Late try is not enough as Canterbury regret their slow start

A late try could not save Canterbury from their third defeat in four games as they went down 20-19 to Rochford Hundred. After an ominously slow start which saw National League 2 South newcomers Rochford Hundred ahead with a try and conversion by fly-half Sam Cappaert, the city side forced their way back into the game. The second quarter brought them two tries and by the interval they were looking slight favourites. The first resulted from intense forward pressure and when Rochford stopped a driving maul illegally, it cost them a penalty try. For their next seven points Aiden Moss found a gap and Tom Best sent scrum-half Tom Williams racing to the posts for Frank Reynolds to convert.

But after the break it was Rochford who looked the hungrier outfit, dominating territory for long periods, but at least Canterbury showed grit. It was a surprise when the home side cracked them from a first-phase move which ended in an unconverted try for Jordan Spivey. An uninspiring and error-prone Canterbury then surrendered the lead to a Cappaert penalty goal and Rochford extended it to six points with an opportunist try from George Griffiths. There seemed little danger when Mark Billings’ kick reached halfway, but the ball broke for the home side and the wingman found himself with a clear run to the corner.

When Canterbury roused themselves in a desperate late surge a driving-maul try left Reynolds with a hugely difficult kick to win, but it missed by a whisker. Canterbury host Dings Crusaders on Saturday. The club’s Pilgrims and 5ths both suffered defeats. The Pilgrims lost 44-10 at home to Sevenoaks, Joe Rumsey and Mark Shepherd the try scorers, while the 5ths lost 38-34 to Aylesford 3rds.