Canterbury produced a stunning six-try performance to crush National 2 South leaders Bournemouth 36-6 at Merton Lane on Saturday.

Martyn Beaumont led the way for the city club with a superb hat-trick, but only after the visitors had taken a 6-0 lead through two Dan Pollard penalties for early breaches of discipline.

The hosts sprang to life in wet and windy conditions on the half hour when the ball was spread out to the left for Beaumont to touch down for an unconverted try.

Canterbury took the lead when Beaumont fielded a clearance and tore through the visiting defence before chipping over the final defender and racing away for a try which was converted by Charlie Harding.

Harding stretched the lead after good work with centre partner Ricky Mackintosh, with the conversion making it 19-6 at the turnaround.

The bonus point was secured two minutes after the break when wing Aiden Moss touched down and after a break from Brook Cowan, Beaumont made a beautiful run through for his third, converted by Guy Hilton.

Beaumont was denied a fourth by a last-gasp tackle but he managed to flick to Moss to finish the move and complete the scoring.