Strong Home Performance Secures Bonus Point Win as Canterbury Women

Canterbury Women 22

Medway Women 12

Canterbury Women secured a hard fought 22–12 bonus point win at home yesterday against a strong Medway side, marking our first home game of the year and extending our winning run to three matches. Games against Medway are always competitive, physical encounters, and this fixture proved no different, with both teams fully committed from the opening whistle. It is a rivalry we always look forward to, and Medway once again tested us across the park.

Canterbury set the tone early with consistent strong carries and excellent support at the breakdown, allowing us to maintain momentum and recycle the ball effectively. Lydia Ticehurst (#9) worked tirelessly at the back of the breakdown and scrums, moving the ball quickly to our pods or to skipper Kate Rutherford (#10), keeping Medway’s defence under constant pressure. The back three showed great cohesion throughout, supporting each other well under high balls and contributing with strong carries, offloads, and solid ruck security. Notably, Lola Yuille-Clough (#11) impressed with powerful runs and well timed hand offs that repeatedly gained ground.

The opening try came from winger Emily Moriarty (#14) after some clean hands along the back line, finishing confidently out wide. The second try followed from fullback Robyn Gulley (#15), whose trademark hand offs and physical carries saw her power her way under the posts. Canterbury continued to build pressure through the forwards, and after a series of hard carries, met by equally committed tackling from Medway, Lily Philpott (#7) forced her way through the defence to score our third try, again grounding the ball beneath the posts. Captain Kate Rutherford summed it up perfectly, noting, “Where there is a Lily Philpott, you’ll soon find an Inger Philpott not far behind,” with Inger Philpott (#2) able to celebrate the try with her daughter under the posts. The fourth and final try came from Robyn Gulley, securing her second of the match. Breaking the defensive line, she showed great awareness and skill to play the ball off the foot before collecting and finishing strongly over the line.

A disciplined team performance, combined with physicality and smart decision making, ensured Canterbury came away with a deserved bonus point victory and a strong start to the home fixtures this year.

Across the squad, every player put in a hugely physical shift, fronting up in contact and working for one another throughout the full eighty minutes. The impact players brought exactly what they are described as bringing, impact, lifting the tempo, adding physicality, and ensuring standards stayed high right through to the final whistle.

Players of the Match were particularly hard to select this week following strong performances across the squad. Forwards of the Match went to the mother and daughter duo Lily Philpott (#7) and Inger Philpott (#2), while Backs of the Match were awarded to Lydia Ticehurst (#9) and Lola Yuille-Clough (#11).

Off the pitch, it was a fun day had by all. A huge thank you goes to the bar and kitchen for their hospitality, amazing as always, and most importantly, to our supporters who came out in the cold to make noise for the women. Your support makes a real difference.