Five tries, five points and a hoist up the league table to a dizzying ninth place gave a serious if not final boost to Canterbury’s prospects of playing National 2 rugby next season.

With two games left to negotiate they are not mathematically clear of the drop zone but it will need some unlikely reversals of form by the clubs around them to see the city club relegated.

After a worrying defeat a week earlier Canterbury had to deliver and, despite the now customary bumps along the way, deliver they did.

The performance was typical of an inconsistent season as they built a substantial lead only to see it slip when Clifton made a strong second half rally.  The city side have failed too often in similar situations, but not this time. Tries from Mason, Rosvall and Max Cantwell in the last quarter saw them home.

The visitors indiscipline played a major part in Canterbury’s first half domination. After taking an early lead with a try from prop Adam Giltrow, Clifton were reduced to  thirteen players in the space of two minutes. Twice they pulled down attacking mauls illegally and the yellow cards came out, first for hooker Jack Williams, then flanker Rhys Luckwell.

Canterbury took full advantage to build a sixteen point lead with three converted tries. Number Eight George Micans, who had another outstanding match, finished off a driving maul for the opener. That great exploiter of space Martyn Beaumont danced through for the second then threw the cut out pass which set Rosvall free on the left.

Courtney Horey saw off the last defenders to complete the score and with Tom Best adding a 28th minute to penalty goal to his conversions the game seemed to be running away from Clifton.

The response came a minute before half time when the visitors cleverly spotted blind side space which ended in a try for wing Will Pomphrey, converted by Brad Barnes.

Not too big a worry as Canterbury opened the second half with  a series of defence stretching attacks, but that proved to be their undoing.  A ball which bobbled free close to the Clifton line was snatched up by Pomphrey who was left with 80 metres to cover for his second try.

That score changed the complexion of the match for 20 minutes as Clifton, a team also desperate  for league points, took control of possession and territory and by the 52nd minute had drawn level. Fly half Barnes scored and converted his side’s fourth try to blow the contest wide open.

This time, however, Canterbury stayed calm and when they finally broke out the backs attacked the left flank where Rosvall cut an inside line on to Horey’s pass to restore the lead.

Five minutes from time they wrapped up the result as Clifton’s Mike Barber headed for the sin and Canterbury players arrived in a swarm to drive the maul which ushered Cantwell over for the try.

A last minute Barnes penalty goal brought Clifton a vital extra bonus point but for Canterbury, despite raising everyone’s  blood pressure, it was ultimately a job well done.

Canterbury: O.Best, (repl G.Hilton), H.Sayers (repl A.Moss), C.Horey, T.Best, M.Rosvall, M.Beaumont, S.Kenny (repl C.Townley), T.Rogers, (repl S.Rogers), A.Wake-Smith (repl S.Kenny), T.Burns, R.Cadman (repl M.Cantwell), S.Rogers (repl  M.Cantwell), S.Nixon, G.Micans.