A hat trick of tries from skipper Peter Kelly, the last with the final play of the game, and the accurate boot of fly half Scott Browne brought Canterbury a maximum return and their second league win.

It wasn’t a pretty victory. Too many unforced errors and too much whistle prevented the game from settling into any kind of rhythm but the city side were always more effective and struck late and hard when the chances came.

Browne’s third penalty goal, seven minutes from time, had stretched their lead to 23-7 but it still left Canterbury needing two more tries to earn a bonus point.

It was a tall order but Lydney helped them out by collecting two yellow cards in quick succession and their depleted troops were powerless to halt a catch and drive with the outstanding Kelly on the end of it.

Good, as the immaculate Browne converted, but not quite enough until the city side pounced on a Lydney error and Mike Melford, given one of his rare touches of the ball, headed towards the left corner. The cover closed in but there was great support from Tom Best and Alex Veale before Kelly, who had been everywhere, appeared to take the bonus-winning pass.

The try lent sparkle to a match that had plenty of grunt but few golden moments. Canterbury, cleaning up at the lineouts and defending solidly, survived an early sin-binning for Chris Hinkins and went ahead in the 26th minute through a Browne penalty goal.

As the half wore on the city side began to claim territory but hammered at the door with little return until Wim Baars, almost over the line, had the ball dislodged and Kelly dived on it to score.

The largely neglected Melford then made his presence count after another Lydney lineout was stolen. The wingman tracked his mid-field men before gliding over effortlessly from Veale’s pass.

Browne’s second conversion made made it 17-0 at half way but Lydney built momentum after the break and a catch and drive brought a try for prop Andy Jarrett, converted by their best player full back Tony Wicks.

After that score the home side, although still difficult to break down, did not offer much attacking threat. Browne’s second penalty goal kept them at a safe distance until that final, effective Canterbury push completed the job.

Canterbury: T.Best, A.Moss, J.Del Val (repl D.Devlin-Jones), A.Veale, M.Melford, S.Browne, D.Marshall (repl C.Tandy), J.Green (repl M.Pinnick), N.Wakefield (repl T.Rogers), S.Goode, J.Darley, C.Hinkins, T.Sherson (repl S.Rogers), P.Kelly, W.Baars.