HAT TRICK VICTORY

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 a 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 chances 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.