Canterbury respond with a try against Shelford Picture: Barry Duffield

Canterbury suffered their fourth straight defeat and fifth in six National 2 South games with a 30-12 home reverse against promotion-chasing Shelford on Saturday.

The visitors, who are undefeated since the opening day of the season, made the game safe in the opening 40 minutes, racing into a 25-7 lead.

Shelford took just four minutes to go ahead with a try from an intercepted pass and although the city club responded with a good try from Martyn Beaumont, which was converted by Tom Best, the visitors followed with another three scores to secure the bonus point after some elusive running from the backs, coupled with some poor handling and lineout play from the hosts.

A penalty and a conversion left the gap at 18 at half-time and soon after, prop Jim Green was sent off for a kick.

However, the 14 men battled on and 10 minutes from time, Jeremy Darley and Tom Rogers combined to add a second Canterbury try, although the visitors added a fifth of their own in the dying minutes.