Canterbury withstood a second-half fightback to edge to a thrilling 27-26 win over Clifton in National 2 South on Saturday.

The city club cruised into a 19-7 lead at the break but in the end needed a Tom Best penalty and a fierce rearguard effort to seal the win.

It took just three minutes for the hosts to open the scoring when prop Ruairi McLeod went over following a good cross-field run from Martyn Beaumont.

A memorable 40m run from Ricky Mackintosh secured the second try after some good work by David Devlin-Jones, with the Best conversion making it 12-0, however the visitors capitalised on a penalty with a well-worked converted try.

It didn’t take long for a third score from Andy pratt's side when a break by scrum half Dave Marshall and good play by Tom Sherson led to Sam Rogers crossing for the half-time advantage.

However after the break Sherson was sin-binned as Clifton pulled back a penalty try, subsequently converted, although indiscipline at the other end allowed Canterbury to pile on pressure from some attacking lineouts ending with a neat switch of play and a second Rogers try in the corner.

More ill-discipline allowed Clifton to apply their own pressure, with a clinical driving maul reducing the arrears before a quick turnover allowed the Bristol side another try, with the conversion sending them into a 26-24 lead.

However 13 minutes from time Best kept his nerve to slot the decisive penalty, but despite the visitors being reduced to 14 late-on, the city club needed to defend stoutly in the closing stages after a kick was charged down and the game finished with Clifton pushing for the win.