PROGRAMME £1 Match Sponsor National League 2 South Saturday 16 February 2019 v BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL Banishing Highland Court Jimmy Moves On The Demons Rejected Principal Sponsor cantrugby.co.uk Programme produced by Hayward Design & Print A MESSAGE FROM 01227 721864 • www.hayward-design.co.uk THE PRESIDENT Proud to sponsor Canterbury Rugby Club It is always a pleasure to welcome the promise of a seamless prominent status both in Kent new faces to the Marine Travel transition, and many clubs did rugby and promoting the game Ground and today Birmingham fall by the wayside or split in the in the wider community. However, and Solihull make their first visit. new professional era. Canterbury we keep evolving with new With a good result under their adapted, setting out on a path challenges and opportunities both belts last week and the impressive that embraced both semi- on and off the pitch. form shown by Sean Stapleton professionalism and community and his boys at Clifton we should rugby and that progress is still The local council’s rejection get ready for an entertaining evolving today. It has been this last week of the Highland Court game this afternoon. This will be ability to adapt and retain the scheme, which would have my fourth year as club President game’s core values that has provided us with a purpose built and it is good to see that our underpinned so much of our new home, was disappointing but teams at all levels are enjoying success in providing National we will look for new avenues as some success. League and Social Rugby and we continue to expand. None of expanding into Wheelchair, Touch our progress, of course, would I have been reflecting on the and Women’s teams along with a have been possible without the changes, both on and off the field, vibrant Youth and Mini section. hard work and dedication of our that I have seen over the years committee, volunteers and, not in my association with the club. A special word here for our least, our enthusiastic sponsors. The greatest of these, although Wheelchair team, the Hellfire, All, including our loyal supporters, it seems almost a lifetime ago, who last week ensured their have played their part in making has been the move from amateur place in the top level of the game this a very special club. I will to professional status and the for another season. I am sure always be proud to be a member. introduction of the leagues. our founding forefathers would Many of us were sceptical as be proud of the achievements John Scurr, President the old order changed, despite we see today with Canterbury’s Canterbury RFC Match Sponsor The club’s principal sponsor has had a long term association with Canterbury rugby and supports a variety of other sports. The Canterbury based firm is the UK’s leading independent provider of travel logistics to marine related businesses worldwide. It also offers International Travel Services as a management company for Worldwide Sports Travel and caters for the individual traveller. Our thanks to Managing Director Dave Thompson and his staff for all their past and present commitment to local rugby. marine.travel CANTERBURY TALES BANISHING THE DEMONS Whatever the rest of this black cloud but, crucially, we pitch, will throw everything into exciting season brings there have discovered ways to win the melting pot again. is no doubt that the past three when operating below our weeks have seen us achieve best and their grip on us was The encouraging show at two of the most important broken. Having got that patchy Clfton has strengthened Head victories of the campaign. If display out of our system we of Rugby Andy Pratt’s hand. you go by the current form next produced a liberated He has the luxury of rotating book then Worthing and Clifton performance at home to the squad, particularly the may not have looked the Redruth and that set us up for important back three, as we most threatening opposition the journey to Bristol last week. prepare for the final eight until, that is, you turn back the There, we played some of our games of the season. pages. Those two clubs have most intelligent and effective been Canterbury’s nemesis rugby and another demon was Today’s match, which presents on their own grounds for banished. a fresh challenge from a side many seasons so there were battling to avoid relegation, huge psychological barriers to Those three consecutive wins sees JJ Murray rested and overcome at both venues. have kept us in the promotion Aiden Moss, who missed play-off spot and extended our last week’s match, doing We travelled to Worthing lead slightly over the chasing bench duty. However, all the having last won there eight pack. In-form Tonbridge contenders will get game time years ago; at Clifton it was an Juddians are a real danger but in the weeks ahead. Skipper even longer spell of eleven the outcome of next week’s Sean Stapleton is an absentee seasons. The memory of game between Henley and today after receiving a one that dismal record hung over Taunton, postponed earlier match ban for accumulating the game at Worthing like a this month because of a frozen three yellow cards. HIGHLAND COURT REJECTED The development project at Highland Court by Quinn Estates which would have relocated the club to a new home was rejected by Canterbury City Council Planning Committee. Chairman Giles Hilton said: “While the decision was a disappointment the club will continue to seek new opportunities.” The rejection will have no impact on our immediate future as our existing lease at Merton Lane North has some years to run and there are no financial implications for JIMMY MOVES ON the club related to the Highland Court scheme. Only when planning permission was granted Saying farewell to the club he County side. Front row players would the club have made has served so well is Jimmy are a breed apart and he is a binding commitments. Green. The 33-year-old prop paid up member of that special forward has been a permanent brotherhood. The biggest loser from a sporting fixture in our senior squad for perspective is Canterbury City many seasons and we wish him Jimmy feels he can no longer Football Club who have been well as he returns to his home commit to the demands of waiting years for the city council town club, Thanet Wanderers. National league rugby but there to honour their promise of finding is no doubt that he will give the club a permanent home. We Jimmy’s playing career includes his all to Thanet. They are also urge everyone to support their a spell with Westcombe Park inheriting the largest, heaviest efforts to find a solution and bring before he joined us and his wrist watch in Kent so will need a football back into the heart of the qualities were recognised by stronger valuables bag. community. regular appearances for the Kent ANDY’S VIEW Last week we said farewell, line with other former players in playing terms only, to long and teammates and the chat will serving prop Jimmy Green. Other often turn to that try at Worthing than a period out with a knee a few seasons back. I’ll let Jimmy injury, Jimmy has been pretty give you the details if you’re not much ever-present in all the aware... Many thanks for your squads I have coached. He has shift Jimmy - all the best for the won the Kent Cup and National rest of the season and beyond 3 SE league and made over back home at Thanet Wanderers. 150 appearances for the club in his time. Always popular with Big welcome to Birmingham the lads and supporters, he’ll & Solihull making the long trip be missed both on and off the down today. Enjoy the match. pitch. I’m sure now and again he will take his place on the touch Andy Pratt, Head of Rugby th SOCIAL MEDIA FUTURE STARS? Canterbury RFC @cantrugby Congratulations go to eleven out The Saracens boys are Thor of the 21 players in the club’s Barnes-Evans, Stanley Bull, Canterbury Hellfire Wheelchair Rugby Under 14 squad who have Patrick McCully, Edan O’Neil, powered to an 11 point victory against been accepted into Premiership Henry Baxter, Jonny Newman, Yorkshire lions guaranteeing league club Academies. Ten of them Lucas Eule, Bartholomew one for next season!! will be going to Saracens and Johnson, Hector Valladares and #oneclub #welldone one, Harrison MacKinnon, joins Harry Stamp Harlequins and the Under 16 Scottish Development Squad. TUESDAY NIGHT CUP RUGBY The Pilgrims meet Medway 2nd in the semi-final of the Kent Plate on Tuesday evening next week, February 19th. The game is being played on the STP pitch at Simon Langton and kick-off is 7.30pm. Come and support the side as they eye an appearance at Finals Day on April 28th. Ron Rutland @RonRutland Thanks for the warm welcome SUCCESS ALL ROUND last night @cantrugby - and to be welcomed by the chairman himself, February has been a good International Tournament in an extra special privilege! month throughout the club. Our Germany. In addition, Harry will Ladies side are Champions elect be GB’s vice captain. of the NC South East league while the Wheelchair Rugby The players have to find the squad, Hellfire, have ensured £250 cost of travelling so we will they stay in the top division of the be asking everyone for some game next season after beating financial help this afternoon.