Canterbury's unbeaten National League 3 record came under serious threat in their first game of the New Year before they defeated Tring 33-22.

Fly-half Scott Browne, who accounted for all but five of Tring's points, sprinted away for the first score and conversion. Browne added a penalty goal five minutes later.

Canterbury were under pressure when Wim Baars took an important hand by intercepting a pass and outrunning everyone over 75 metres to score.

Two minutes from the end Canterbury closed out the game. A penalty award led to a clinical catch and drive, a second surge and Barrs diving over from the ruck.

Had the city side played smarter rugby in the first half they would not have been in so much trouble. Early on they were caught napping by a Browne try and conversion from a tapped penalty but they exercised enough control to wrap things up by the break.

Paul Brown's cut-out pass created space for Nik Van Mol to send Martyn Beaumont over for the first try. There were no more until five minutes before the break when a catch and drive brought George Micans his 11th touch down of the season.

Beaumont (pictured) claimed the rest of the points, landing two difficult conversions and three penalty goals. Although that earned a 23-7 lead Canterbury had not made the most of their assets and almost paid the price until those crucial interventions by Baars.

Marten Walker gave Tring unfulfilled hopes of a bonus point with a last gasp try.