1 week Ago By [email protected] (Thomas Reeves)
Head coach Matt Corker is well aware of the importance of Canterbury Rugby Club’s final home league match this season. The fourth-placed National League 2 East side, on a three-game winning run, will welcome title-chasing Dorking to Merton Lane on Saturday when a big crowd is expected for the club’s sponsors day. It’s also a match which presents Canterbury with the chance to complete an impressive double over Dorking this term after they edged past them 35-34 in December.
“It’s very exciting,” said Corker. “In the last three games, we have really set ourselves up for this. “Dorking are a great team and they play some great rugby.
They’re still in the hunt for the title so they’ll be keen to put their best foot forward. They have got us and then Tonbridge Juddians. “But at their place, we showed what we’re capable of.
With it being our sponsors day, the place will be bouncing. “We will be preparing this week to make sure we play our best rugby in one of the biggest games of the season - if not the biggest - for us.” Report: Oxford Harlequins 29-66 Canterbury Canterbury head into the game on the back of a 66-29 win at Oxford Harlequins last weekend.
Corker reflected: “I was disappointed at half-time with some of the tries we had conceded. “But what was really good was we set a target of not conceding any tries in the second half. We did concede one, but we were a lot more solid.
“The scoreline might suggest that we didn’t need to work that hard - but that’s not the case. If they had scored first in the second half, you’re looking at a very different situation. “We had those four games we didn’t win and I spoke about wrestling back momentum in, not just games, but in the season.
“That’s something we’re starting to do, which is really positive.” Hat-trick hero Tyler Oliver led the way against Oxford Harlequins as the No.8 shone.
Corker said: “He’s having a great season. “He has had his injury battles in the last couple of years, even though he’s put in good performances. When you’re managing your body, it’s always tough.
“But he’s having a fantastic year and he’s become a really strong part of our leadership group.” Pembury-born former Premiership centre Harry Sloan was also among the tries, as were Frank Morgan, Garry Jones, Eoin O'Donoghue and Charlie McGovern. Corker, whose team will have a fixture-free weekend after the Dorking game before ending the season at Colchester on Saturday, April 26, said: “Harry is making a really strong contribution.
“He brings a real amount of quality but, also, he’s a good character and a good bloke. He’s exactly the type of player that you want. “He brings a great deal but I still expect the best is yet to come from him.
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