Canterbury on the charge against Lydney on Saturday Picture: Chris Davey

Canterbury produced a fine second-half display to beat Lydney 22-9 at Merton Lane on Saturday and move eighth in National 2 South.

The hosts were below par in the first-half and led by a point as Pete Kelly went over over for a try.

Scott Browne converted the score but it was the city club’s only score of the opening 40 minutes, while the visitors – who had won three straight at the end of 2012 – notched two penalties from Danny Trigg, despite failing to threaten the Canterbury try-line.

The hosts improved after the break and Wim Baars extended the lead on 52 minutes.

Browne’s conversion attempt missed but after Lydney were reduced to 14 by a sin-binning, the fly-half notched a penalty to make it 15-6.

The Gloucestershire side battled back but the Canterbury defence did well to keep them out and when the visitors spilled a high kick, Kelly snatched the loose ball and sent Browne free to score and convert his own try 12 minutes from time.

The visitors pulled back another penalty from Trigg but Canterbury finished the game on the front-foot.