Andy Pratt says the momentum Canterbury gained from Saturday’s comeback win at Dings Crusaders was vital as they enter the defining run of their season.

The city club maintained second spot in National 2 South – the only promotion play-off place – although are now just two points ahead of third-placed Ampthill, who have a game in hand.

On Saturday, Canterbury face a third straight away game, visiting in-form London Irish Amateur but knowing the two weeks which follow will see champions-elect Hartpury visit Merton Lane and then the city club travel to Ampthill.

Head coach Pratt said: “It’s still going to be difficult (to secure the play-off place) but it would have been much harder if we hadn’t come away with a win on Saturday.

“When we’ve won away games this year we’ve tended to get ahead and then hold on for grim life.... this time we showed spirit to come back, particularly considering the way in which we’d fallen short at Redruth the previous week.

“The points were great but they weren’t the most important thing. I was more concerned with the momentum.

“We need to take some into the next few games and we have got a bit of that back."

He added: "London Irish are in form. They put 50-odd points on (top-half side) Shelford recently and if another two or three results had gone their way in the first half of the season, then they might have been right up there.

“The most pleasing thing for me is that our season is still alive. We’re not going through the motions, like we maybe were by this stage last season (when the city club finished ninth) we’re fighting for something all the way into April.”