Head coach Andy Pratt says the most important thing about Canterbury’s superb win over National 2 South leaders Bournemouth is that they follow it up this weekend.

The city club face their first overnight trip of the campaign as they prepare for the first ever clash with Exmouth on Saturday.

The 36-6 victory over Bournemouth was just their third in seven games but took them within six points of new leaders Hartpury College.

Pratt said: “After the disappointment of letting a lead slip in the second half at Taunton the previous weekend we all wanted a result on Saturday and we made sure we got it. We didn’t start brilliantly but the foundation of the win was our defence. It was good for 80 minutes which was the most pleasing thing.

“They shot their bolt in the first half-hour and from then on we were able to score some points.”

He added: “It’s still too early to tell what it means. Bournemouth were top but they had lost their two away games before then. Now we’re only six points off the top.

“The league is so tight, we say to the players that you can find yourself in a relegation battle just as quickly as you can be in a promotion push.

“In every game, we’ve played some great rugby with the ball in hand.

“We could really be sitting here top of the league having won every game, losing by 10 points at Cambridge was the biggest margin we’ve had.

“We’ve been in every game and had losing bonus points and try bonus points, but it’s important to get into a winning habit. We need to string some wins together.”

Exmouth are joint-bottom of the table but Pratt warned: “They’ll want to do well in their home games and we’ll give them massive respect. It will be tough.”