Dipping a tentative toe into the waters of a new season Canterbury stubbed it a few times before they won a game in which their own errors were almost as big a threat as their Kent rivals.
       

The city side were unable to build on a promising start, which brought them two tries in the first ten minutes, as as a squad missing a significant number of experienced players struggled to find cohesion.

A lack of unity is understandable in pre-season friendlies but there was little excuse for the technical infringements that plagued them in a disjointed second half and saw the penalty count rise to an unacceptable level.

In other circumstances it could have cost them them dearly but ‘Combe, willing and competitive though they were, lacked the fire power to impose maximum punishment on the city side.

Penalty awards handed the visitors positions from which they worked both their tries, the first ten minutes into the second half and the last in the final seconds of the match.

The visitors had chances earlier in the game but poor passes and a solid defence kept them at bay and the greater organisation and thrust of the Canterbury pack earned a third try and a handy 21-point lead by half time.

The early scores both came from solid catch and drive moves and were finished by prop Ruairi McLeod and flanker Brook Cowan. McLeod, celebrating his return to Merton Lane after spells with Ealing and Henley, grabbed the third touchdown after 34 minutes.

All three tries were converted by fly half Ollie Best who, together with centre Courtney Horey, was one of several newcomers who showed promise with limited chances.

The penalties and a failure to deliver quick ball marred Canterbury’s contribution to an untidy and often frantic second half when their attacking threats were largely confined to the occasional break-out from deep positions.

The city side did, however, maintain their defensive discipline; that and a growing control of the set pieces kept  a determined Combe side at arms length.