Head coach Matt Corker feels the consistency within Canterbury Rugby Club’s squad is helping the team go from strength-to-strength.

The sixth-placed National League 2 East side secured a second straight win, easing to a 59-35 victory over Bury St Edmunds at Merton Lane last weekend.

While there are still some reasonably new faces in the first-team ranks, many of the players have been with Canterbury for a few years now.

Corker, who took charge in 2020, said: “That consistency in the squad over the past two or three years, that’s given us a much greater understanding of how we play and how we reach our best.

“We have left a bit more accountability with the playing group and that seems to be driving standards.

“It’s tough to grow your confidence when results aren’t going your way. But you cannot just grow your confidence on winning.

"Sometimes, you need to analyse the wins within the game.”

Report: Canterbury 59-35 Bury St Edmunds

Winger Garry Jones led the way against Bury St Edmunds with a hat-trick of tries.

But Corker, who also saw Eoin O'Donoghue, Chad Thomas, Kurt Heatherley, Tom Williams, Alfie Orris and Presley Farrance dot down, said: “Garry’s playing really well and he’s scoring a lot of tries, but he’s not the only one that’s playing well.

“Kurt Heatherley is playing well, Alfie Orris is showing his quality, Frank Reynolds is doing what he does from the tee, and Frank Morgan has been excellent, as well.

“It’s great to see so many of the players showing their full potential.

“We were really happy on Saturday. Probably my favourite part was the half-time score.

"We were playing down the hill but 40-7 was a convincing scoreline at that point and we were playing really well.

“There were still some parts that weren’t great, but it didn’t take the gloss off it. Alex Veale, my backs coach, has done some great work and we scored some really good tries, which was really good to see.”

The triumph saw Canterbury respond after last month’s 22-13 loss to Barnes in their last home game.

Corker said: “That was our last home game, even though it was three weeks ago, and we wanted to show our home supporters what we’re about.

“They support us so well. That was more the team that we want to be.

“But the work-on for us, if we want to be really ruthless, is we still conceded 28 points in the second half. Bury are going through a bit of a transition period, but they still have some dangerous players.

“We just took our foot off the gas a little bit.”

Corker’s team will aim to end their three-game block with a perfect record ahead of a fixture-free Saturday the following weekend as they visit Henley on Saturday.

“They’re level on points but just ahead of us,” added Corker. “It’s another good opportunity to show where we’re at.

“Henley is a really tricky place to go but we will try to bring the intensity we have had in the last two games - and maybe even take it up a notch. We might have to do that in order to win against them.

“It’s important we don’t get ahead of ourselves.

“We have had two great wins but that won’t mean anything on Saturday because nothing is going to be given to you in this league. If we drop off even by five per cent, we could have a tough day.

“I think that the players are aware of that.”