Canterbury 20 Barnes 29: National League 2 East match report

By David Haigh

After the previous week’s woes against Dorking, Canterbury raised their game - but couldn’t unseat title-chasing Barnes, losing 29-20 in National League 2 East.

Approaching the final quarter with a five-point lead the city side seemed handily placed, but it was the away side who took took control, adding two tries to secure their bonus point and effectively shut down the contest.

It was a disappointment after solid first-half defence restricted Barnes to a Kyle Beattie penalty goal and a catch-and-drive score from Cameron Ruddock. Try chances were sparse as both sides were guilty of poor ball retention, but a Frank Reynolds penalty got Canterbury on the scoreboard and with the wind and slope to help them after the break the odds on a victory were shortened.

They started to look a decent bet when Reynolds punished a scrum offence with his second penalty and only five minutes into the half added the conversion to Ben Cooper's try to take his side in front for the first time. No.8 Tyler Oliver had made the break to give his scrum-half the scoring opportunity.

It was Barnes’ power at the maul that edged them back in front six minutes later as Matt Humphreys claimed their second catch-and-drive touchdown, converted by Beattie, but Canterbury were quick to counter.

Quick hands opened up the left channel for Frank Morgan's try and a touchline conversion from Reynolds was more good news. But that was the last of Canterbury as an attacking force, apart from the odd break from much too deep.

Barnes brought shrewd game management to their play, denied the city side any decent field position and their strengths produced tries for wings Jacques Birch and Paul Webb.

Both scores had their origins in that effective