Epic Win For Pilgrims

Pilgrims 43 Bromley 37

by Dan Gill

Pilgrims took to the field knowing this was likely to be a season defining game against a very good Bromley side who had narrowly defeated them earlier in the league campaign. They elected to play up the slope in the first half which Bromley were quick to capitalise on, slotting a penalty goal for a scrum offence before adding the first try of the afternoon. They moved the ball wide to carve open the usually solid Pilgrims defence and score a well converted touchdown for a ten point lead, Pilgrims response was immediate and good interlinking play between backs and forwards created space for full back Guy Hilton to score out wide which was well converted by Owain Collins. Bromley were proving dangerous with ball in hand and another strong passage of play led to an unconverted score before the Pilgrims again pegged back the visitors. Jesse de Vries broke from a five metre scrum to force his way over for a converted score and bring the city side within a point. The final few minutes of the half were all Bromley as they moved the ball well to cut through the home defence and add a third try. More trouble followed thanks to a lapse in concentration by the Pilgrims. As they cleared to touch Bromley reacted by taking a quick throw in which saw them under the posts for a bonus point try and a 29-14 half time lead, This Pilgrims team, however, has demonstrated remarkable resilience on numerous occasions over the last three seasons and their second half display was another fine example. They came out firing and quickly added a penalty goal and a second try by Hilton before Owain Collins was singled out by the referee for ten minutes in the sin bin. But Pilgrims were now playing the slope well and coupled with set piece dominance were keeping Bromley penned in. Even though a man down, some impressive play saw Harry Chubb burst through to score and convert to give his side the lead for the first time. Harvey Furneaux then forced his way over to make it 38-29. Bromley came back with a try of their own, utilising a front of the lineout move to bring the game back to a four point margin before Pilgrims winger Sonny Trew-Neville added a sixth and decisive try. The closing minutes saw Bromley muster a strong response but the Pilgrims defence remained resolute and conceded only a penalty goal in the last play. That secured the visitors a second bonus point in what was a fantastically contested fixture. The bonus point victory keeps Pilgrims Top of Counties 1 with five games to play.

Canterbury: Frostick, Demery, MacMillan, Hunt, De Moubray, Geddes, Furneaux, De Vries, Valladares, Collins, Lister, Morgan, Chubb, Trew-Neville, G Hilton, Lusher, Divine, Fielder