Lydney 44 Canterbury 25

CANTERBURY Rugby Club threatened to produce a shock victory away to unbeaten National League 3 South leaders Lydney on Saturday.

However, the Gloucestershire outfit, 22-6 behind after 25 minutes, powered back to win 44-25, with left wing Tom Jarvis claiming a second half hat trick of tries.

Early tries for Andy Pratt, Rob Keir and Australian Tim Aistrope, who gave an impressive performance, had rocked the home side and, if Pat Sykes had managed to get a hand on his kick to the line when Lydney spilled possession Canterbury might have been out of sight.

All the home side could muster were a couple of penalty goals from fly half Rory Teague.

However, before half-ime Lydney created a neat try for wing Charlie Vine and set up the change of momentum for the second half.

After two tries by Jarvis, another from flanker Dean Jenkins gave Lydney the lead, but Paddy Gill, who had already kicked two conversions and a penalty, brought the city club back into contention with another three points.

However, Jarvis streaked way again to seal the match and Steve Price added another in injury time.

Canterbury: G.de Kock, C.Littlechild, A.Pratt, P.Sykes (repl R.Hussey), M.Melford, W.Wolmarans, P.Gill, J.Forsyth (repl D.Weston), S.Goldsmith, M.Pinnick, R.Keir, C.Endersby (repl R.Gregory), C.Hinkins, T.Aistrope, R.O'Gorman.

* Full report and rugby round-up in the Kentish Gazette on Thursday.