Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Canterbury salvage a draw
A penalty try in the last minute of Saturday’s National 2 League South game gave Canterbury a 33-33 draw at Guernsey, writes David Haigh and Carrick Blake. Canterbury opened a 21-point gap in the first 19 minutes but poor discipline, which cost them three yellow cards, handed Guernsey all the incentive they needed to dominate the second half. It was the Channel Islanders’ own indiscretions, however, that denied them victory as they came under sustained pressure late in the game. An impressive driving maul was stopped illegally and referee Neil Sweeney had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try.
It was all so different early on as Canterbury cruised ahead with tries from Ben Cooper, half-back partner Frank Reynolds and Alex Evans, all converted by Tom Best. Guernsey got their breath back with a converted try from Anthony Armstrong but, despite temporarily losing Frank Morgan to the first of their yellow cards, Canterbury claimed a bonus point with a fourth touchdown when fullback Aiden Moss delivered one of his scorching runs.
The hosts made their extra man count just before halftime through Callum Roberts’ try, but Canterbury were still in the boxseat with a 14-point advantage.
It was a cushion that quickly deflated in a second half the home side dominated and as the yellow cards flew - first for Will Mccoll and then Sam Sterling - the city side’s defence crumbled. Going into the last quarter Guernsey led with tries from Ciaran Mcgann, Owen Thomas and Oscar Baird, but when Canterbury found themselves in the last-chance saloon they kicked down the doors in powerful fashion. Canterbury play their final home game of the season against Bury St Edmunds on Saturday.