RUGBY: FINAL WARM-UP GAME SEES CITY CLUB RUN IN NINE TRIES IN COMPREHENSIVE VICTORY

Canterbury’s dominance of the second half, including a three-try burst in 10 minutes, effectively ended their final pre-season game at Westcombe Park as a contest on their way to a 51-12 cruise.

They were just five points in front at the break, thanks to a late try gifted to Guy Hilton and were made to work hard by a Combe side dangerous on the counter.

But on a warm afternoon, Park lost energy but never their determination, against a city side that sharpened up considerably once they had the advantage of a sloping pitch.

Six of their nine tries came in the second half and the final touchdown by Frankie Morgan, converted by Tom Best, took them through the 50-point mark.

With both squads missing several senior players, it was an opportunity to give game time to some young pretenders and Canterbury head coach Andy Pratt will have been pleased with that with the opening league game looming on Saturday.

The city side made a positive start as they controlled the first quarter and took the lead with a Kieran Thompson try.

Two tries from Combe, one converted, gave them the lead before Sam Rogers eventually pulled one back from a catch-and- drive. It took a wild pass in the final minute to present Hilton with the try, converted by Ollie Best, that edged Canterbury ahead

However, when the game restarted, it quickly became a one-way street. Piers Richardson (2) and Harry Sayers, scored in an early burst, followed by Ollie Best, who added his second conversion, and new boy Jake Rigby.

Morgan finished off the rout close to the final whistle.

and the referee were not on Pilgrims’ side as they succumbed to a second-half converted try to lose at Westcombe Park 2nds 22-15.

A squad light on replacements were further handicapped by injuries and red and yellow cards.

Canterbury took the lead with a try from centre Brad Allchurch but Combe drew level, despite their being a clear knock-on before the score. Allchurch grabbed his second try but the home side levelled by half-time.

After the break, some indifferent tackling allowed Combe to take the lead for the first time but a great team effort ended with an Alex Miller try which brought it to 15-15.

A sin-binning for Ross Comfort and then a sending-off for prop Dan Gill were no help to Pilgrims’ cause. They paid for it by conceding the converted try which proved to be the winner.