Canterbury managed to salvage a National 2 South bonus point from a 57-22 defeat at Worthing on Saturday.

A hat-trick of tries and some magnificent cover tackles made centre Mike Melford the outstanding performer in the city side’s second-half revival which coincided with a reshuffling of the ranks.

A team missing half a dozen players, either through injury or unavailability, certainly needed something to lift their spirits against a Worthing squad which is the strongest for several seasons.

The last thing the Sussex club needed was the helping hand offered to them early in the game as Canterbury missed simple tackles, lacked any sort of line speed in defence and too easily gave up possession.

The hosts led 38-7 at half-time and an early second-half score for Worthing did nothing to improve matters. Canterbury reacted by putting on a number of replacements and with them came a transformation which produced the city side’s best spell of rugby for weeks.

Melford made a superb pick-up to complete his impressive day’s work and the rejuvenated pack set up prop Jimmy Stanford for the point earner.