Eoin O'Donoghue has been praised by Canterbury Rugby Club head coach Matt Corker after his two-try performance in their latest win on Saturday.

They returned to action after a two-week break, winning 31-10 against strugglers Oxford Harlequins at Merton Lane.

Hooker O'Donoghue got Canterbury’s first try on a cold and blustery afternoon and dotted down again before half-time.

“Eoin just keeps going from strength-to-strength,” said Corker. “His development has been a pleasure to watch.

“He’s such a powerful and dynamic ball-carrier and his first try on Saturday really showed that. He got our first try at a time when we needed it, as well.

“Getting the scores is one thing, but the work he has done on his set-piece and the way he has developed his game has just given him the opportunity to keep getting better and better.”

But Corker’s men only came to life after the visitors claimed the first score with a catch-and-drive try in just the second minute.

Report: Canterbury 31-10 Oxford Harlequins

“We were a bit slow to start, which was a bit disappointing,” reflected the coach. “We have been proud of our starts this season but, in the end, we got to where we needed to be.

“We got the bulk of the points on the board before half-time, which was really positive.

“The learning for us is we need to be in the right head-space for the conditions. Potentially, we didn’t do that in the first 20 minutes on Saturday.

“But the boys came back strongly.”

Canterbury scored the bulk of their tries in the first period. Aiden Moss and Danny Herriott also dotted down as fly-half Frank Reynolds was again reliable with the boot. Replacement Alfie Orris touched down after the interval.

Corker said: “We played the conditions very well at times.

“We were still able to move the ball and to score some aesthetically-pleasing tries. But the important thing for us is that we take the positives.

“The great thing for me is we’re winning - and learning. That’s what it’s all about. Our win moved us into fifth on Saturday, which is a great spot to be in.

"But there’s a lot of rugby to play, even before Christmas.”

Next up for Canterbury is a trip to second-placed Dorking on Saturday.

They are only behind leaders Tonbridge Juddians by four points but have a game in hand.

“Sometimes in that second berth, you can be a little bit overlooked,” Corker said.

“They have got a game in hand on Tonbridge and, if they win that, they’ll be top so, effectively, they’re joint-top. Both of those teams are doing incredibly well.

“In terms of us, we know what we’re coming up against but it’ll be a good opportunity to test ourselves.”