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Canterbury Rugby Club out to make amends for their last home performance when they welcome Bury St Edmunds to Merton Lane in National League 2 East this weekend

05:00, 15 November 2024

updated: 10:00, 15 November 2024

Canterbury Rugby Club will be out to make amends for their last home performance this Saturday.

They started their latest three-game block as they delivered a 54-17 National League 2 East victory at Old Albanian last weekend.

Canterbury Rugby Club’s Dan Huntley looks to make inroads in their weekend away win. Picture: Phillipa Hilton
Canterbury Rugby Club’s Dan Huntley looks to make inroads in their weekend away win. Picture: Phillipa Hilton

Now, head coach Matt Corker and his sixth-placed side will look to back up that display when they host Bury St Edmunds, having lost their previous game at Merton Lane 22-13 against Barnes last month.

Corker said: “Saturday was our first game of the block and, with the blocks being so short, you don’t have the time to bounce back, really.

“That sets us up for our next two games. We’re playing one team below us and one team ahead of us.

“If we want to be in that top four or five come the end of the season, these are the teams that we need to be beating. That’s really exciting from our perspective because these players love a challenge.

“They’re looking forward to putting things right in front of our own supporters this weekend.

Report: Old Albanian 17-54 Canterbury

“In front of our home fans against Barnes, we felt we didn’t do them justice.

“So, we wanted to right that wrong - starting against Old Albanian - but, then, delivering in front of our home supporters.

“But also, we have the chance to get towards where we want to get to.”

Among Canterbury’s try-scorers at Old Albanian were Garry Jones (2), Eoin O’Donoghue, Tom Williams and Frank Morgan, while fly-half Frank Reynolds was again influential.

He bagged two tries and showed his well-known accuracy with the boot once more.

Alfie Orris, of Canterbury Rugby Club, keeps Old Albanian at arm's length. Picture: Phillipa Hilton
Alfie Orris, of Canterbury Rugby Club, keeps Old Albanian at arm's length. Picture: Phillipa Hilton

Corker reflected: “What I’m really proud of is how quickly we have changed our mentality.

“It was just a pleasure to watch. I think the players really enjoyed it, as well.

"We have spoken about how we need to control the play and, in the first 40 minutes, we did that excellently.

“We now have a real idea of how we play to our best and we really came close to that on Saturday.

“That’s a massive positive.”

Canterbury Rugby Club’s Tyler Oliver stands tall. Picture: Phillipa Hilton
Canterbury Rugby Club’s Tyler Oliver stands tall. Picture: Phillipa Hilton

It was the first time Canterbury had been victorious at the ground in the last six years.

Corker said: “Hopefully, we have saved a few for if we visit them again next year!

"It had been a long time since we had beaten Old Albanian in their own park.

“It was a full-squad performance. All 20 lads played their part.

“We’re not getting carried away - there were still some high tackles in there and other things we need to work on - but there were some really excellent performances.”

In the latter stages, with young lock Yannick de Mowbray making his debut, skipper Jamie Stephens awarded himself goal-kicking duties. And he calmly slotted the conversion over to round off his team’s day.

“Frank Reynolds took a bit of a bang,” explained Corker. “Jamie Stephens, who is our captain and a second-rower, quickly took on that mantle.

“Frank was only five metres from the ball so, if he’d had another 15 seconds, he maybe would have taken it but Jamie slotted it over nicely.

“Jamie used to do it at school and I know it’s been one of his ambitions to show that he can still do it!”

While seemingly everything went the city club’s way at Old Albanian, coach Corker is keen to ensure that display isn’t a one-off.

He said: “We showed what we’re capable of and, now, we need to back that up.

“Decent teams win one game -but good teams are able to win a series of games in a row.

“That sort of consistency is something we need if we’re going to get to where we want to get to.”

Canterbury have boosted their options in the second row with 22-year-old lock Charlie McCovern from Australian side USC Barbarians.

Lock McCovern, who has British ancestry, made a try-scoring debut for the Pilgrims in their Kent 1 weekend 45-7 win against Beccehamian.

Director of rugby Taff Gwilliam said: “Charlie comes highly recommended.

“He’s a quick, athletic forward, who adds depth and competition to our forward pack.

“His personality lends itself to fitting in well with our squad as a whole.”

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