Canterbury held off a fierce early challenge from their nearest rivals Dorking to extend their unbeaten National 3 London & South East run to eight matches with a 16-10 win at Dorking on Saturday.

They are four points clear of Tonbridge Juddians who moved into second place after a 57-13 win at Bracknell, with Dorking slipping to third.

A commanding second half performance sealed it for the city club and their only slight disappointment was allowing the home side to snatch a losing bonus point through a last minute penalty.

Canterbury put the first points on the board through a Tom Best penalty but Dorking's hungry young back division made good their threat with a try in the 19th minute.

The visitors, though, responded with a try of their own two minutes later through Nicky Woodbridge after good work from full-back Martyn Beaumont.

The home side had a player sin-binned just before half-time and with the breeze behind them, the second half brough a lesson in control from Canterbury.

Skipper Mike Melford (pictured) touched down three minutes into the second half and was denied a second try soon after when he appeared to have won a kick and chase but an unsighted referee ruled otherwise.

It made little difference, though, as Canterbury took a stranglehold on vital areas.

Best kicked a second penalty before Dorking salvaged a bonus point in a match in which Canterbury proved their right to stay top dogs.