Canterbury bulldozed their way to a fine 28-15 win over ambitious Old Elthamians with two tries late-on in their National 2 South home opener at Merton Lane on Saturday.

The city club came from nine points down to register their first win of the campaign, after the pack twice drove them to tries with some expert rolling mauls.

The opening half saw the visitors defend well, even when reduced to 14 after a sin-binning for Harry Ledger, and Canterbury held to a 6-3 lead, with two penalties from Guy Hilton and one from visiting fly-half Paul Humphries, who missed three other kicks which could have sent the Old Boys in ahead.

After the break it was Canterbury who were reduced to 14 as prop Ruairi McLeod was sin-binned from an offence in the scrum and the visitors made them pay with two tries to take control.

No8 Lee Nelmes scored almost immediately and after the city club coughed-up a turnover they pounced again, creating space for Dave Bonner to score and Humphries to slot a fine conversion to make it 15-6.

McLeod returned and the momentum swung back to Canterbury as visiting skipper Johnny Williams was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, with the penalty giving Canterbury the chance of an attacking lineout, which Tom Sherson converted after a clinical catch and drive.

The pressure intensified and debutant centre Mason Rosvall burst forward, being stopped just short, though the resulting maul paved the way for Sam Rogers to touch-down and Hilton converted to make it 18-15.

Hilton slotted a penalty to give the hosts some breathing space and added the extras after a late interception try from Dan Smart completed the turnaround and took the city club fifth.