Hat Trick For Max

CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 36 BROMLEY 10

by John Mitchell

Wing Max Campbell marked his return from injury by registering a first half hat trick of tries as Pilgrims extended their unbeaten run in Counties 1 Kent to eleven games. With a total of 54 points out of a possible 55 they lead the table by nine points, ahead of Dartfordians. Pilgrims made a flying start, taking the lead within three minutes as Tom McMann’s kick took a lucky deflection off a Bromley player, Gus Lister raced on to the ball and sent Campbell away for a try converted by McMann. The visitors missed a chance to get on the scoreboard with a failed penalty kick and by half time were seventeen points in arrears. Pilgrims second try was a great team effort, with the ball moved across the whole park before Campbell’s pace did the rest. His third, with 17 minutes gone, was a fine solo effort and when Bromley built their own pressure Canterbury’s defence was up to the job. The second half bonus point try came from continued pressure before Jake Dengate forced himself over and McMann converted in difficult, windy conditions. Bromley would not lie down and were proving difficult to beat until Gus Lister broke away at pace and exchanged passes with Campbell before putting the game to bed with a fifth try which McMann converted. Dave Irvine then received a yellow card for a high tackle, Bromley were down a player through injury and the game had gone to uncontested scrums as a sticky pitch took its toll on the action. Bromley scored an unconverted try before Pilgrims launched a rolling maul and Brandon Dunkerley went over for their sixth try. The visitors ended with another unconverted touchdown in a game in which scrum half Presley Farrance won the supporters Player award for yet another controlled performance.

Pilgrims: G.Lister, M.Campbell, J.Richardson, S.Trew-Neville, A.Geddes, T.McMann, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, B.Dunkerley, J.Everatt, H.Andrews, D.Irvine, J.Dengate, H.Furneaux, A.Evans. Replacements: T.Mackenzie, D.Gill, H.Valdares

Next game v Thanet this Friday evening, kick-off 7.45pm