Canterbury 29 Bury St Edmunds 25: National League 2 East match report

By David Haigh

Canterbury’s 29-25 National League 2 East home win over Bury St Edmunds was down to determination, plus Frank Reynolds’ kicking accuracy despite the elements.

The visitors may have won the try count by five to four but it was fly-half Reynolds, the league’s leading points scorer, who made the difference. He teed up the victory with three conversions, two of them from difficult angles, and a penalty goal while his Bury counterpart, Ben Penfold, was off target every time.

When the city side reached half-time only seven points ahead the odds seemed against them as a wind-assisted Bury scored twice to go in front in the 56th minute. But Canterbury dug in, found fresh momentum in the final quarter and produced two well-worked tries for centre Will Waddington to regain the lead before fighting off Bury's strong finish.

It was the visitors who started the game on the front foot, too, finding gaps and sending full-back Kodie Drury-Hawkins over for the opening try. Canterbury survived an early yellow card for Will Hunt, got on the scoreboard with Reynolds' penalty and made the most of a superb break by Cameron Murray.

When the flanker was stopped the ball was swiftly recycled for Alfie Orris to score at the corner. Reynolds converted and was on the mark again, this time from the opposite touchline, when a controlled, driving maul brought the second try from prop Elliot Lusher.

Before the break, however, fierce Bury pressure ended in a short-range score by prop Ben Cooper and although Penfold missed an easy conversion their opening salvo in the second half spelled trouble for Canterbury's chances.

The tries came first from No.8 Matt Bursey and after the forwards had done the heavy lifting the ball was spread wide