Barking 14 Canterbury 28

CANTERBURY earned themselves a Christmas bonus through a breakaway try in the last minute of stoppage time as they ended a dispiriting run of three games without a victory.

Barking, pressing for a score that would have given them a consolation point, lost possession and Mike Melford sent full-back Gert de Kock away on 75 metre sprint to register his side’s fourth try.

After their recent poor showing any win would have been gratefully accepted by the city club so the gift of a maximum five points was doubly welcome.

Had Canterbury maintained the momentum of the first 15 minutes they might have won at a canter, first there was a powerful finish on the left by Kieron Lewitt and then Melford’s pace took him to within a metre of the line before he slipped a pass to the supporting Theo Rhodes to make the touchdown.

It was all looking so good but five minutes later Barking were in the lead after two converted tries which highlighted Canterbury’s frailty in defence.

Canterbury suffered a further blow with the loss of hooker Tom Rogers to a knee injury.

After the break and after weathering some pressure from the Essex side, Rogers’ replacement Jack Tomlinson ran on to Matt Pinnick’s pass with both pace and purpose for a try which Lewitt converted.

Lewitt popped over an easy penalty goal to extend the lead to nine points before De Kock raced clear down the left to seal the win.

Westcombe Park’s game at Wharfedale was called off on Saturday morning because of frost on the pitch.

The National 2 South clash has been rescheduled for February 2.