A battling display saw Canterbury edge a game that had its flaws but was high on the scale for entertainment.
The city side came from behind three times before they hit a golden patch in the second half when two tries in as many minutes set up the win.
Scrum half Dan Smart, making a lively re-appearance after a three week injury lay-off, grabbed a hat trick of tries, but his was just one of many important contributions.
There was a collective self belief about a side which has been on the end of too many narrow defeats recently but when a missed tackle handed an early try to Stortford fly half George Cullen, converted by Tom Banks, it was not the best of starts.
The visitors, however, were never allowed to gain real momentum as Canterbury ruled the line outs, where Tyler Edwards was an effective thief, brought plenty of verve to their attacks and by the 16 minute mark were in the lead.
A Martyn Beaumont penalty goal and his conversion of Tom Best’s try gave the city side a one point margin. George Micans, another making a highly effective return from injury, charged off a scrum and quick recycling gave Best his opportunity to spear through the defence.
Canterbury twice slipped behind again as the accurate boot of Stortford scrum half Tom Banks pegged them back. Two penalty goals, one for ill-disciplined back chat, and the conversion of Cullen’s second try, built a seven point advantage at half time.
However, Smart’s first try, after a defensive wobble by the visitors, ensured the city side were still well in touch and seven minutes into the second half the scrum half struck again. His try under the posts left Beaumont to bring the scores level, but a penalty incurred at the restart handed Stortford vital territory.
They exploited it quickly with a try from full back Will Simmonds, converted by Banks, to retake the lead but there was now a refreshing urgency about the city side’s play which proved to be a turning point
A Beaumont penalty goal was the curtain raiser for that decisive two try burst. Smart fielded a clearance kick on half way and some classy off-loading work between the Best brothers, Ollie and Tom, gave the Number Nine his hat trick and earned Canterbury a bonus point. It got better. From the restart Stortford failed to deal with a hanging box kick, Micans snatched possession and sent Guy Hilton sprinting away for the try.
Beaumont followed up his conversion of Smart’s score with a 70th minute penalty goal to extend the lead to nine points, but danger still lurked. A fumbled restart gave Stortford another opportunity and Banks, this time flanker Rory, scored to take the game down to the wire
After being on the wrong end of too many close finishes Canterbury were in no mood to go down that road again and their line speed in defence held fast under some late pressure.
Canterbury: O.Best, G.Hilton, JJ.Murray (repl T.Best), W.Farris, H.Sayers, M.Beaumont, D.Smart, A.Cooper (repl J.Green), T.Rogers (repl G.Westgarth), S.Kenny, T.Edwards (T.Burns), T.Burns (repl R.Cadman), S.Rogers, H.McCormick-Huston, G.Micans