2 x tries), con x 3 – Dan Head, Reilly Fleming (try).
Huge shout out to Piers Weigh (who’s clearly watched his Dad play rugby too much) and thought he could pick and score a try from 2 metres out against Deals entire front row!

As a team it takes us time to gel on match days.
We’d love to be able to put out the same match squad each week.
If you want to return to playing or play competitive rugby that’s fun & social without necessarily always having to train. Come and play Deacons rugby!

We’ve a week off before December fixtures at home on the 13th. 2 to go before 2026 begins.

Pilgrims 30
Sutton & Epsom 26

The Pilgrims welcomed Sutton & Epsom to the MTG for the first time in many years in what promised to be a keenly contested encounter.
The city side started brightly, boosted by the return from long term injury’s of Jesse De Vries, Alfie Orris and Harry Sloan and looked to take the game to Sutton going up the slope.
Despite the positive start, the Pilgrims found themselves behind when a slip in the defensive line left a gaping hole in the defensive line which Sutton exploited to take a 0-7 lead.

The pilgrims looked to build on positive front foot ball provided by the forwards, but after a series of positive carries, a pilgrims lineout was thrown long and Sutton expertly countered and showed why they are competing at the top of the league by exploiting the error to score a second which was well converted from out wide. 0-14.

The pilgrims were punished again when hooker Jake Dengate was yellow carded for a late tackle. Sutton kicked for the corner and peeled off the resulting lineout to score from close range and extend their lead to 0-21.

Pilgrims regrouped and again showed they themselves looked dangerous in possession with the pack linking well in the loose to make inroads. Sutton stemmed the tide illegally allowing Owain Collins to register the pilgrims first points of the afternoon with a simple penalty in front of the posts. 3-21.

with the first half drawing to a close, some good play by the backs forced Sutton back into their 22 and and they were forced into touch in their own 22. The pilgrims executed a well worked maul from the lineout and allowed front row replacement Nate Morris to dot down and make the HT score 8-21.

The halftime break allowed pilgrims to regroup and they came out firing as they looked to attack down the slope. Dengate rejoined the fray after his enforced rest and momentum started to swing their way as good work by the forwards created space for Collins to power over and he converted his own try, 15-21.

Sutton looked dangerous whenever they got ball in hand but they were struggling to deal with Pilgrims’ attacking tempo and they were making ground with every run. This set a great platform for the backs and allowed fleet footed fullback Owen Hewitt to skip through for pilgrims 3rd which Collins converted to give them the lead for the first time, 22-21.

Collins then added a second penalty goal to take the score to 25-21 before Sutton showed good determination to score their bonus point try when they powered over from close range despite a number of courageous goal line tackles from the home side to take back the lead, 25-26.

With 10 minutes remaining the pilgrims went up a gear, spurred on my the home support. The forwards were making dents and the backs were looking dangerous. After some good work at the lineout by the pack the backs looked to move the ball wide and after Collins found Orris with a nice pass, his outrageous effort to put Hewitt in space out wide was even better and he raced away to add the pilgrims 4th and bonus point try to take the score to 30-26. Sutton attempted one final attack but pilgrims defence stood firm and they held on to take 5points from a well contested encounter. The Pilgrims travel to Beckenham next Saturday for what promises to be another close encounter.

We are thrilled to share some fantastic news from our ACE programme at The Archbishop’s School. Summer, a dedicated Year 12 student, has achieved an incredible milestone by being selected for the Rachael Burford Player Development Group (PDG).

Balancing her academic studies with her personal growth and sporting ambitions, Summer has shown outstanding commitment and determination. Her hard work paid off as she earned a starting position at hooker over the weekend—a testament to her skill and perseverance on the rugby field.

This achievement highlights the values we champion at ACE: resilience, dedication, and striving for excellence both in and out of the classroom. We couldn’t be prouder of Summer and look forward to seeing her continue to shine in her rugby journey.

Congratulations, Summer! Your success is an inspiration to us all.

Oops, we did it again, and we couldn’t be prouder. Canterbury Rugby Club has officially retained its title as Club of the Year for the fourth consecutive season, a remarkable achievement that speaks volumes about the passion, dedication, and unity of our Black & Amber family.

Out of twelve shortlisted clubs from across the UK, it was our name that echoed through the hall once more. The 2025 Club Awards ceremony was a celebration of excellence, and Canterbury stood tall among the best.

🌟 More Than Just One Win

Not only did we clinch the top honour, we were also shortlisted finalists in four prestigious categories:

• Diversity & Inclusion Club of the Year
• Catering Club of the Year
• Community Club of the Year
• Charity Club of the Year

These nominations reflect the breadth of our impact, from inclusive sport and culinary innovation to deep-rooted community engagement and charitable outreach.

💛 This Award Belongs to All of You

This victory is not just about trophies. It’s a tribute to every supporter, partner, player, staff member, and volunteer in all sections who pours their heart into our One Club ethos. Your energy, commitment, and belief make Canterbury Rugby Club what it is,  a beacon of excellence, inclusion, and community spirit.

As we celebrate this milestone, we also look ahead with renewed purpose. Let’s keep building, keep growing, and keep showing the world what One Club truly means.

Here’s to another season of heart, hustle, and honour.

Sittingbourne 2’s 50 – 7 Deacons

By the infamous Pete Demery

Sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe sh..!

