Match Report: New Ash Green 24- 29 Canons

By Tom Short

It was a back to back victories for the Canons as the team achieved their first away win of the season with a 29-24 victory at New Ash Green.

Canterbury started the game well, moving the ball out wide in the opening minutes to Fady Sheta, who jinked his way through a number of defenders to score underneath the posts.  However, from this point on, the game turned into a scrappy affair, with both teams consistently infringing ang getting on the wrong side of the referee.  Both teams struggled to find consistency in attack, with numerous handling errors or the ref interfering due to foul play.  Eventually NAG broke through to level the scores.  Canterbury prop Lennie West was yellow carded for dissent, and following injury to the front row replacement, Canterbury were forced down to 13 players.  NAG took advantage and scored 2 quick tries to lead 19-7 at the break.

Kicked into life by Skipper Ben Jones and returning to a full complement of players, Canterbury finally responded with another Sheta try.  A third followed from the excellent Ollie Jeffery, and the bonus point was secured by Terrell Thomas crashing over from short range.  As the game entered its final quarter, and Canterbury were further reduced to 14 due to injury, New Ash Green pulled a third try back of their own, after having 2 efforts held up by the resolute Canons defence.  A quick break away from Jeffery led to a Fin Osborne try to give the Canons some breathing space.   In the last 10 minutes, NAG grabbed a try scoring bonus of their own, but the Canons held on for victory.  The win means the Canons sit 7^th in the Counties 3 table, with a break week next week before welcoming Old Gravesendians to the MTG.