Match preview – 1st XV V Westcliff

Its great for me to wish you happy new year and its also great that January has brought an end to the frozen pitches of December. That said the forecast is predicting a different weather challenge so it might be advisable to bring your wellies!

This time last season some of you may remember our first game back after the Christmas break was against Old Albanians at home. After that performance we were very disappointed, and we agreed we had not returned from the Christmas break in good enough condition. This year to combat repeating the same mistake the players have all been in positional WhatsApp groups and been sharing messages and photos of the sessions they have been doing on their own. The second row group was definitely the best, no bias I promise, and they were posting videos of their workouts, some even edited with background music! We also had an extra session on Monday to get the rust off and a Bronco fitness test on Tuesday in the wind a rain so we can measure how the players have returned. The results are so far showing that the players hard work has paid off, but the real test will be on Saturday afternoon.

There are only a couple of changes to the team that was selected to play against Tonbridge. Jamie Stephens returns to the bench after recovering from his concussion and it’s exciting to have him back in the fold. Tom Halliday had an operation over the break and is still recuperating so he is replaced by Lewis Hollidge. Lewis has joined us on loan from Blackheath and I am looking forward to seeing him have his first run out for Canterbury.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

CANTERBURY TALES

So, a new year is with us but the challenges remain the same. Between now and April we face a test of character if we are to preserve our status as a National Division 2 club. A big part of the problems in the first half of the season have been the team’s inability to come away with points from scoring positions. That lack of a finishing touch has resulted in a poor return of three wins from thirteen games and leaves us just one place above the relegation zone. So what lies ahead? We will no doubt be targeting certain home games starting with bottom club Westcliff and fixtures against Sevenoaks, Guernsey and, in the last, match of the season, North Walsham. Winning on the road is always difficult but next month’s trip to Rochford |Hundred is another potential points earner. On the player front we have new faces in the back division in centre Lewis Hollidge, who is on loan from Blackheath, and Ross Gladdish who joined from Westcliff in December and is another former Blackheath man. The return of skipper Jamie Stephens is a boost to the squad ahead of the Westcliff encounter while the promising Will,Calder, another sidelined recently by injury, is back on duty with the Pilgrims. Aiden Moss and Charlie Kingsman, both missing for over three months, may be declared fit later this month which could help restore some of the firepower we have badly missed.