Captain Jarryd Taig thinks Canterbury 1sts’ players are excited ahead of a season-defining campaign run-in.

The city club are second-bottom in the Kent League Premier Division but breathed new life into their survival bid with a surprise victory at leaders Minster 1sts last weekend.

It was a first win since late June for Canterbury, who now sit 12 points from safety.

“If we perform to the ability levels that we’re capable of and have done against the teams up the top of the ladder, I think we will hold ourselves in good stead going forward,” said Taig.

“It’s a big three weeks but, also, it’s exciting.

“We have got guys that are wanting the challenge and really looking forward to playing.”

With just 54 more points on offer from their last three league fixtures this term, this Saturday’s home game against Lordswood 1sts - 25 points ahead of them - is the perfect opportunity to potentially pull another team into the relegation dogfight.

Taig said: “You have got five teams sort of around that area - Lordswood, Sandwich, who have had the results go their way the last few weeks, Bexley, Bickley Park and us - that’s the way we’re looking at it.

“We have also got three of those teams in the last three weeks, so it’ll be interesting to see how it goes.”

Canterbury’s 51-run win at Gilbert Hall also potentially left the door open for an exciting end to the title race, too, with Minster’s lead down to 23 points after successive defeats.

“It was good,” reflected Taig. “I felt we probably bowled as well as we have done all season and we fielded nicely.

“The pitch was a little wet and moving around a little bit, and I think that suited our bowlers more than theirs.

“They had bowlers that were just a bit too quick. We did well to get to 149.

“The tail wagged with Liam Durrant (24) and Lewis White (23) getting us through to a target with runs at the end from Cam Wilshaw (7 not out) and Sam Mills (13 not out).

“We got off to a perfect start, picking up a couple of wickets in the first two overs of their innings.

“Then, we just built up pressure from there.”

Opening bowler Sam Mills (3-18) and overseas all-rounder Anthony Mosca (3-24) did well to leave Minster 98 all out.

Isaac Dilkes, who had top-scored for Canterbury with 27, ran-out Minster skipper David Masters for a golden duck.

Taig enthused: “AJ bowled probably the best that he has all season.

“The pitch just suited our bowlers more where they were able to get more seam movement.

“Millsy was really good in the powerplay, swinging it away, especially when they had a few left-handers come out.

“Basically, he was pitching them on leg-stump and hitting the top of the off-stump.

“It was really good to see.

“We stuck to our plans and, obviously, it came off.”

For Mills, it was technically a full first-team Canterbury debut, his only other first-team outing coming in last month’s abandoned match at basement boys Bickley Park 1sts.

Taig explained: “He has sort of been in the 2nds.

“The last game we had against Bickley Park, he was down to play but, obviously, that got rained out.

“Technically, Saturday was his first-team debut.

“He started in the 3rds at the start of the season - he’s one of the university boys - and did well to get himself into the 2nds where he’s been a regular member.

“With the way we have been bowling, it’s gone a little bit up top sometimes.

“So the change of angle, with a left-armer, worked out.

“Hopefully, it keeps going like that and we’ll have Jarred Lysaught back this weekend, as well.”

St Lawrence & Highland Court 1sts slipped to third, losing by eight wickets at Tunbridge Wells 1sts last weekend.

Captain Matt Hammond’s 23 was the best they could muster in their 94 all out before John Grewar (2-20) took both wickets to fall.

They are at Hayes on Saturday.