HAWKS WILL TEST US

CANTERBURY V HENLEY HAWKS

The frozen pitch at Bury may have put the chance to continue our good run of form on hold, but it came at a good time for us. After four physical encounters the opportunity for the players to rest some niggles has been welcomed and training this week has been full of energy. This will be needed this weekend as we welcome Henley who are sitting in fourth.

As part of our review at the end of last season we looked at our final league stats in comparison to Henley. We felt that both our games against Henley were close, we averaged one score behind over the two games, but they won 17 games compared to our 9 and finished fifth compared to our tenth place finish. This season we have been very focused on close not being good enough and we know Henley will be a test of how far we have progressed. If we want to be in the same part of the table as Henley, we need to be able to close out games against good teams, being plucky losers won’t change our situation.

The Pilgrims returned to action away at Ashford with a solid 0-19 win. It is a phenomenal stat that this is the first time in ten games that they haven’t earned a bonus point and It is very easy to forget that this is the team’s first season in this league. Fifth place Bromley come to the Marine travel ground on Saturday to try and halt the Pilgrims unbeaten run.

With both the 1st XV and the Pilgrims at home I’m looking forward to another cracking Saturday at The Maine Travel Ground.

Matt Corker, Head Coach