Canterbury moved a step closer to National 2 South survival, despite suffering a last-minute defeat at home to Launceston on Saturday.

A penalty snatched a 20-18 victory for the Cornish All Blacks, who had trailed 18-7 with 20 minutes to play, however all five teams below the city club in the table also lost.

The losing bonus point extended Canterbury’s lead to over third-bottom Lydney to 10 points with just two games remaining, meaning a point at Cambridge on Saturday would ensure the city club’s status.

A Tom Best penalty gave the hosts an early lead but the visitors hit back and forced a penalty try, converted by former Canterbury man Kieron Lewitt, who missed two good chances to kick the visitors further ahead.

After the turnaround, and with the wind and the slope in their favour, Best slotted another three points to make it 7-6 and then Martyn Beaumont turned the tide as he got a boot to a loose ball in his own half and then chased it down over 60 metres and scored in the corner.

Best added the extras before a second fine try arrived, Beaumont’s break down the outside was followed by an exchange of passes with Ricky Mackintosh before touching down to make it 18-7.

However Cornish responded with Lewitt converting a Billy Searle try and then adding a penalty to make it a one-point game with 14 minutes to play.

The city club spurned good chances from a lineout, a forward pass denied Mason Rosvall a try and another sailed wide of Mackintosh with the right wing open infront of him.

The missed chances came back to haunt them as they coughed-up a penalty in the final attack allowing Lewitt to kick his side to victory.