Canterbury boosted their survival hopes as they moved out of the National 2 South drop-zone after a 22-9 win over relegation rivals Lydney.

A second-half onslaught at Merton Lane yielded 17 points for the home side and sent the visitors back to Gloucestershire four points adrift in the bottom three with four games remaining.

Playing into the wind in the first half, Canterbury bossed possession for long periods, kept errors to a minimum and kept their visitors to a single point lead at the break, despite having the advantage of the conditions.

Ricky Mackintosh burst down the right flank on 11 minutes and found Martyn Beaumont who touched down to open the scoring, however they missed a penalty while the visitors missed a try due to an untimely forward pass.

Brad Barnes eventually slotted a penalty after 27 minutes and Lydney went in ahead at the turnaround after a huge drop-goal from Tony Wicks from 50 metres out in the final minute of the opening half.

An exchange of penalties between Tom Best and Eamonn Rees kept the visitors ahead but Canterbury seized control on the hour as a scrum drove the visitors back allowing fit-again Dan Smart to touch down.

The crucial third try came after Mackintosh ran back a clearance kick into the Lydney half and quick recycling and a sharp break from Best led to an opening for Charlie Harding to score.

Best added his second conversion to make it 22-9 but despite pressing for a fourth try and a bonus point, Lydney’s defence held firm and there was no further scoring.