Match Report: Sittingbourne II’s v Zingari

Match Report. 26.09.26

Sittingbourne 2^nd v Canterbury 5^th

Sittingbourne 2^nd 45   Canterbury5th 19pts

In the second game of their season the Zingari met their match against a heavy well drilled Sittingbourne pack. Sittingbourne imposed themselves from the start their heavier pack dominated the set piece with devastating effect driving deep into Canterbury territory for them to touch down in the corner. This was followed by a succession of scrums that forced Canterbury to defend drawing in players thus leaving the gaps out wide for the Sittingbourne backs to exploited with some powerful direct running. This bore fruit with two more quick converted tries within the first ten minutes.. Sittingbourne looked in control and a rout looked more than possible, but in true Zingari style their forward upped their game, although never looking comfortable they secured some ball at the set piece  that the backs could work with. First was Brad Alchurch breaking loose sweeping aside the opposition to go over near the posts, and with Robs conversion Canterbury were on the board. More was to follow with Canterbury securing position in the loose sent the ball down the line before cutting back inside picked up by Alchurch for another devastating run to touch down out wide. Sittingbourne aware of the city’s potential  in the loose reverted to their forward  play driving deep into Canterbury territory before breaching the city line for a converted try. Then a few minutes later tried again setting up several scrums a few meters from the city line before being awarded a penalty try on the line. However, it was Canterbury who had the last word of the half winning a loose ball and feeding Jake Vowell who set off on a tackle breaking run from mid-field ending  up under the posts, and with Rob Horan conversion Canterbury were still in touch with a two-score difference.

The second half saw Sittingbourne set off as they started the first, aware of the Zingari’s potential in the loose they kept the ball tight setting up a position a few feet from the city line before bludgeon their way over. They tried the same tactic again but this time Canterbury held the line and Sittingbourne came wide and with Canterbury committed found the gap out wide for an unconverted try. Nobody wanted what happened next, a Canterbury player sustained an injury, and after a considerable time delay it was decided to stop the game, bringing an end to a hard competitive encounter.