Match Report: Nine Try Feast

CANTERBURY 59 HAVANT 34

by David Haigh

This was Octoberfest with a difference as Canterbury celebrated their first home win of the season with a blast of nine tries. Wing Gary Jones got a hat trick and young fly half Owain Collins ended with a personal haul of nineteen points in a Man of the Match performance. Havant made their own festive contribution with six touchdowns but the city side, despite conceding the first score, never looked in danger of defeat. A back division, benefiting from the return of some experienced players, accounted for seven of the Canterbury tries while Collins’ accuracy from the tee was in stark contrast to the visitors unproductive goal kicking. Havant’s most effective weapon, a well marshaled rolling mauL, brought them an early lead through Aden Brassington’s try, but that was the first and last time they were in front. Crisp and inventive work by the backs saw Jones coast over the line twice inside the first fifteen minutes and, with the pack winning the battle of the breakdown, Canterbury looked comfortable. A third try came when right wing Olly Ashley-Jones cashed in on the visitors failure to clear a kick. Collins was on song with all the conversions to push them sixteen points ahead by the end of the first quarter. The downside to their game was conceding penalties and gifting Havant the territory to exploit their mauling skills. They took full advantage with unconverted tries from front row men Sam Shepherd and Vince Brandon. However, two tries in the minutes either side of half time put Canterbury back on firm ground. Riley Burden burrowed over in the 39th minute to claim the bonus point score; from the second half kick off the ball was palmed to flanker Riley Thomas who stormed away before sending George Trapp under the posts. Topped up by the conversions the city side led 35-15, leaving Havant with a catch up job that was beyond them. They did pull back seven points through a Will Perry try and Reuben Knight conversion, but another powerful run from Thomas set up Ashley-Jones for his second touchdown and a Collins break led to Harry Sloan’s straight run in. Great footwork by Collins brought him the final city score and his seventh conversion. Late replies from Havant came from Wesley Dugan and Ben Chambers, with one converted, but Canterbury were out sight by then.

Canterbury: K.Heatherley, O.Ashley-Jones, W.Waddington, H.Sloan, G.Jones, O.Collins, P.Farrance, C.Macmillan, L.Eule, O.Frostick, R.Burden, J.Stephens, G.Trapp, R.Thomas, M.McCormack. Replacements: T.Williams, D.Huntley, S.Rogers, J.D Vries, L.Hollidge.