A poor first-half cost Canterbury Rugby Club dear as they went down 29-24 to Shelford in National League Division 2 South.

A catalogue of basic errors and poor choices allowed an efficient Shelford to build a 19-point lead by half time and then protect their advantage despite the city's side's late heroics

The home side twice mauled their way over from lineouts to bring hooker Mark Erven a brace for tries, both converted expertly by Ed Gough to leave Canterbury 14-0 down after just 16 minutes.

Gert De Kock (pictured) and Mike Melford made the running for Ed Roche to go over but Shelford’s Gough then went over, converted his own try and before the break added a huge penalty goal to leave the city side 24-5 adrift.

A swift and necessary strike, early in the second half, came from a telling break by Sykes which, after quick recycling, produced a try for prop Steve Goode converted by De Kock.

But despite controlling territory Canterbury's frailties continued to frustrate and when, midway through the half, Shelford's mauling skills created space for a try by Chris Glynn it seemed the game was up.

Jimmy Stanford's yellow card, wrongly was another handicap but the 14 men knuckled down and, with one minute remaining, found a clinical finish for young centre Jack Davis.

At the restart Shelford, anticipating the final whistle, kicked the ball directly into touch and under sanctions introduced only days earlier were punished with a free kick.

Canterbury pounced on the mistake, keeping the ball alive through several incisive phases to open up the defence for a De Kock try and conversion which brought a weclome bonus point.