Canterbury produced their most convincing performance of the season as they overcame National 2 South promotion rivals Ampthill 33-30 at Merton Lane on Saturday.

They were endebted to a try eight minutes from time for the bonus point win, but made hard work of it as they saw three players sin-binned in the final 20 minutes.

A depleted city club side began brightly and built an 11-point lead, only to squander it before the break.

Guy Hilton broke through to cap a driving maul of nearly 30 metres and open the scoring, with Tom Best adding the conversion but the visitors replied with a penalty from Elliot Clements-Hill.

Fly-half Hilton added a second from another timely break, with Best making it 14-3, however the visitors roared back to show their class, with Tongan international No8 Maama Molitika breaking free before putting Jonny Morgan through to score.

In the final minute of the half the visitors turned over possession and Joe Tarrant raced 50m to the line, with both conversions and a penalty from Clements-Hill making it 20-14 at the break.

Another penalty for the visitors gave them a nine-point lead after the turnaround but Canterbury replied with a catch-and-drive try from Tom Sherson.

The score gave the hosts some momentum and another powerful maul led to a Best try, which sealed the bonus point, and the lead.

Two yellow cards in as many minutes, to wing Connor Wallace-Sims and hooker Tom Rogers, allowed Ampthill to register a converted try through Darrell Dyer, but Canterbury refused to lie down and Rob Lennox took a quick free-kick after a 5m scrum to dart over in his final game before relocation.

Best’s conversion made it a three-point lead and despite seeing Martyn Beaumont yellow-carded in the dying stages, ferocious defence held firm to secure the win and take the city club fourth, 12 points behind leaders Hartpury.