By David Haigh

Canterbury edged to a 28-24 National League 2 East victory as they did the double over Tonbridge Juddians.

The game had all the terrific stuff you would expect of a derby and only a supreme defensive effort in the final minute denied hosts Juddians a win while Canterbury moved into the top six.

The gap between the teams was wafer thin, but two tries and a Frank Reynolds penalty goal in the last quarter gave Canterbury a crucial lead that proved just enough to see them home.

They started the match on the front foot and were 10 points to the good as continuous pressure and admirable patience brought a try for prop Will McColl, with Reynolds adding the conversion and then a penalty goal. By half-time, however, they were two points behind as they fell into bad habits, leaked penalties and Juddians made the most of it.

A collapsed maul earned them a penalty try and Sam Rogers' yellow card left the city side short-handed in defence when TJs’ backs worked an overlap for wing Luke Beaumont's unconverted touchdown.

After the break Reynolds’ second penalty pushed Canterbury briefly back in front but it lasted only three minutes as the home side's powerful catch and drive was completed by hooker Will Colling.

It was in the final 20 minutes that Canterbury established that vital spell of control. When winger Brad Law went charging for the line he was tackled just short, but Reynolds was on hand to pick up and score.

The momentum was there and when a catch-and-drive opportunity came hooker Eoin O'Donoghue made the touchdown. Reynolds converted and with five minutes on the clock the fly-half landed his third penalty goal and it might have seemed enough.

But that sparked a huge response from Juddians and as Canterbury wobbled, Elliot Luke powered over, Sam Evans converted and replacement scrum-half Alex Davies was yellow-carded. The home side went for the kill and and were five metres away from glory when O'Donoghue brilliantly turned over ball and the travelling support stopped chewing their collective fingernails.

Canterbury resume their campaign at Bury St Edmunds on January 6, while Tonbridge, a place behind them in seventh, host North Walsham.

Canterbury: Waddington, Law, Jones, Best, Moss, Reynolds, Williams (Davies), Macmillan (Lusher), O'Donoghue, McColl (Herriott), Kerry, De Vries (Irvine), Stephenson, Rogers (Dengate) Oliver.