Match Report
CANTERBURY 51 SHEPPEY 0
Canterbury booked a place in the Kent Cup semi-finals and stay on course for a cup and league double with this decisive victory under the Merton Lane floodlights.
A city side containing a mixture of youth and experience had too much power up front and pace in the backs for Sheppey to mount a serious challenge.
Hooker Tom Rogers, one of a quartet of experienced forwards in the home pack, scored three of his side's eight tries while teenage wing Kwaku Asiedu picked up two more.
With Sheppey under pressure from the start, a seventh minute penalty goal from Will Hilton put the city side in the lead but it was the opening try which set a good Tuesday evening crowd buzzing.
A Sheppey clearance kick was slipped to wing Kwaku Asiedu who showed pace, power and a great swerve in a dazzling run which took him behind the posts.
Canterbury turned the screw further as Tom Rogers, Steve Goode and the outstanding Max Cantwell made the yards which liberated their young backs and by half time the lead had grown to an unassailable 36 points.
Dan Reed, Owain Fussell, Asiedu again and Rogers added tries and Hilton's four conversions kept the scoreboard ticking.
The islanders, who play in London Division 3, struggled with accuracy and the pace of the game but with the slope and breeze in their favour dug deep after the break.
They defended well for decent periods and it was a case of near misses for a Canterbury team still very much in control. But the visitors could not hold out permanently and they conceded two catch and drive scores which brought the lively Rogers his hat trick.
Scrum half Dave Heads rounded off an impressive night's work by many young players when clean handling by the backs created an overlap for his last minute touchdown.
Canterbury: W.Hilton, A.Povel, C.Kingsman, O.Fussell, K.Asiedu, A.Woodbridge, D.Heads, C.Cox, T.Rogers, S.Goode, B.Massey, R.Corr, J.Pellett, D.Reed, M.Cantwell.
Replacements: M.Robinson, R.Bowen, C.Townley, G.Hilton.
