Canterbury 29 Dings Crusaders 22

THERE were just 24 minutes of a close and absorbing match remaining when David Dorton arrived from the replacements bench to give a masterclass in the art of goal-kicking.

With his side five points down and making little impression on a sound Dings defence Dorton landed four penalty goals from four attempts to maintain Canterbury’s unbeaten start to the season and end the Bristol side’s own 100 per cent record.

The city club owe the young full back a huge debt, particularly for three long range efforts in the final 15 minutes, because they rarely threatened a score from any other source in a disappointing second half.

Dings had been 22-17 ahead at half-time.

Canterbury had taken the lead when Wessel Wolmarans finished in the left corner before Chris Hinkins caught a lineout and drove over the line.

Gert de Kock and Wolmarans set-up Carlton Littlechild to bustle over for number three.

However the visitors recorded three tries and a penalty of their own to open-up the five-point advantage at the interval.