“Mission accomplished” was the message from Head Coach Andy Pratt as Canterbury finally banished all fears of relegation.

A spectacular burst of four tries in the first 27 minutes earned the city side the single bonus point they needed to be certain of National 2 South rugby next season.

Then, with the last kick of an extraordinary match, they grabbed a second point to emphasise their right to stay among the country’s top echelon of clubs..

“For some time it has been all about staying up”, said Pratt. “We went to Cambridge to be positive not reckless and it worked. I am overjoyed.”

Yes it did work and although In the end it was Cambridge who edged the verdict through superior goal kicking the total commitment to attack from both sides saw them share sixteen tries, including hat tricks for home wing Albert Portsmouth and Canterbury flanker Sam Rogers.

If tackling seemed at times an optional extra no one at Canterbury was complaining after that superb opening. They were ahead in the second minute as Rogers completed a lineout catch and drive; a decisive break by Alex Veale and excellent handling set up Charlie Harding for the second before two brililant long range efforts steered the city side to safety.

Cambridge had been busy themselves with tries from Portsmouth and srum half Mike Gillick and were pressing hard for a third when Mason Rosvall made an interception and raced 70 metres to the corner. Five minutes later a repeat long distance performance, this time by Harding who held off the last defender, brought joy and relief to the club’s massive travelling support.

With Guy Hilton’s conversion Canterbury found themselves safe and ten points ahead but by half time, despite Sam Rogers second try, the lead had vanished and Cambridge were back in the driving seat.

Full back Jim Stokes was a frequently influential figure as they crossed the line four times with tries by Portsmsouth, Steve Hipwell, Jack Geen and Tom Ellis. Three conversions from Stokes left the scoreboard 36-27 in their favour.

Canterbury, with their main job done, were handicapped by niggling injuries which forced a major re-shuffle of resources and twelve minutes into the second half seemed to be on the point of meltdown. Cambridge, putting width on their game at every opportunity, stormed past the fifty point mark with tries from wings Portsmouth and Jim Wigglsworth, and two conversions and a penalty goal from Stokes.

For the city side, however, their attacking intent and fighting qualities had not deserted them and their domination of the last quarter brought them within one converted score of a well merited draw.

An upbeat pack of forwards, never conceding an inch to a bigger Cambridge eight, created the platform for more adventurous handling which brought an overlap try for Dan Smart, now operating as an emergency wing.

Sam Rogers from close quarters and Guy Hilton, with two neat steps, stoked up the revival as both pierced the home defence and replacement Ollie Best’s two conversions gave his side a second bonus point.

It could have been snatched away when a late Cambridge penalty goal was landed by Ben Penfold but in the 8th minute of stoppage time deserving Canterbury got their reward when the home side offended at a scrum and Best nailed the kick nervelessly.

Canterbury: M.Beaumont (repl O.Best), A.Moss, C.Harding (repl G.Kay), A.Veale, M. Rosvall, G.Hilton, D.Smart, J.Green (repl R.McLeod), N.Wakefield (repl T.Rogers), A.Wake-Smith (repl J.Green), R.Cadman, T.Burns (repl R.Corr), S.Rogers, T.Sherson, A.Cathcart