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REYNOLDS PUTS THE BOOT IN
CANTERBURY 39 WESTCOMBE PARK 22
by David Haigh
A goal kicking master class by Frank Reynolds under pinned this clear cut victory for Canterbury as they took the spoils from a typically physical Kent derby. The fly half ended the day with a personal tally of 29 points, made up of six penalty goals, three conversions and threw in a try for good measure. It was not all about one man, however, as the pressure piled on ‘Combe in the second half by the impressive city side gave Reynolds the chance to really put the boot in. After reaching the break with a slender three point lead Canterbury were able to control and contain in equal measure, score a further nineteen points and restrict the visitors to a solitary late try. This was a more disciplined performance by the city men after the trials of the previous week and this time it was Combe who were often on the wrong end of the referee’s whistle. Two yellow cards cost them points in the first half although they opened the scoring with a Toby Wallace penalty goal and it might have been more but for Reynolds announcing himself with a try saving tackle on ‘Combe scrum half Mikel Davies. His first penalty goal leveled matters and Canterbury then built a healthy 17-3 lead. Tyler Oliver completed a strong close quarter drive by the pack and when ‘Combe found themselves down to thirteen players, with Kyan Braithwaite and Sam Fombo in the sin bin, Reynolds darted over between the posts. It was Canterbury’s over ambition that brought the visitors back into contention when they turned over ball and full back Wallace went 60 metres for his converted try. There was another Reynolds penalty goal but on the cusp of half time Presley Farrance’s deliberate knock on cost him a yellow card and from the penalty an efficient catch and drive ended in a Fombo try, converted by Wallace. That, for long periods, was the last seen of ‘Combe as an attacking force as Canterbury, with the breeze and slope in their favour, took control. The penalty count grew and Reynolds landed two more before Canterbury’s third try took them sixteen points clear. It was a good one, too, as they spread the ball wide to the left, gave Garry Jones space to accelerate outside the defence and his inside pass saw Frank Morgan hold off all pursuers. Two more Reynolds penalties, five minutes apart, sealed the game before Nick Cook’s try gave Combe the last word. Neither side managed a try bonus point but this win lifted Canterbury to fourth place in the National 2 East table ahead of next week’s visit to unbeaten leaders Tonbridge Juddians.
Canterbury: K.Heatherley, G.Jones, F.Morgan, W.Waddington, A.Moss, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, O.Frostick, E. O’Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, C.Thomas, T.Mackenzie, T.Oliver. Replacements: N.Morris, H.Kenny, D.Huntley, H.Young, T.Williams
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