Canterbury Rugby Club took a significant step towards National 2 South survival with a vital 26-21 victory away to fellow strugglers Southend Saxons on Saturday.

The win - their first at Southend - lifted them two places up the league table and nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Andy Pratt's side had trailed 18-5 early in the second half before staging a tremendous comeback which means that one win from their remaining three fixtures should be enough to guarantee their place in the division again next season.

Playing against the wind in the first half Canterbury fell behind to Brad Burr's early penalty but it wasn’t until the final minute of the half that Southend struck again when their forwards won a penalty try, converted by Burr.

In between a ball dislodged in the tackle opened the way for a Canterbury try as wing Ricky Mackintosh went clear and some urgent recycling saw Tom Best plunge over in the corner, making it 10-5 at half-time.

Canterbury lost concentration in the opening minutes of the second half, conceding another penalty to Burr and a try to wing Malcolm Billings but the visitors then hit back as Martyn Beaumont set up livewire flanker Ryan Ward for a try converted by Best.

An overlap try for Charlie Harding, which Best converted, briefly pushed Canterbury into a 19-18 lead but Burr snatched it back with his third penalty only for the game's second penalty try - this time for the visitors - to prove decisive.