Canterbury slipped to their third successive defeat in National League 2 South when they lost 34-10 at home to Southend.

Two handling errors and careless surrender of possession led to four of Southend's five tries, easing the path to a victory which saw the Essex side take over the leadership of the table.

Number eight Wim Baars scored an early try for the home side, but Southend hit back with tries from Mike Stanley and Dan Johnson before Canterbury centre Jack Davis created the chance for wing Matt Sheen to level the scores.

A penalty by Andy Frost gave Southend a three-point half-time lead, but two minutes after the restart all Canterbury's previous good work started to unravel.

A speculative kick allowed Southend full-back Simon Hoult time and space to push his side deep into home territory and two minutes later Stanley brushed off an ineffective tackle to score his second try.

The city club's earlier certainties and control began to desert them and on 57 minutes another error, this time a turnover, allowed an assured Southend to set up position from which prop Luke Irvine burrowed over for his side's fourth try.

Southend completed Canterbury’s misery when another handling mistake gifted wing Mark Billings a try which Frost converted for his third conversion of the afternoon.