With four enforced changes in the back division from last week’s narrow defeat against National 2 East leaders Dorking this was always going to be a difficult encounter against a confident second placed Barnes. 

However it wasn’t cohesion that was lacking in a disappointing first half display as Canterbury failed to exert sufficient pressure from their large and experienced pack, not helped by early injuries to second row Shay Kerry and hooker Nathan Morris, both having to leave the field within the first 20 minutes. 

Instead Barnes stole the early initiative and Canterbury had no answers to their offloading master class. Three tries in the first 20 minutes, including a brace from elusive winger Paul Webb, had Canterbury on the ropes and with Kerry and Morris now off the pitch Barnes secured their bonus point score before half time.

It came via a 20 metre driving maul before dancing full back Cameron Roberts was released to squeeze over in the corner. Trailing by 24 to nil at half time a response was required and to a point Canterbury delivered. 

Frank Reynolds kicked a simple penalty early on before Barnes stretched their lead with a catch and drive try from flanker Ethan Harbinson.

With the game seemingly beyond them Canterbury were now taking the initiative and two tries followed. First a fine finish from winger Jack Weaver; then centre Lewis Hollidge rounded off perhaps Canterbury’s best attacking move after a lovely line break from Eoin O’Donoghue. 

Barnes kicked another penalty but Canterbury were at last building some pressure and with the hosts repeatedly infringing it cost them three yellow cards. 

Centre Frank Morgan capitalised from a subsequent penalty with a try from a line out catch and drive, converted by Reynolds, and with 15 minutes still to go Canterbury could suddenly sniff a losing bonus point. 

Barnes were to score again to take the score to 39 to 22 but with the clock ticking down the city side were on the front foot again but missed their chance of a fourth try. 

It went wrong as they opted for a quickly taken tap penalty when a kick to the corner and an attacking lineout might have been more productive, so they left with nothing.

Canterbury: T.Best, T.Halliday, F.Morgan, L.Hollidge, J.Weaver, F.Reynolds, B.Cooper, B.Young, N.Morris, D.Herriott, S.Kerry, D.Irvine, S.Rogers, C.Murray, J.Stephens. Replacements: E.O’Donoghue, C.Macmillan, T.Williams, J.Dengate, P.Farrance.

Pictures supplied by Phillipa Hilton.