Canterbury celebrated their 21st win of the season in style, thrashing basement club Havant 90-15.

The city club’s formidable pack of forwards gave them an overwhelming advantage which resulted in 14 tries, seven of them from the back row.

No.8 Wim Baars grabbed three in the first half to make sure his side went into the break with a bonus point, while his replacement, Sam Rogers, scored another two. Flankers Peter Kelly and Max Cantwell completed the rout.

Havant leaked 52 points in the second half, but, early in the game, centre Grant Morris swooped on a Canterbury error to bring them level for the only time. Baars had already driven given Canterbury a fifth-minute lead, but once Kelly had completed a catch and drive try, the game was heading only one way.

Ricky Mackintosh and fellow wing Martyn Beaumont also got on the scoresheet, Cantwell launched the second-half avalanche after just three minutes, Rogers completed clean breaks by the backs to cross twice and Paul Brown, Tom Best, Dave Marshall and Mackintosh, again, added to the tally.

Havant’s second try, scored by Reed and converted by Jake Reynolds, was only a minor interruption and replacement Alex Povel then made a bit of history becoming the first Belgian player to appear for Canterbury. He duly announced himself by scoring the last try.