This victory, only Canterbury’s second away from home, brought its own dose of Christmas good cheer as it lifted them to eighth spot in the league table, the highest position of the current campaign.

It was the only game in National Division 2 South to survive the December downpour but not even  mud and a temporary floodlights failure could dim the city side’s performance.

Against a Barking team which has managed to accumulate only two league points, Canterbury’s win was not unexpected but mud and rain are great levellers and it needed stamina as well as skill to come out on top.     They made a flying start with two tries in the first twelve minutes as the pack quickly imposed their authority but, despite dominating possession and territory, could not add to their lead until just before half time.

The early tries saw lock Tom Burns, in an impressive debut for his new club, announce himself by bursting on to Martyn Beaumont’s pass and power over to leave Scott Browne an easy conversion.

Beaumont’s pace brought the second after centre Alex Veale had driven hard to set up the  position.

With Canterbury firmly in charge they threatened to sprint away with the game but never quite recaptured that early accuracy.

Barking defended doggedly, made the occasional foray into enemy territory and were grateful to receive a good helping of  penalties.

Fly half Craig Ratford got them on the scoreboard with a penalty goal after a yellow card was waved at Tom Sherson. He was quickly followed to the sin bin by the home side’s Francis Ambrose.

A scrappy phase in the game ended when a city catch and drive brought a try for skipper Peter Kelly with an assist from Tom Rogers in the final minute of the half.

Three minutes after the break a power cut plunged the pitch into darkness but when the floodlights came back on it was Canterbury who lit up the proceedings as they rediscovered their wattage.

Great footwork by Tom Best left Barking floundering and his try was soon matched by one from elusive wing Mike Melford.

Browne converted both scores to stretch the lead to 28 and victory and the bonus points were  guaranteed.   Barking had their moment when solid forward pressure earned a quickly taken penalty and Dave Kearsey scored a try which Ratford converted.

The return of the rain made it even harder for the players but Canterbury closed things out in style.   Swift handling put Aiden Moss in for the sixth try before Beaumont crowned the day.

Canterbury turned over ball yards from their own line and the full back’s pace and guile took him the length of the field for a spectacular score which Best had no trouble converting.

Canterbury: M.Beaumont, A.Moss (repl C.Hinkins), A.Veale, T.Best, M.Melford, S.Browne (repl R.Mackinosh), C.Tandy (repl D.Marshall), R.McLeod, T.Rogers (repl S.Rogers), M.Pinnick (repl S.Goode), B.Massey, T.Burns, T.Sherson, P.Kelly, W.Baars