This slender but impressive Canterbury victory, which inflicted a first home defeat of the season on promotion hopefuls Dorking, hung on the last kick of the match. 

An 80th minute try left Craig Holland with a conversion that would have completed the home side’s late fight back and stolen the game. 

The kick fell short, Canterbury celebrated and justice was just about done.  Dorking has not been a happy hunting ground for the city team in recent seasons and Head Coach Matt Corker described the win as a big step forward.

“We had a simple plan;” he said. “to be aggressive at the breakdown and keep the ball moving.” 

For much of the game it worked a treat as Dorking were knocked out of their stride and with the ball in hand Canterbury were sharp and incisive.

They quickly got over an inauspicious start when a charged down kick brought Dorking’s Finn Osborne a try, converted by Henry Anscombe.

Three minutes later Will Waddington’s dummy opened space for fellow centre Frank Morgan to stroll across for the try, converted by Frank Reynolds and gave notice of their attacking threat.

The defence was guilty of missed tackles when Will Scholes came up with the home side’s second touchdown, but Canterbury were soon back in the lead. 

Assured handling was the key and this time Aiden Moss, making his 200th league appearance, was the try scorer. Reynolds converted and before half time added two penalty goals. 

As the half closed, Tom Bloomer’s catch and drive score closed the gap to three points but for a city side which had played against the slope and the wind it was a job done.

In the first twenty minutes of the second half they reaped the reward of that previous hard work. Reynolds kicked his third penalty goal and as Dorking came under mounting pressure Canterbury released the ball from a catch and drive and spread it wide where Heatherley scored.

Next, they kept the drive tight for a bonus point score, with Eoin O’Donoghue making the touch down and Reynolds converting to open an eighteen point lead. 

It was in the final quarter that the drama unfolded as the Dorking pack found another gear, the city side were hammered by penalties and struggled to hold on to possession.

Two close quarter tries from prop Tim Hardwick, one converted, gave Dorking their chance and in a frantic final minute they worked wing Max Coyle across. As Canterbury held their breath the shot at goal and glory failed.

Canterbury K.Heatherley, G.Jones, F.Morgan, W.Waddington, A.Moss, F.Reynolds, P.Farrance, D.Huntley, E.O’Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, C.Thomas, S.Rogers, T.Oliver.

Replacements: O.Frostick, H.Furneaux, C.McGovern, A.Orris, H.Young.

Pictures supplied by Phillipa Hilton.