Canterbury were left both frustrated and relieved after pushing promotion hopefuls Dorking all the way.

Frustration as they let a 15-point lead slip away; relief when the conversion of Will Crow’s last minute try for the visitors failed.

Had that none too difficult kick been successful it would have imposed an undeserved defeat on a competitive city side who had to settle for two precious league points in their battle to steer clear of relegation problems.

Rewind to the first ten minutes of the match and Canterbury’s chances of causing an upset looked on the wrong side of bleak.

Dorking were in total control and had they scored then it would surely have set the tenor of the game. But despite their shortcomings, penalties conceded and a lineout that had lost its way, the city team survived through bloody minded defence.

By the end of the first quarter Dorking’s looming threat had blown itself out and a Tom Best penalty goal edged his side into a narrow lead.

Suspect handling and a failed penalty attempt were hampering the visitors prospects and with Canterbury solving early scrummaging difficulties they gradually built momentum.

With half time approaching perseverance was rewarded with two tries in three minutes.  As we have seen so often it was the attacking instinct of full back Martyn Beaumont that was the catalyst for both scores, his runs from deep making the initial inroads.

The first try went to Chris Hinkins after good linking by Grant Kay, Adam Cathcart and Ricky Mackintosh. Best converted from the touchline and, on 39 minutes, when Mackintosh hit a pass at full bore there was no stopping his burst to the line.

Fifteen points was a decent lead to carry into the second half and a determined Canterbury hung on to it until the 64th minute.

Importantly, they missed the chance to extend their advantage when Best pulled a penalty shot wide before Dorking struck.

The visitors, edging the scrums again and taking the initiative, forced a penalty in midfield and, although the catch and drive was resisted, scrum half Crow, with a dummy and a step, grabbed the try which Fraser McDonald converted.

Canterbury had one other opportunity to put the game to bed. The powerful Mackintosh carved open the defence but could not get the pass away to the support.

McDonald rubbed it in by kicking a simple penalty goal for Dorking and as the bench replacements flooded on from both sides, the final hectic minutes saw the Surrey side  in command.

They laid down a series of scrums on the city line, desperate defence attracted a yellow card and Crow exposed the gap.

It was time for McDonald to hold his nerve and Canterbury to hold their breath. He missed and all the considerable efforts of both sides ended in stalemate.