Fast charging, hard hitting Sittingbourne thwart Deacons.

Once again it took the Deacons some time to gel with lots of new players and regular players trying new positions on the pitch.
Sittingbourne were quick to capitalise, showing how effective a team that train and play together regularly can be.
Despite some valiant defensive efforts Bourne went across the try line repeatedly in the first half.
Capitalising on their strengths at scrum time, Sittingbourne had the rub of the decisions across the 80, causing havoc with their set piece play and adding to the Deacons frustrations with the penalty count.
Despite the occasional ‘interesting’ interjections from the referee, Canterbury started to gel in the second half. When we had the ball we were probing deeper into the home side’s territory & before long (after 2 disallowed) Adam Malik crossed the whitewash.
Sittingbourne kept the pressure high and looked threatening with every period of possession and were relentless in their pursuit of points.
With Steve Rutt joining the front row as a sub the scrums became stronger and more evenly contested. Dylan Coyle debuted at 9 and had a solid game. Callum Townsend stepped from the 5’s up and played brilliantly at flanker for the full 80. Adam Malik made a very welcome return to rugby and linked up with the ever present James Limmer in the forwards to offer some real momentum.
Rueben Kerr, Ronnie Wood & Brad Nicholson had a tough day in the front row but never showed any signs of giving up. Hayden Prett returned to his old club and tackled relentlessly in defense while carrying had in attack. Piers Weigh had a fantastic game on the backs nailing tackles on the wing & Matt Capper stepped into a centre role combining with Denton running attacking lines looking to release Harvey Ingram at 15, returning from injury.
We finished 50-7.
Deal next week at home. That ends our run of 4 on the bounce and we’ll have a rest.
Come and play Deacons rugby.

The Canons made it 3 wins in a row with a 26-13 victory against Old Gravesendians at the MTG.

Playing into a strong wind in the first half, the Canons spent the opening passages defending in their own half as OGs dominated possession.  The Canons held firm, with Joel Poulter leading the defensive charge, and midway through the half found a break through, with number 8 Jake Forrest scoring from short range following good work from the forwards.  Gravesendians responded however, scoring 2 unconverted tried in the lead up to half time to lead 10-5 at the break.

Following tactical changes at half time, and playing with the wind behind them, it didn’t take long for the Canons to cross the whitewash again, with replacem

ent prop Lennie West crashing over from short range. The extras were added by fly half Liam Browne.  From the restart, OGs pressure led to a number of infringements from Canterbury, allowing them to take the lead from the tee after a penalty in front of the posts – OGS advantage 13-12.  As the game entered the final quarter, and although the light faded, the Canons remained bright, with second converted scores for each of Forrest and West securing the bonus point and a win for the Canons.

It was a pleasing display for the Canons coaches, with the whole squad knowing that there is more for this team to give. The Canons have a big opportunity to carry on their run of form against Brockleians next week.

By Amber Waitimas

Jersey Women 14- 7 Canterbury Women 1st XV

It was an early start for the Canterbury Women as they set off bright and early to catch their flight to Jersey for a much-anticipated away fixture. Unfortunately, the island welcomed them with testing conditions: driving rain and strong winds made it clear from the outset that this was going to be a hard-fought contest.

With a double header scheduled alongside the Jersey Men’s fixture, the Canterbury Women showed great spirit by supporting the match before their own.

Canterbury travelled without their usual co-captain pairing due to injury, but leadership shone through regardless. Claire Bernthal and Emily Moriarty stepped up brilliantly on game day, providing calm guidance and essential support for the squad.

Once they took to the field, the challenging weather did little to shake their composure. The forwards carried hard, the handling was impressively clean given the conditions, and the lineout unit excelled, securing their own ball and stealing several from Jersey.

The match also saw the welcome return of Canterbury players Mimi Jupe (Team Manager) and Rebecca Sheene, whose impact off the bench was immediately felt. Across the pitch, players put their bodies on the line, demonstrating grit and determination throughout the contest.

Defensively, Canterbury were immense. Lily Philpott was relentless, making tackle after tackle and helping keep Jersey under constant pressure. Forward of the Match, Ellie Rowe, was a standout force in the pack, while Back of the Match, Emily Moriarty, making her first appearance at fly-half, showed excellent game management in difficult conditions.

Jersey opened the scoring with a well-taken try on the wing, which they successfully converted. Canterbury responded swiftly: after sustained pressure in Jersey’s half, a powerful team effort paved the way for Number 8 El Crowe to crash over the line. Layla Little added the extras to level the score at 7–7.

Canterbury continued to dominate territory, spending long spells inside the Jersey half. However, just before the break, Jersey capitalised on an overlap out wide to score their second try, taking the lead at halftime.

The second half showcased determined rugby from both sides. Canterbury repeatedly battled their way inside five metres of the Jersey line, but the hosts defended fiercely, denying any further points. Despite the weather and the physicality of the match, the game was played with tremendous spirit, and even featured an unexpected pitch invader in the form of a curious duck looking to join the action.

Though the result did not fall Canterbury’s way, the squad remained in high spirits and made the most of their time on the island.

Canterbury Women would like to extend their thanks to Jersey RFC for their warm hospitality, and to the Canterbury Women’s Committee for ensuring another successful away trip.