“I felt we got it right tactically in the second half” was the verdict of Canterbury Head Coach Andy Pratt after his side made a winning start to the new year.

Wisely, he offered no comment on what had gone before.

Only he and forwards coach Matt Stewart will know what was said in the changing room at half time after one of the most forgettable 40 minutes of rugby seen at Merton Lane this season.

Whatever it was – and in what kind of language it was delivered – it had the necessary effect on a city side which perked up considerably to bring Lydney’s three-match winning run to an end.

Tries from Wim Baars and Scott Browne, who also landed a penalty goal and converted his own touchdown with a fine kick, saw Canterbury home. They missed out narrowly on a bonus point try but, after that shoddy first half, were happy to take the win and deny Lydney any consolation.

With Dave Marshall failing a last minute fitness test and Tom Best making the switch to an unfamiliar scrum half role, Canterbury had to make adjustments. That was hardly an excuse for a catalogue of unforced errors, a yellow card for a silly offence by Ricky Mackintosh and the holiday hangover which seemed to envelop both sides.

With a dominant scrum and a driving maul which created problems for the visitors from the outset, Canterbury could have expected to be ahead by more than a single point at the break

Instead, the only try of the half came courtesy of a wild pass as Lydney were caught in possession on their own line. Peter Kelly was first in the queue to grab the try, which Browne converted, but two penalty goals from Danny Trigg kept the visitors well in contention despite their lack of bite in attack.

After the all-round mediocrity, the city club needed some new year resolution and more focussed rugby was rewarded twelve minutes after the restart. Lydney could not resist the second of two powerful driving lineouts and Wim Baars registered the try.

Browne failed to add the extra points but as Canterbury applied more pressure Lydney’s Dave Bennett went to the sin bin and the fly half slotted an easy penalty goal to push the lead to nine.

The match then entered a crucial phase as the Gloucestershire side found renewed purpose and only outstanding defence from Canterbury kept them out.

They survived that onslaught and a worrying injury, on his home debut, to lock Tom Burns before landing the decisive blow. Lydney spilled a hanging box kick, Kelly swooped on loose ball and sent Browne clear for the try and conversion.

Lydney, with twelve minutes to find a losing bonus point, had to settle for a third penalty goal from Trigg and it was Canterbury who spent the closing minutes hunting another try and missing out by inches

Canterbury: M.Beaumont, R.Mackintosh, A.Moss, A.Veale, M.Melford, S.Browne, T.Best, J.Green, T.Rogers (repl S.Rogers), R.McLeod (repl M.Livesey), T.Burns (repl B.Massey), C.Hinkins, T.Sherson, P.Kelly, W.Baars