Tough Victory For Pilgrims

CANTERBURY PILGRIMS 38 DEAL & BETTESHANGER LIONS 17

By John Mitchell

A great game of rugby with local rivals Deal and Betteshanger giving unbeaten Pilgrims a real run for their money on Friday. evening It was not until late in the second half that the match was decided when fitness proved the difference. Despite an early injury to hooker Brandon Dunkerley, Pilgrims built a nineteen point lead before the Lions roared back. Within minutes Tom Halliday pounced on a loose ball and won the kick and chase to the line for an unconverted try. Next, a move was started and finished by Presley Farrance, with important assists from Adrian Geddes and Luke Webber, and Josh Richardson converted the try. The pressure didn’t let up and from a line-out quick handling by the backs saw Sonny Trew-Neville cross and it was duly converted by Richardson. From those reverses the visitors began a strong fight back. They had always looked dangerous and broke through twice before half time. Poor defending by the home side also played a part as the visitors scored converted tries, the second a pushover, which brought them to 19-14 at the break. Within minutes of the restart the impressive Will Hunt went over to earn Pilgrims their four try bonus point and Richardson duly converted. But they were then forced into defending for long periods and only a brilliant try saving tackle by Tom Mackenzie, after he had chased back 70 metres, kept the home line intact. Deal had to settle for a penalty goal when Max Campbell received a Yellow card at the subsequent ruck. It was now 26-17 but while the Lions were playing excellent open rugby they could not crack Pilgrims again. In the last quarter fitness would start to tell. It was leading try scorer Farrance who did the damage and as the pressure on Lions built he added two more to his season’s list which now stands at fifteen. Those touchdowns and a Will Hilton conversion sealed a great game with the scoreline flattering Pilgrims.

With the first team without a game next Saturday why not make the short trip to Dover where Pilgrims have another tasty league encounter. Kick-off is 2pm