As early Christmas presents go this victory was up with the best for a Canterbury side which had lost its last three games.

But the Kent derby was no gift wrapped win. It was built on aggression, outstanding defence and the strength to dominate the final quarter while reduced to fourteen men.

When a fracas ended with flanker Tyler Edwards being sent off after 60 minutes it threatened to undo everything the city side had worked for.  It also cost them Mike Stanley’s third penalty goal which reduced the home lead to a single point.

That could have been a pivotal moment but a motivated city side produced such a show of  tenacity and steel they were able to score another ten points to seal a thoroughly deserved success.

The seeds of a much needed victory were sown in the first half when Canterbury’s control of possession and territory, while playing against the slope and breeze, kept Old Elthamians on the tightest of reins.  Their scoring efforts were confined to a couple of beautifully struck, long range penalty goals from Samoan international fly half Stanley.   A yellow card for lock Neil Dewale allowed Ollie Best to reply but OE’s will probably regret turning down easy penalty points late in the half by opting for scrums.  It was an area where they had held the edge but Canterbury were not for breaking and were happy to reach half time only three points behind.

The failure of that OE strategy came to bite then four minutes after the break.  This time it was the visiting pack that came under pressure on their own ball and flanker Sean Nixon swooped from close range to score and Best converted.

The try came at a good moment because OEs had started the half well and only an outstanding tackle by wing Harry Sayers after visiting centre James Golledge has broken through saved Canterbury, and more fine cover defence denied Chris Surman at the corner flag.

But with the lead in their possession a disciplined and more controlled city side once again imposed their authority until the Edwards moment.  His dismissal, for a  retaliatory punch, could have changed the nature of the game of the game. Instead it inspired a magnificent response in which physicality and commitment were huge factors.

On 63 minutes a loose pass by the visitors was rapidly turned into a try as centre Will Farris brushed off a defender before racing in from half way.  Martyn Beaumont, a cool and controlling figure at fly half, took over kicking duties from the injured Best and landed the conversion.   With anther seventeen minutes to negotiate, punctuated  by injury stoppages, Canterbury were still remarkably calling the shots and two minutes from the end of this punishing encounter Beaumont kicked a final penalty goal to crown his side’s best performance in several weeks.

Canterbury: A.Moss, H.Sayers, C.Horey, W.Farris, M.Rosvall, M.Beaumont, O.Best (repl D.Smart), J.Green, T.Rogers (repl S.Rogers), A.Wake-Smith (repl (C.Townley), R.Cadman, T.Burns (repl S.Nixon), T.Edwards, R.Ward, G.Micans