Teenage centre, Alex Hayward, in his first season at Vigo, grabbed the headlines with four tries as the VeeGees recorded their second win on the bounce, eventually overcoming a resilient Canterbury side.
It was the VeeGees who took the lead after just ten minutes, naturally Hayward the man, finishing off a neat handling move. Martin Fry at 9 to Harry Pattison at 10 to Hayward who busted straight through a startled Canterbury back line to score. Fry added the conversion. But Canterbury were not to be cowed by this score fought back hard, their side predominantly young. Their 10, Herbie Bowler probed for an opening and suddenly there it was, VeeGees defence cracking open a tad too easily and Bowler waltzed through to score a fine individual try.
Canterbury are surprisingly without a win this season. Surprising, as they have some heft in the pack, pace in the threes, but apparently they struggle to field a regular team and the lack of familiarity was all too apparent. But their pack did give the VeeGees forwards some awkward moments. The front row of Ruben, Stan and Pete took three against the head in the first period and made the VeeGees struggle for decent possession. But the experience of number 8, Harry King, and the wit of Fry and Pattison, ensured the VeeGees were not overwhelmed. The VeeGees defence were also coming up hard and fast, causing a certain amount of disarray in Canterbury’s ranks. It was such line speed that caused the ball to be dropped. Hayward was the first to the loose ball, wriggled free and drove over for his second. But Canterbury did draw level when their excellent breakaway forward, Joel Poulter blasted through a gap to score a great solo try after a fine threes move. Perhaps, the VeeGees tackling may have been a tad thin, but Poulter displayed great pace to score, Bowler converting. The whistle blew immediately for half time.
Thus, at half time, the scores tied, everything to play for. Unfortunately, for the visitors, injury ate into their front row, and gradually the VeeGees began to take control of the scrums, although their lines out remained a bit slap dash. But the VeeGees went back into the lead with an excellent try. It started on their own 22 metre line, the ball transferred from hand to hand, both forwards and backs carrying on the flowing move, Harry King involved heavily, until Hayward was put into space. The youngster, who has plenty of pace needed no second invitation, wriggled free and drove over the line. Joined up rugby signed off with a flourish. The VeeGees thought that they had added another, a superb delayed pass by Sam Tye setting Lewis Pitchell free but the excellent (and no-nonsense) referee Ian Edmed detected a forward pass, and pulled VeeGees back for a penalty which he had been playing advantage. Fry booted that over to extend the home lead.
The VeeGees continued to dominate, Canterbury fighting hard but their relatively inexperienced side were no match for the combined experience of the VeeGees old heads, the likes of Darren Cox, Russell Allen, King and Fry giving the home side the edge. It was no surprise then when the estimable Harry King smashed over for a fully deserved try. The VeeGees won a scrum which was a bit disrupted to be fair by Canterbury. But King picked up and drove blind. Canterbury’s defence gathered but was no match for the snorting King. Hayward finished his game with another excellent try, running in from the half way line. Fry converted. Hayward departed, exhausted from his sterling efforts, and perhaps, Canterbury took heart from seeing the back of their tormentor and fought back hard with time running out. The VeeGees stood firm, some of their less experienced players enjoying a run out, and fully involving themselves in the contest.
Canterbury had the last word, however, their number 7, Joel Poulter blazing through for a fully deserved try with not long to go. If Canterbury had notions of an unlikely comeback, the VeeGees quashed those hopes with a controlled ending, retaining possession and not allowing their visitors another sniff.

VeeGees team: L.Pitchell; C.Fooks,S.Tye, A.Haywward, J.Wardrope; H.Pattison, M.Fry; J.Smith, R.Allen, D.Cox; B.Howe, H.Riley; J.Lynch, T.Cox;H.King;
Reps (all used) M.Collins-Jones< G.Sandhu, R.Dolan, S.Harlin, D.Snaith

Referee: Ian Edmed (Kent)

Scorers: VeeGees: Tries: Hayward (10’, 33’, 48’,67’), King (61’). Cons: Fry (2). Pens: Fry (56’). Canterbury: Tries: Bowler (19’), Poulter (40’, 74’). Cons: Bowler (1)

Man of the Match: 4 try hero Alex Hayward. For Canterbury, Joel Poulter was MVP.