Display boosts city club

RUGBY

If Canterbury were looking for a pre-season confidence boost, the 31-10 loss against Kent’s senior club Blackheath might suggest the search is still on.

But it was the city club’s coaching team of Andy Pratt and Matt Stewart who wore the smiles after their squad proved they could mix and match it with a Division 1 side.

Despite the scoreline, Canterbury started and finished the game looking the stronger side and had it not been for a referee, who threw yellow cards around like confetti, the outcome might have been interesting.

Four Canterbury players found themselves in the sin bin at various times so, effectively, the city club played a whole half with only 14 men.

Grant Kay, Kwaku Asiedu, Mark Livesey and Charlie Harding all found themselves sidelined for alleged technical offences, two of which fell into the highly debatable category.

Blackheath lost no time in taking advantage of their extra man, after the city side had dominated possession and territory in the early stages and grabbed three tries by half time, one of which was converted.

Soon after the restartm Harding’s banishment gave them chance to add a fourth try and with their backs a shade more certain in their handling on a rain-lashed afternoon, they stoked up pressure.

In worsening conditions, however, Canterbury’s defence was tenacious and a pack, in which Tom Sherson set the lead, never took a backward step and began to impose themselves on the game. They scrummaged solidly, carried forcefully in the loose and embarrassed Blackheath more than once with driving mauls.

That dominance earned hooker Tom Rogers a try from a catch-and-drive and, when the home side’s No.8 joined the yellow card club, a well-timed pass from new boy Reuben Meares allowed Martyn Beaumont to send Asiedu in for a second.

In the closing stages, Canterbury were doing all the pressing but were frustrated when the Blackheath wing went for a successful interception and ran the length of the field for a fifth try.

It was rough justice but the city side came away with much credit in the bank and laid down a marker for the league season ahead with this feisty performance.

Andy Pratt was on the scoresheet for the 2nds as they were edged out by their counterparts from Blackheath.

Guy Hilton and Pratt crossed to match the hosts’ try-count, however a single conversion proved the difference as Heath won 12-10 against a largely inexperienced city club side.

TRY: Kwaku scored Canterbury’s second against Blackheath