Targeting greater consistency will be the key for Canterbury Rugby Club head coach Matt Corker during the new season.

Corker’s city side secured a seventh-placed National League 2 East finish last term, three places up from the season before.

While Corker was pleased with the steps Canterbury took, delivering high-level displays, he feels they will need to do that more often than not if they want to make further progress.

He said: “That’s our focus, not just for the players individually, but for the team and us as a coaching team, just to continually improve and find the areas we can grow in.

“As pleased as we are, I’d say we’re definitely not satisfied.

"What’s pleasing for me is the steps that we have taken have shown real high levels of performance.

“But the next step is just being able to do that more consistently. When we’re able to perform to those levels consistently, we will be able to take that next step.

“It’s a very exciting time for the club.

“It’s important for us to understand - if we want more as a playing group and a coaching group, as well as a team and a club - we need to be prepared to put more in. That’s how we get to the next level.

“That’s something we will be talking about.

"It’s been a great season but I love the fact there’s still more to come.”

Canterbury finished just 16 points off fourth-placed Henley and 12 points behind rivals Tonbridge Juddians, fifth, as they struggled to claim wins against the top teams.

Notably, though, they were only beaten 36-34 at home to eventual champions Esher this January and 36-31 by third-placed Dorking at Merton Lane three months before that.

Corker said: “We definitely need, especially at home, to get results against those towards the top of the league. That’s something we came close to.

“There were also some points we let slip where we didn’t get our mentality right.

“If you’re 5% off mentally, you’re way off on the scoreboard and we definitely suffered with that a little bit. There’s a couple of games that spring to mind.

“The opposition probably feels they played well but, from our side, I think we definitely think we could have controlled passages of those games better.

“We were only 12 points off fifth. You’re not talking about loads of different results.

“But it’s definitely something which is easy to say and harder to do over the course of the season.”

Among those to impress for the city club were fly-half Frank Reynolds - the division’s top point scorer - and Dutch back-rower Jesse de Vries. Both are to stay with the club.

“Frank has committed for this year, so has Jesse,” confirmed Corker, with Canterbury Pilgrims also being crowned 2023/24 Kent 1 champions.

“By the time we get to this point in the season, it’s important to have an idea of what our squad is going to look like.

"Having these players want to keep continuing their rugby careers with us is something we’re really proud of, as well.

“Overall, they are not only getting better and helping the team to get where they want to go, they’re also having a good time. That’s really important to us.

“We have these two guys who are part of the first team that have really kicked on.

"But it’s also been important for us this season to make sure that we are bringing players through.

“Players like Tom McKenzie, who has joined us from Folkestone. He played with the Pilgrims until Christmas and had fought his way into the team by the end of last season.

“Presley Farrance, he has been in and out with us over the seasons, but the form he finished in was fantastic.

“Being able to give these guys room to grow in the Pilgrims and then the opportunity to play National League rugby is exactly what we’re trying to achieve as a club.”

Canterbury will start the new league season at home to Colchester on Saturday, September 7, before they visit Kent rivals Sevenoaks seven days later.

They end the campaign at Colchester on Saturday, April 26, 2025.