If it’s entertainment you crave then this game was a real treat, served up by two sides looking to move the ball and willing to back their instincts.

There were flaws, particularly with some of Canterbury’s finishing, but the pace never slackened before a second half power show earned the city club a bonus point win.

Two tries in the last three minutes finally buried a Dings team which had nothing left in the tank but that should not undermine the contribution they made to this National 2 South mid-table clash.

At half time Canterbury’s lead was a slender eight points after the Bristol-based visitors had opened the scoring with a converted try. Camped on the home line, their pack made sure they came away with a return as prop Josh Lloyd rounded off a series of drives and Mitch Burton added the goal points.

That provoked a quick response from a Canterbury side which had been guilty of loose passing and fly half Scott Browne decided the boot was best. His delicate chip was taken on the full by Ricky Mackintosh who powered through the last defender for the try.

Dings had plenty of threatening runners of their own to keep the home defence on its toes and it wasn’t until five minutes before the break that the city club got a second.

They built pressure, but with nothing to show for it, until a yellow card for visiting lock Dave Bufton presented an opportunity. A catch and drive ended with a try for Number Eight Jesse Liston and Browne’s conversion from wide out was a bonus to add to his earlier penalty goal.

That late dominance was carried into the second half as the city pack started to tear out chunks of territory for themsleves but for much of the third quarter it was a story of missed opportunities.

The Dings defence take full credit for their efforts in face of the onslaught but at least four scoring chances were butchered.

Canterbury badly needed a try and in the 57th minute they finally proved their authority. Wingman Mackintosh, who was in terrific form, slotted into an attack aimed at the left flank to make the gap for Martyn Beaumont.

Browne’s conversion put daylight between the sides and although Dings had an isolated attacking flurry, which yielded a try for lively hooker Dave Wheeler, the taps has been turned on.

Prop Jim Green claimed the bonus point try for the work of his pounding pack and in the closing stages George Micans, part of an outstanding back row back on his return from months of injury, crashed over for number five.

The game was in stoppage time when Dave Marshall burrowed under a brave but wilting defence to register his third try in as many matches and give replacement Tom Best his second conversion

Canterbury: M.Beaumont, R.Mackintosh, J.Del Val (repl A.Moss), A.Veale, M.Melford, S.Browne (repl T.Best), D.Marshall, J.Green, S.Rogers (repl N.Wakefield) R.McLeod (repl S.Goode), B.Massey (repl R.Corr), C.Hinkins, T.Sherson, G.Micans, J.Liston.

Pictures supplied by Sarah Ansell. To see more of Sarah’s pictures visit www.sarahcanterbury.com