Pilgrims Closing On Title

CANTERBURY PILGRIM 60 CHARLTON PARK 12

by John Mitchell

After this resounding victory, Pilgrims need just nine points from their four remaining games to be crowned champions of Counties 1 Kent. Their fast, attacking brand of rugby overwhelmed a relegation threatened Park with ten tries as they extended the winning run to eighteen matches. From the kick off the Pilgrims meant business. Harry Andrews, from an early lineout, went over to score the first try of the day and fly half Harrison Fermor made a difficult conversion. A good backs move, with Fermor disguising a beautifully weighted pass to Stanley Bull, put Canterbury 12-0 up and after 18 minutes, and more prolonged pressure, Tom Williams scored try number three. A fourth came from Will Hunt after a superb bit of open play by the dominant Pilgrims. Only good defending by the visitors stopped the score board moving and they also found a reply. A five metre scrum saw their heavier pack gain advantage and go over out wide. A yellow card for the visitors, their second, allowed Pilgrims to take advantage and Harvey Furneaux went over, after continued pressure, to make it 27-5 at half time. The second half continued in the same vein. Fast attacking rugby opened the way for Gus Lister to speed through; Stan Bull scored his second try of the day off the back of a maul and try number eight was also a second for Harry Andrews, who powered through a massive gap. Charlton Park could not put any real moves together, as wave after wave of quick ball, being moved left and right negated their superiority in the scrum. The ninth try went to the hard working Adrian Geddes, after a great run by Furneaux, and Harvey himself completed the day’s prolific haul. Four second half conversions by Fermor pushed the score to the sixty mark but a Park side which never stopped working were rewarded with a last minute converted try. Next up for Pilgrims is Crowborough, away, on March 2nd.