Canterbury’s impressive January run continued with a third straight league victory, a bonus point, brilliant individual tries and a red card.

After the first half dismissal of centre Ricky Mackintosh they were forced to face Redruth’s challenge for over 50 minutes with a man short.

It was a mark of the new found confidence in this city side that they not only had the will and organisation to contain the situation but came from behind to claim an extraordinary success

For that they can thank the attacking flair of full back Martyn Beaumont, whose two outstanding second half tries tipped the balance at crucial times, and the authority of a solid pack.

There was no hint of the drama to come as Canterbury dominated the early exchanges, cruising into a ten point lead with tries from leading scorer Mason Rosvall and the first of a Beaumont hat trick.

Patient build up and intelligent, roaming use of the big wing created an overlap for Rosvall to score after only two minutes. He then made the break which Beaumont exploited at the expense of Redruth’s left flank defence.

Tom Best missed the conversions but the city team were looking comfortable until a penalty and sloppy tackling let the visitors back into the match and changed the mood.

Scrum half Greg Goodfellow, always a top performer, turned the opportunity into a try, Murray Westren converted and there were hard times ahead for Canterbury.

The first blow was the loss of Number Eight George Micans with a knee injury, but worse followed. Mackintosh and Redruth fly half Rhodri McAtee were involved in a flare up which ended in a red for the Canterbury man and a yellow card for McAtee.

Goodfellow made Canterbury pay immediately with a lovely dummy and second try and, in last minute of the half, Number Eight Kyle Marriott picked up off the back of a scrum and crashed over to give his side a seven point lead.

The odds on a city victory had lengthened alarmingly, but then came Beaumont.

With his first touch of the second half the fullback found space on the half way line, left the last defender for dead and raced to the corner. It was just the boost Canterbury’s reduced ranks needed and they began to take control.

Redruth missed their only real try scoring chance by botching a big overlap but, after surviving that scare, the Canterbury pack, using the rolling maul to huge effect and closing down space for the ever lively Goodfellow, played a substantial role

When the visitors failed to find touch from a penalty award they were made to pay a heavy price. Rosvall collected and sent danger man Beaumont on a counter attacking run. From his kick and chase the bounce fell the elusive full back’s way and he sprinted between two defenders to cap it with a brilliant try.

The conversion gave Canterbury an eight point cushion, later whittled down by an Ashley Hosking penalty goal, but the visitors had little left in the tank.

Best restored the margin with a well struck penalty goal while Redruth settled for a consolation bonus point with the final kick of a game which was as much about Canterbury’s character as their skill.

Canterbury: M.Beaumont, A.Moss, R.Mackintosh, C.Harding, M.Rosvall, T.Best, G.Kay, S.Kenny (repl C.Townley), S.Rogers, (repl T.Rogers), A.Wake-Smith (repl S.Kenny), R.Cadman, C.Hinkins, A.Cathcart, T.Sherson (repl S.Rogers), G.Micans (repl R.Ward)