SCRUM POWER SETS UP WIN

CANTERBURY 40 WESTCOMBE PARK 17

Head Coach Matt Corker expressed his satisfaction with this win, Canterbury’s final preseason friendly before league business starts next week. “Before the game I would have taken that score,” he said, after watching his side come away with six tries. Despite the margin of victory, however, it was not all plain sailing and it took over half an hour for Canterbury to impose themselves. ‘Combe had dominated possession and with a little more steadiness in attack could have put points on the board. When Canterbury had the ball they were cumbersome and untidy but eventually scrum power got them on the front foot in the closing minutes of the first half. Tries from centre Will Waddington and scrum half Tom Williams, who shot through a gap at the side of ruck, brought a new fluency and in the first 20 minutes of the second half they cruised away. Wing Frankie Morgan, collecting a chip and chase; a penalty try after ‘Combe crumbled under forward pressure, a catch and drive score and some accurate goal kicking by Frank Reynolds pushed them 33 points ahead. With yellow cards flourished against both sides the game became fractured and careless in the final quarter and the visitors helped themselves to three tries. An interception, some slack tackling and confident finishing handed them a late lifeline but it was Canterbury, in the the last play of the match, who underlined their superiority. Prop Will McColl’s powerful close range charge and Reynolds’ fourth conversion put a smile on Coach Corker’s face.