Henley Hawks
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PROGRAMME £1 Match Sponsor National League 2 South Saturday 23rd March 2019 v HENLEY HAWKS The Prague It’s Crunch Time An All-Black Lunch Connection 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 There have been many close a seamless transition, and many prominent status both in Kent and entertaining games between clubs did fall by the wayside or rugby and promoting the game in Canterbury and Henley in recent split in the new professional era. the wider community. seasons and with plenty at stake Canterbury adapted, setting today, I am sure we can look out on a path that embraced However, we keep evolving with forward to another great afternoon both semi-professionalism and new challenges and opportunities of rugby. So, welcome to all the community rugby and that both on and off the pitch. The players, officials and the strong progress is still evolving today. It local council’s rejection last month band of supporters of the Hawks. has been this ability to adapt and of the Highland Court scheme, retain the game’s core values that which would have provided us In this my fourth year as club has underpinned so much of our with a purpose built new home, President it is good to see that our success in providing National was disappointing but we will teams at all levels are enjoying League and Social Rugby and look for new avenues as we some success, inspired by the expanding into Wheelchair, Touch continue to expand. None of great example of the first team and Women’s teams along with a our progress, of course, would squad this season. I have been vibrant Youth and Mini section. have been possible without the reflecting on the changes, both on hard work and dedication of our and off the field, that I have seen A special word here for our committee, volunteers and, not over the years in my association Wheelchair team, the Hellfire, least, our enthusiastic sponsors. with the club. The greatest of who have ensured their place All, including our loyal supporters, these, although it seems almost a in the top level of the game for have played their part in making lifetime ago, has been the move another season and the Ladies this a very special club. I will from amateur to professional squad who have been crowned always be proud to be a member. status and the introduction of league champions. I am sure the leagues. Many of us were our founding forefathers would John Scurr, President sceptical as the old order be proud of the achievements Canterbury RFC changed, despite the promise of we see today with Canterbury’s Match Sponsor Established in London in1882, Wilkins Kennedy provides chartered accounting and advisory services to businesses and individuals across the UK and Internationally. With 18 regional offices in the South East and over 700 staff and partners, the company has an excellent reputation for assessing individual and business needs and delivering intelligent, practical financial solutions. Its Canterbury office opened three years ago following a merger with local accountancy firm Lakin Clark. Our thanks, too, go to Match Ball Sponsors Club Chemistry, Tokyo Tea Rooms & Westerhall Rums. wilkinskennedy.com CANTERBURY TALES CRUNCH TIME IS HERE The winning run for the first and London Irish those are the crowd only fleshed out by team goes on but breathing kind of fixtures where anything the travelling support. Their space at the top of the league might happen. pre-match lunch was well table is in short supply. Today subscribed but most of the we have the opportunity to Home wins over Bees and diners stayed indoors to watch widen the gap over our nearest Guernsey proved to be fairly rugby on TV rather than get contenders for the promotion routine but a poor first 40 behind the London Irish team. play-off spot, but even if we minutes against the Wild prevail the margins between Geese carried a health Luckily, we hit the right note Canterbury, Henley and warning. It is one of those after half time and ended the Tonbridge Juddians will remain grounds where we have game in cruise mode but we intriguingly tight. never quite done ourselves will need a full eighty minutes justice and a four point lead today if we are to have a There is also the image of at half time did nothing chance. Whatever the result Taunton Titans in the rear view for the nervous system. the next four weeks will still be mirror. Should they manage to Perhaps it was the lack of crucial. beat Juddians this afternoon atmosphere that strangled they could jump inside the car the performance, with a thin again, but this will probably be their last chance. THE FINAL STRAIGHT READS LIKE THIS: With seven consecutive victories under our belt there CANTERBURY TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS will be a quiet confidence in Old Albanian (A) Worthing (H) the Canterbury camp, but Bury St Edmunds (H) Redruth (A) also a sense of relief that we Barnes (A) Clifton (H) stepped over potential banana Rams (H) Birmingham & Solihull (A) skins in our last three games. They were all against the HENLEY TAUNTON clubs struggling to avoid the London Irish (H) Old Redcliffians (A) drop and while the form book Guernsey (H) Dings Crusaders (H) suggested we would see off Old Albanian (A) Guernsey (A) Birmingham Bees, Guernsey Bury St Edmunds (H) Worthing (A) LUNCH WITH ZINZAN Former All Black legend Zinzan Brooke will bring a touch of rugby magic to the club’s City Lunch here at the Marine Travel Ground next week. As a 22-year- old he was part of the New Zealand squad that won the first ever World Cup tournament in 1987 and he went on to play 100 games for his country. The back row specialist captained the All Blacks five times, scored 41 tries ANDY’S VIEW and by the time he played his last test match, against England The run in to the end of the at Twickenham in 1997, had season well and truly begins accumulated an impressive 195 today. It’s developed into a points. That included a famous remarkable race to the play- 47 metre drop goal in the 1995 off with ourselves, Henley Word Cup semi-final. Zinzan and Tonbridge Juddians ended his career with Harlequins, barely dropping a point since first as player then coach, and mid-January and only bonus now runs a construction and points separating us at this late recruitment business. He is stage. The match at Henley in recognised as one of the best November was a great advert speakers about the game so for the league with two well come and find out for yourself matched teams trading blows next Thursday. Book a table or and the game going right to an individual place with the wire. It should be another Giles Hilton at: great game. Away from the [email protected] 1st XV, huge congratulations to our Womens XV who were crowned league champions on Sunday. A wonderful season and memorable achievement - well done ladies, the club is very proud of you. Finally, I just wanted to thank all the volunteers - superbly led by Chris Elworthy - who organised and ran such a great East Kent Mini Festival last Sunday. East Kent rugby faces a lot of challenges so it was great to see the numbers coming and some great play and sportsmanship from all ages. Eight of the 1st XV squad GIRLS ON TOP refereed so I’m hoping to see some mutual understanding The Canterbury Ladies team were officially crowned as champions with the officials today. of Womens NC South East League after their 39-0 win over Ashford Ladies last Sunday. They have lost only one of their twelve league Enjoy the match. games, scoring 499 points against only 156. They are on the trail of more trophies tomorrow when they travel to Devon to meet Plymouth Andy Pratt, Head of Rugby Albion Ladies in the Womens Intermediate Plate. th SOCIAL MEDIA THE PRAGUE Canterbury RFC CONNECTION @cantrugby When Canterbury’s Under 14 amber shirts with greetings from This Easter holiday we will be hosting and Under 13 sides hosted a Canterbury Rugby Club. A few another Saracens Rugby Camp (Mon club from Prague who are touring months later, in 1944, the rugby 8 Apr & Tue 9 Apr). Follow link for France, England and Wales last club was formed and adopted details and booking weekend an amazing wartime the Canterbury colours they still tinyurl.com/yxanslzd connection came to light. The play in today. @SarriesRugbyDev players from Club Praga Praha turned out in the black and Club Chairman Giles Hilton said: amber colours of the city club. “It’s a long time ago, but we would love to know who was Their coaches then revealed that responsible for sending the ball Canterbury were at the heart of and shirts to Prague. It goes to their club’s foundation, thanks to show that rugby can reach every a World War 2 parachute drop. community and be a real force When the RAF dropped Red for good. I am so glad we helped Cross supplies into the Czech to make a bit of the game’s capital in one of the boxes was history.” a rugby ball and four black and SAM STERLING Man of The Match - Backs v GUERNSEY SUPPORT DOCTOR JOHN Our club doctor John Allingham has been a vital part of the match Channel to the Med, to help raise day team for many seasons.