Canterbury held on to secure a nervy 21-20 win over Chinnor to go sixth in National 2 South at Merton Lane on Saturday.

The visitors recorded a last-minute try which gave James Cathcart a difficult conversion attempt from the touchline which would have won the game, only for the swirling wind to send the kick off target and keep the city club’s unbeaten home record intact.

Canterbury had looked comfortable in the first half and went 21-0 ahead with a try three minutes into the second half and there was no sign of the collapse which was to follow.

Debutant centre David Devlin-Jones broke to win an early penalty which led to Tom Best charging through under the posts.

Scott Browne converted the try and then added three penalties in quick succession after a rash of ill-discipline from the visitors which left them 16-0 down at the interval.

Devlin-Jones extended the lead shortly after the restart but it paved the way for the visitors to finally wake up.

Fine tackling from Mike Melford and Dave Marshall kept Chinnor out initially but a burst of three unconverted tries set-up a grandstand finish.

Canterbury were reduced to 14 when Tom Sherson was sinbinned with 10 minutes to go but heroic defence kept the visitors out until the final minute that the Chinnor wing squeezed in in the corner, with the subsequent kick drifting wide.