Pilgrims Miss Out

VIGO 20 CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 19

Pilgrims first experience of the new Counties East league ended in the narrowest of defeats. Throughout the game there was little between the sides with the lead changing hands six times before Vigo took advantage of missed tackles to grab a converted try which proved decisive. Canterbury still had fourteen minutes to turn that round but failed to dent the home defence. Vigo took an early lead with a penalty goal before Ollie Finn crashed over for Pilgrims. It was silly penalties that hampered their first half progress and a yellow card for Luke Webber did not help. That handed the home side another three points before prop Will McColl powered over for a try converted by Dan Hills to recapture the lead. However, it was Vigo who went into half time one point ahead after another penalty gave them the chance to create a converted try. That slim advantage was quickly overtaken in the second half when Tom Halliday sent Ross Howard Howard in for Pilgrims third try, again converted by Hills, to leave them in a good position. Then came came those missed tackles which proved to be their undoing as Vigo nosed in front again with a converted try and the visitors had to be content with a losing bonus point.