Clifton 11 Canterbury 18

CANTERBURY

continued their unbeaten start to the New Year with a hard-fought win over strugglers Clifton in Bristol.

However, a muddled second half cost them the chance of a valuable bonus point which could prove important at the end of the season.

They remain fourth in National 3 South but could not reduce the gap to third-placed London Scottish further after the exiles were battered by Cinderford.

Two Kieron Lewitt penalties put the home side 6-3 up at the interval but a good run from centre Theo Rhodes ended with Blair Morris going over to make it 11-3.

The home side reduced the arrears to three points with a try of their own just before the hour mark but Andy Pratt finished a fine team-move with a score on the left and Lewitt added a touchline conversion to give the city club breathing space.

With Gert De Kock sin-binned Clifton kicked a penalty goal to earn themselves a bonus point but Canterbury ran out winners after a battle.