MATCH 20
Worthing Raiders v Canterbury RFC
26th January 2019
Kick-off 2pm
Canterbury RFC visit Roundstone Lane this Saturday to renew rivalries in what always seems like a derby match, despite the fact that it is at least a 200-mile round trip for the players and supporters. It is, of course, their 9th visit to us for a National League 2(S) fixture and when added to the other fixtures played over the years, in the London & SE leagues, as well as ‘friendly’ matches it is probably our longest standing fixture.
Background stuff
Canterbury RFC (aka ‘The City Club’) was founded in 1929. In those days a high percentage of the playing membership were involved in the Agricultural Industry, so the season didn’t really get moving until after harvesting. In 1937 the club moved to the present ground in Merton Lane, which is now known as MTG (Marine Travel ground). The Mayor of Canterbury opened the playing facility, although changing and post-match discussions were still held at a local pub, ‘The Fleur de Lys’.
In the early 1990s the club was wallowing away in Kent 2, but by season 2006/7 promotion to the National League 2 South was achieved. The onset of a strong mini/junior section being at the heart of this transition. Canterbury finished a very creditable 4th in their first season in the National League. Season 2010/11 saw relegation by a whisker, on the last day of the season, but a bounce straight back the following year was achieved following a virtually unbeaten season.
Canterbury RFC, like ourselves, is a true Community club running 4, sometimes 5, sides on a Saturday. The club are also involved in a potential ground move.
Junior and Mini Rugby for age group 7-U18 takes over on Sundays.
The Ladies XV play in the National Challenge South East 1 South, the same league as our Ladies.
Wheel-Chair Rugby has been added to the club’s activities, now in their 4th season.
The official club colours are black and gold.
Worthing v Canterbury…..National League encounters
As already mentioned, the clubs have had many league and friendly fixtures over the years, but a resume of the National League fixtures between the clubs and relative league positions at the end of the season is provided below:
| 2008/9 | C 35 – W 17 | W 11 – C 20 | Worthing 12th Canterbury 5th |
| 2009/10 | C 16 – W 18 | W 20 – C 20 | W 6th C 7th |
| 2010/11 | C 20 – W 38 | W 57 – C 22 | W 8th C 14th. Canterbury Relegated |
| 2012/13 | C 17 – W 38 | W 55 – C 31 | W 2nd C 8th Worthing Promoted |
| 2014/15 | C 12 – W 20 | W 36 – C 25 | W 5th C 11th |
| 2015/16 | C 20 – W 27 | W 41 – C 24 | W 11th C 10th |
| 2016/17 | C 13 – W 7 | W 30 – C 12 | W 12th C 8th |
| 2017/18 | C 50 – W 26 | W 22 – C 17 | W 7th C 10th |
| 2018/19 | C 21 – W 10 |
6th October 2018…….Canterbury 21 Worthing Raiders 10
Raiders travelled to a rather wet Canterbury with a few changes to the side. They had the benefit of the slope in the first half, but the wet conditions ruled with handling becoming more difficult as the weather worsened. Raiders took the lead after 15 minutes with a Matt McLean penalty, but Canterbury picked up a couple of converted tries to lead 14-3 at the break. Liam Perkins scored in the 56th minute with Matt McLean’s conversion to take the score to 14-10, but almost immediately the home side broke through for another converted try to restore the differential. Raiders continued to press for a score to at least provide a bonus point, but the Canterbury defence held out.
Canterbury: Moss, Mackintosh, Goatley, Sterling, Murray, Young, Smart, Cooper, King, Kenny, Cadman, Corker, Whetton, Stapleton, Stephens.
Bench: Braithwaite, Otto, Green, Grimes, Oliver.
Raiders: Forrest H, Boyland, Forrest J, Sims, Barnes, McLean, Walsh, Birch, Luke, Adams, Lake, Lee, Harris, Dawe, Perkins.
Bench: Grief, Sassone, Gatford, Maslen, Hammond.
Canterbury Last Season………10th….W13/ D1/ L16…..72 points
Another middling season. Never any real danger of the team being dragged into relegation territory. Their home form remained solid with 9 wins. The spoils with nearby rivals Tonbridge Juddians were shared although the away team won each leg (24-36 at The Slade, 19-22 at MTG). Leading points scorer was Ollie Best with 105 points. Leading try scorer was Harry Sayers with 15, closely followed by Aiden Moss on 14. Lock forward Matt Corker was in involved with all 30 matches, scrum half Dan Smart featured in 29.
