Two late tries force a draw

Canterbury Pilgrims let a 16-point lead slip away in the second half of their Zoo Shield clash to allow hosts Old Albanians snatch a 31-31 draw with two tries in the closing minutes. Pilgrims looked set for a comfortable victory after running in four first-half tries but injuries and the growing dominance of the home pack proved too big a handicap. The outstanding Vaughn Meredith set up Piers Richardson for the opener and drove through to score the second himself. Kyan Braithwaite converted both scores and was on target again when Meredith ran in from 40 metres to extend the Pilgrims lead to 21 points. OAS cut that back with a pushover try but good ground made by Ben Nash led to a first try for 18-yearold Izaak Timms. Braithwaite kicked his fourth conversion and even though the home side replied with a converted try, Pilgrims went into half-time 28-12 in front. The home side stormed back with an early second-half score and then a Pilgrims side light on replacements were hit by injuries to Harry Dance and George Campbell, meaning scrums went uncontested. OAS went on the front foot and despite the heroic efforts of Glynn Edwards, they reeled Canterbury in. Braithwaite kicked a superb penalty from halfway but those two tries in the final two minutes brought OAS level to leave Canterbury with three league points.

A Thanet Wanderers 3rds penalty settled a tight Premier 2 East game in which Canterbury 3rds twice led. After an early exchange of penalties they won the advantage through a catch-and-drive try from Mike Smith but lost it in controversial circumstances. Thanet were allowed to take a quick lineout despite the ball having touched a spectator when it crossed the touchline. It cost a confused city side a converted try which gave the home side a two-point lead at the break. That was extended when Wanderers powered over for another converted score but renewed Canterbury pressure ended with fly-half Charlie Kingsman crossing between the posts. The try was converted and the city side then re-took the lead with a penalty goal. But Thanet set up camp in city territory and won the penalty that mattered.

The 4ths were beaten 88-0 by visitors Cliffe in Dragon Fire East. Canterbury slipped to a third consecutive defeat in a performance that had few redeeming features.

Glaring failures in defence gave Redruth a two-try head start, setting them on course for an easy victory over a side lacking any real conviction.

The city attack is a pop-gun affair at the moment, unable to make anything of their chances and or even squeeze out a bonus point.

A bigger dose of belligerence might have helped after a woeful start. Redruth prop Tom Phillips was allowed to stroll in for a try after two minutes as the tacklers went absent.

There were more guilty parties when scrum-half Jack Oulton eased past four men on a solo run for the second.

From that point, Canterbury were always behind but it was not for lack of territory or opportunity in the first half. By the 23rd minute they had closed the gap to two points through a Will Hilton penalty and a try scored by brother Guy. A break from

Dan Smart, who along with Aiden Moss posed the biggest threat to the visitors, created pressure. Redruth made a handling error and from the scrum, a long overdue gap was worked for the younger Hilton.

That, however, was as close as Canterbury got. The visitors not only pushed ahead with Oulton’s second try but survived a yellow card for skipper Kyle Marriott.

On the cusp of half-time, a pick-and-drive raid paid off with a bonus-point try for hooker Matt Gidlow and Joe Elderkin kicked his second conversion.

All the city side had to show was a second Will Hilton penalty but with the advantage of the breeze after the break, a 13-point gap