Canterbury withstood a furious fight back from hosts Exmouth to record a stunning 51-41 victory in National 2 South in a see-saw match which saw 15 tries scored.

The city club rose to fourth in the table with their first away win of the campaign but were given a real scare after roaring into a 41-12 lead at half-time.

The Devon side took the lead with a catch and drive try from Tom Emery but Canterbury recovered from their slow start with Tom Rogers storming through to touch down, with Charlie Harding slotting the extras.

The hosts fell behind again on 12 minutes as Matt Wathes scored, but the 12-7 lead was quickly turned around by Canterbury’s rampant back division.

Harding and centre partner Ricky Mackintosh ran riot with Mackintosh scoring a try before teeing-up Martyn Beaumont, with Kwaku Asiedu bursting over to secure the bonus point after just 28 minutes.

The hosts were reeling and gifted simple scores to Aiden Moss, Royce Cadman following a charged-down kick, and Mackintosh.

Conversions from Guy Hilton and Harding gave the city club their 29-point advantage at the break but the hosts rallied after the break with Dave Bargent reducing the arrears just three minutes in.

Hitlon’s lovely dummy earned him a try to extend the lead, but the hosts roared back and after Beaumont was sin-binned for obstruction, made their extra man count with tries for wing Dan Ryan, lock Stuart Lowe and fly half Matt Garner, plus two conversions from Rob Avery-Wright.

Worse was to follow when replacement prop Mark Livesey was sent-off for foul play and Ryan's second try brought the home side within a converted score, only for the city club to dig deep and win a last-minute penalty which Tom Best converted to seal a memorable win.