A second narrow league defeat handed Canterbury another clear lesson in the need to take their opportunities.
After failing to build a decent half time lead they were always vulnerable and Elthamians edged to their first ever Kent derby win at Merton Lane thanks to the accuracy of Tom White’s boot.
His four second half penalty goals, plus a try from wing Dom Lespierre, did just enough to hold off a late city club rally.
With a strong breeze at their backs Canterbury dominated much of the first half territory and when Tom Burns interception gave JJ Murray an easy run in after five minutes they made the ideal start
The platform was there but the pressure never translated into points and all they could produce was a snap drop goal from Ollie Best, to follow his conversion of the Murray try.
They found themselves up against a good visiting defence but still should have come away with more. When catch and drive chances came they were not clinical enough in their execution, a break by full back Aiden Moss lacked a final pass, a fumble at the tail of a line-out and failure to exploit a scrum ball taken against head all pointed to trouble ahead.
Canterbury’s frustration was reflected in a panic decision to run a penalty when cooler heads were called for and all this played into OEs hands. At the end of the half the visitors knew it was a job well done.
With the wind behind them they lost no time in establishing field position and although Canterbury made them work hard the slender lead was gradually whittled away.
White soon landed his first penalty goal and a break by centre Ben Hough set up the position for Lespierre’s 49th minute try. The ball was whipped wide and the overlap created.
A penalty and a yellow card for Burns allowed White to push his side in front for the first time and two more successful goal shots left the city side seven points adrift.
As the game entered its closing stages OE;s discipline deserted them and with two men in the sin bin Canterburyscented a chance. They worked an overlap try for Kieran Thompson but with the wind playing a part the conversion proved too difficult for Best, a did a late penalty opportunity. The kick just missed the target, symptomatic perhaps of that flawed first half.
Canterbury: A.Moss, K.Thompson (repl W.Farris), J J Murray, W.Farris (repl T.Best), H.Sayers, O.Best (repl M.Beaumont), D.Smart, J.Green (repl C.Townley), T.Rogers (repl S.Rogers),, R.Cadman, T.Burns, S.Rogers (repl T.Edwards), H.McCormick-Huston, M.Cantwell