North Walsham 28 Canterbury 22

A SHAMBOLIC first half from Canterbury and a superb defensive effort by the league’s bottom club brought a cold dose of reality to the city side’s promotion hopes.

Two bonus points eased the pain a little but they still dropped to fourth position in the National 3 South table and, on this evidence, will struggle to keep up with the leaders.

They were beaten by a hungrier side which before this game had only one league victory to its name and appeared to be in terminal decline.

Here they demonstrated a will power that eluded a worryingly inconsistent Canterbury who left themselves far too much to do after falling 23 points behind.

Chris Hinkins scored the opening try but the Norfolk side scored three tries, including one from former Canterbury man Chris Godwin, to take full control.

Trailing 28-5 early in the second half Canterbury fought back with tries from Andy Pratt, Nicky Woolbridge and Neil Meyer and a conversion from Sam Rasch but they had left themselves too much to do.

More Canterbury rugby in Thursday's Kentish Gazette