By David Haigh

Canterbury soared past the half-century mark for the second week in a row after their 59-35 National League 2 East win over Bury St Edmunds.

The hosts produced nine tries with a hat-trick for wing Garry Jones in their bonus-point success.

Once again it was a first-half blitz that sent them on their way and later bought them breathing space to see off a spirited Bury response.

By half-time the city side had hit the 40-point mark and were dominating all areas as the visitors struggled at the set-pieces and were shredded by an enterprising back division.

Jones set the tone with a try after five minutes and although there was a reply with a close-range touchdown from Finlay McCartney, converted by Charlie Reed, the rest of the half was mostly a one-way street.

Canterbury rattled up another five tries before the break, starting with a driving maul completed by Eoin O'Donoghue and an overthrown line leading to flanker Chad Thomas scoring their third try. Bury, looking to counter from deep when they could, had a score ruled out for a forward pass, but it was quickly back to normal service as Canterbury's risk and reward rugby made the line breaks.

Wing Alfie Orris set up a Kurt Heatherley try, the backs opened space for Jones to cross again and Frank Morgan made a telling run for a Tom Williams score in the 38th minute. With five conversions from Frank Reynolds the game was in Canterbury's grip, tightened two minutes into the second half when the power of Orris was too much for the last Bury defender.

It was now, however, that Bury started to find their feet. A try from centre Samir Kharbouch was quickly rubbed out by Jones' third touchdown, and a Reynolds conversion, but the next 15 minutes showed the visitors at their best.

Kharbouch scored twice to become the game's second hat-trick man, Will Metcalfe rumbled over for their fifth try and with Reed converting everything Bury were in a challenging position. But Canterbury settled again in the last quarter and when a piercing break by Tom Mackanzie set up a converted try for Presley Farrance an entertaining job was done.

Sixth-placed Canterbury visit fifth-spot Henley this weekend.

Canterbury: Heatherley, Jones, Morgan, Waddington, Orris, Reynolds, Williams, Huntley, O'Donoghue, Herriott, Irvine, Stephens, Thomas, Mackenzie, Oliver, Replacements: Rogers, De Mowbray, Frostick, Young, Farrance.