TWRUFC Colts 5 vs Canterbury 24

13th Oct 2024, KO 11:00

Canterbury - Home

Match Report & Information

Match Report: Thanet Wanderers Colts vs Canterbury Colts

Thanet Wanderers colts met Canterbury for the second time at the St Peter’s Rec on a cold but sunny day. After a disappointing loss away where Thanet under performed they were hoping for a better result at home.

It was Canterbury however that came out with energy, taking control early. Their dynamic backline showed fluidity, pressuring Thanet's defense and exploiting gaps. Canterbury's first try came through a bit of luck when a dropped pass was recovered by a well-positioned player sweeping round on the wing and securing an early lead at 5-0.

Thanet Wanderers, however, responded well, particularly through their pack. A solid passage of play saw the No. 8, Charlie Bailey, pick up and make a decisive pass to Noah Bull who executed a lovely step inside to score, leveling the game at 5-5. Thanet maintained pressure, dominating through a lineout win and setting camp on Canterbury's try line. Unfortunately, the halftime whistle blew before they could capitalize on this momentum.

The second half began with Canterbury scoring a somewhat soft try. Their second rower crossed the line after two missed tackles from Thanet, putting the visitors back in the lead at 12-5. Ellis Plumridge did his best to turn things around for Thanet, stealing good lineout ball, but the team was plagued by untimely mistakes during crucial moments.

Alex Dyer had a notable run down the wing, followed by a well-placed kick-through, but Canterbury’s fullback covered it expertly. Thanet had flashes of brilliance, with players like Carl making good runs, but handling errors continued to thwart their efforts. One such mistake resulted in Canterbury’s winger seizing an opportunity, running the length of the pitch to extend their lead to 19-5.

Thanet showed resilience, as Jem Harris talked well at fullback and made a good break from a Canterbury kick, slicing through the defense on a long run before offloading to Tom Gough, only to be stopped by another excellent Canterbury cover tackle. As the clock wound down, Canterbury managed to score one final try, sealing their win at 24-5.

Despite some positive individual performances—particularly Charlie Page's tackling and Jackling, as well as the return of Freddie Durrant—Thanet lacked the continuity needed to build pressure. They will take away important lessons from this game, knowing it was a match they could have won with fewer mistakes and better execution.

Final score: Canterbury Colts 24-5 Thanet Wanderers Colts.