Match Report: Canons 31- 22 Old Williamsonians

By Tom Short

The Canons had their first win of the league season, beating old foes Old Williamsonians 31-22 at the MTG.

With both teams searching for a first win of the season, and Old Wills being the only team to beat the Canons last year, it was going to be an intense game from the start.  The Canons started brightly with strong carrying from the forwards, however fell behind to an early penalty following some ill-discipline.  The Canons recovered well from the kick off, and after winning penalties of their own worked their way up field.  After some good pressure on the OWs try line, Lennie West crashed over from short range to give the Canons their first try of the afternoon.  The game was in a period of stalemate, before Old Wills scored their first try after a good line from their outside centre wrong footed the Canons defence.  The Old Wills lead was short lived, with almost an exact replica of the first try leading to West scoring his second.  Old Wills had the last laugh of the half however, with their centre again breaking tackles to score his second and restore the visitors lead.

The Old Wills momentum followed at the start of the second half after some scrappy play, from which they hacked through and dotted down to take a 10 point lead.  The Canons reacted, and after some good phase play and strong carries, the powerful Terrel Thomas trundled over from short range.  With fire in their bellies, the Canons began to dominate and grabbed the next score to retake the lead, with Ollie Jeffery scoring the bonus point try.  This was quickly followed by a breakaway try for Will Rayner to give the Canons some breathing space which they held until the end of the game, denying Old Wills any league points from the fixture.

Now off the mark, the Canons have a break in fixtures but will look to carry on their winning ways against New Ash Green on 8^th November and continue to climb the Counties 3 table.