This season so far……P19 /W14 2nd 72 points (Raiders 9th 44 points
High flying Canterbury are having a great season, whilst trailing leaders Rams by 16 points they occupy the play-off spot, although Taunton (71), Henley (70) and TJs (66) are challenging as we enter the business end of the season. The race for second looks like being a tight run affair that could go to the wire. (Canterbury host Rams in the last match of the season.) Their defeats have been against Rams in the first match of the season (44-15), Titans (23-22), Redruth (14-19), TJs (23-18) with a bit of a surprise at Dings (23-20). Their home form has been rock solid, although they survived a tight encounter last week against Titans (26-24) the reliable boot of Gary Kingdom deserted him in the last couple of minutes, with a potential match winning penalty drifting wide. Ollie Best has scored 130 points, with Aidan Moss leading the try scorers with 11
The Players
As usual a list of the players used in the last fixture against Titans is provided along with detail on a few other players who have been used recently. The appearances column is perhaps a clue to the success of the side with many of the players with 15+ against their name. The boiler house combination of Royce Cadman and Matt Corker starting every match, with the front row of Messrs. Cooper, King and Kenny only missing a handful between them. The three-quarter line up selection has also been the model of consistency. The back three having notched up 26 tries between them.
This fixture is normally a must see event, but this time around there seems to be just a little bit of extra spice to it. Both sides look to score tries so this should make for a grand spectacle. Please try to get along to provide that much valued touchline support for the boys!!!
…….C’Mon Raiders
| Name/Age *Played v Raiders 6th Oct | Apps 2018/9 | N2 Apps | Join | Points | Honours | Position Prev. Club/s apps * Played v Raiders |
| Team v Titans | 19th January WON 26-24 | |||||
| Aiden Moss* (26) | 17/1R | 147 | 2012 | 11T | Eng Counties U20 Kent | Full Back: Blackheath 4. |
| Ricky Mackintosh* (25) | 17/1R | 78 | 2012 | 7T | Kent | Wing: Dover |
| Sam Sterling* (24) | 18/1R | 26 | 2018 | 5T | Munster U20 | Centre: Kilkenny College, UL Bohemians, Bury St Edmunds* 32, Ampthill 7 |
| Tom Best (28) | 12/2R | 194 | 2008 | 3T /1C | Kent | Centre: Deal & Betteshanger |
| Jon ‘JJ’ Murray* | 13/6R | 67 | 2016 | 8T | Kent | Wing: Ashford, Tonbridge Juddians |
| Ollie Best | 14/3R | 96 | 2014 | 8T/35C /10P | Fly Half: Medway | |
| Dan Smart* | 14/5R | 118 | 2014 | 11T | Kent | Scrum Half: Glasgow Hawks |
| Aaron Cooper* (28) | 16/2R | 67 | 2016 | 1T | Kent | LH Prop: Dover |
| Tristan King* (24) | 18 | 18 | 2018 | 3T | Ulster U20 | Hooker: Malone, Bury St Edmunds*19 |
| Sam Kenny* (23) | 18 | 107 | 2014 | 3T | Kent U20 | TH Prop: Thanet Wanderers |
| Royce Cadman* (31) | 19 | 153 | 2013 | 2T | Eng Counties Glos & Kent | Lock: Thanet Wanderers, Hull Ionians 14, Doncaster K 8, Newport, Bedwas, Hartpury |
| Matt Corker* (36) Coach | 19 | 49 | 2017 | – | Eng Students
|
Lock: Thanet Wanderers, Wasps 5, Blackheath 16, Havant*11, London Welsh(c) 228, Richmond 22. |
| Sam Rogers (27) | 1/2R | 191 | 2010 | 1T | Kent | BS Wing Forward: Canterbury Youth |
| Sean Stapleton* (30) | 12/1R | 13 | 2018 | 2T | Connaught Academy | OS Wing Forward: Buccaneers, Roscrea, Palmyra (Aust), Bury St Edmunds*76 |
| Jamie Stephens* (19) | 16/2R | 30 | 2017 | 3T | No 8: Canterbury Youth | |
| BENCH | ||||||
| Jarvis Otto* (22) | 3/13R | 16 | 2017 | – | Kent | Hooker: Dover (c) |
| Kyle Braithwaite* | 5/7R | 30 | 2016 | 1T | Scrum Half: | |
| Jim Green* | 3/13R | 144 | 2010 | 1T | Kent | LH Prop: Westcombe Park 11. |
| Tyler Oliver* | 2/2R | 4 | 2018 | – | No 8: Bedlinog RFC, Cardiff Blues | |
| Harvey Young* (23) | 7/2R | 9 | 2018 | 2T/ 16C/1P | Scotland U18 | Fly Half: Westcombe Park Academy, Dundee HSFP, Armagh, Cottesloe Perth (Aust) |
| Played Recently | Last Played | |||||
| Charlie Grimes* | 11/7R | 18 | 2018 | 3T | N Mids U20 12th Jan | Wing: Luctonians, Marist Albion NZ |
| Alex Wake-Smith | 1/3R | 91 | 2013 | – | 12th Jan | TH Prop: Canterbury University |
| Freddie Edwards | 3/6R | 15 | 2016 | 2T | 22nd Dec | BS Wing Forward: |
| Louis Whetton* (23) | 10/4R | 31 | 2017 | – | N Harbour U20 NZ 22nd Dec | BS Wing Forward: Northcote Birkenhead NZ, Bury St Edmunds*18 |