Guernsey 33 Canterbury 33: National League 2 South match report

By David Haigh and Carrick Blake

A penalty try in the last minute of Saturday's National 2 League South game gave Canterbury a 33-33 draw at Guernsey.

Canterbury opened a 21-point gap in the first 19 minutes but poor discipline, which cost them three yellow cards, handed Guernsey all the incentive they needed to dominate the second half.

It was the Channel Islanders' own indiscretions, however, that denied them victory as they came under sustained pressure in the closing minutes.

An impressive driving maul was stopped illegally and referee Neil Sweeney had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try.

It was all so different in the early stages as Canterbury cruised ahead with tries from Ben Cooper, half-back partner Frank Reynolds and Alex Evans, all converted by Tom Best.

Guernsey got their breath back with a converted try from Anthony Armstrong but, despite temporarily losing Frank Morgan to the first of their yellow cards, Canterbury claimed a bonus point with a fourth touchdown when full-back Aiden Moss delivered one of his scorching runs.

The hosts made their extra man count just before half-time through Callum Roberts' try, but Canterbury were still in the boxseat with a 14-point advantage.

It was a cushion that quickly deflated in a second half the home side dominated and as the yellow cards flew - first for Will McColl and then Sam Sterling - the city side's defence crumbled.

Going into the last quarter Guernsey had forged ahead with tries from Ciaran McGann, Owen Thomas and Oscar Baird, with Thomas converting them all. But when Canterbury found themselves in the last-chance saloon they kicked down the doors in powerful fashion and it earned them three league points.

Canterbury play their final game of the season