Canterbury Rugby Club head coach Andy Pratt says maintaining solid home form is crucial
By Alex Hoad
Canterbury Rugby Club head coach Andy Pratt says turning Merton
Lane into a fortress in the second half of the season is key to
consolidating their National 2 South status.
The 43-10 win at Barking before Christmas ensured the
newly-promoted city club went into the new year in eighth place
with 35 points from 15 games and as close to the top five as they
are to the bottom four.
Pratt (pictured) admitted to being satisfied with the opening
half of the campaign but warned there was plenty of hard work to
come.
Canterbury have won four of six games at Merton Lane and eight
of their remaining 13 fixtures this season – including three of
their last four – will be on home territory.
Lydney are the visitors on Saturday (3pm start) and Pratt said:
"It’s good to be heading back home. Our home form has been good
this season and it’s going to be crucial in ultimately deciding
where we finish."
Canterbury won 35-7 in Gloucestershire in September but, after
an influx of new talent, Lydney won their last three games before
the Christmas break and are climbing away from the bottom of the
table.
Pratt said: "There’s no doubt we have got a couple of tough
games coming up, with Lydney the first of them."
After Saturday’s game, Canterbury face all of the top six in
their following seven games, starting with Worthing at home.
Pratt said: "It is a tough run but to a certain extent, if you
can beat the teams below you, as we have done, then when you face
the teams at the top, the pressure is off a little bit. We are
halfway through the season but have a lot more home games in the
second half than we do away. We need to make that count."
02/01/13
- Click here for more Canterbury news...
- Click here for more news from across the county...