CANTERBURY added a third trophy to their season’s collection with a narrow 14-7 victory over Maidstone in the final of the Kent Spitfire Sevens.

With the London Division 1 championship and the Kent Cup already sitting on the shelf the host club made it a clean sweep at Sunday’s competition.

It also marked a successful revival of the Kent Seven-a-Side tournament after a break of 16 years.

Against a young Maidstone side the city club were made to battle every yard of the way before County President Mike Newsom presented them with the Hallwood Shield, the Cornwallis Trophy and a top prize of £1,000.

In a scrappy but fiercely contested final Canterbury established a 14-0 first half lead through tries by Andy Pratt and Carlton Littlechild plus two James Reilly conversions.

They appeared to go further ahead after the break when Wessel Wolmarans collected his own kick ahead only to find the touchdown did not count as his side were hauled back for an offence.

Maidstone hit back with a series of attacks and were rewarded with a well-worked converted try and when Reilly collected a yellow card for his lack of discipline Canterbury had to cling on before hearing the final whistle.

All three seeded sides reached the semi-finals after unbeaten runs in their respective pools. Maidstone defeated Springblacks 24 -7 to reach the final and Canterbury ousted another guest side, Withem’s Elves, 29-19.

The Kentish Gazette Plate for best runners-up went to Park House who took the £750 prize with a 38-19 win over Betteshanger.

The tournament was sponsored by brewers Shepherd Neame, the Kent Messenger Group, kit suppliers Lea-Ray of Faversham and local radio station kmfm.