End Of The Run

CROWBOROUGH 27 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 7

by John Mitchell

The eighteen game winning run has come to an end as the Pilgrims were outplayed in all departments and beaten by a better side on the day. Despite this first defeat of the season the team are still twelve points clear at the top of Counties 1 Kent and a home victory over Ashford next Saturday would see them crowned as champions. At Crowborough they were without a number of regular players but that does not fully account for a laboured performance full of errors, poor tackling and wrong choices. A sound start was made by both sides but it was first blood to Crowborough, through a penalty goal, while a good move by the Pilgrims ended after a knock on. But it was the home side who were running the game and only a fine tackle from Jack Weaver denied them a certain try. Pilgrims could not get out of their own half and as the mistakes piled up Crowborough scored a converted try and then a lucky bounce brought them a second touchdown. Everything from Canterbury was too slow and their troubles were compounded when Tom Halliday was given a yellow card. The home side took advantage of their extra man to grab a third try, leaving Pilgrims twenty points behind at half time. Boosted by the introduction of replacements, Pilgrims controlled most of the first quarter of the second half. From a line out they got their rolling maul going and crossed the line, but were held up. Minutes later, from a scrum, Luke Webber went over for a try converted by Tom McMann. There was more Pilgrims pressure now and much more control with fly half McMann in charge, but while there were some good individual displays, notably by Jordan Constant and Cameron Macmillan returning from injury, there was still a lack of the normal understanding and continuity. With time running out and Pilgrims frustration showing, the home side scored try number four to earn them a bonus point