They may have earned nothing in the way of points but this was a huge improvement on recent Canterbury performances and it is fair to say that the scoreline treated them harshly.

With nine minutes remaining a resurgent the city side trailed by just three points and had rattled a Redruth outfit which failed to make the most of their first half dominance.

Lewis Vinnicombe’s try in the 71st minute was greeted with relief by a home crowd that had gone strangely silent as Canterbury marched back into contention. A penalty try in the last minute of the game then put an unwarranted gloss on the outcome and handed the home side a bonus point they could hardly have expected.

Neither could Redruth have anticipated being drawn into a real battle after their blistering start. They dominated possession, were assured in their handling and put Canterbury under intense pressure.

A fixation with the bludgeon rather than the rapier was their downfall. When easy penalty points were on offer they opted for a series of scrums but not even a yellow card for city lock Tyler Edwards could dent the clever and unyielding resistance of the Canterbury pack

It was 18 minutes before the Cornishmen crossed the line, centre Neilson Webber scoring after Canterbury had unwisely handed over possession. They doubled that lead to ten points when the city defence for once ran out of cover and influential scrum half Jack Maunder claimed the second try. Before half time, however, they were reminded of Canterbury’s potential.

A fine angled run by Martyn Beaumont opened a gap, the supporting Edwards was stopped short and although the chance did not produce a score it reminded the home side how fragile their lead was.

They got another sharp dig in the ribs a minute into the second half when Tom Best kicked a penalty goal and although Dave Manakee replied for Redruth there was a new sharpness and intent about Canterbury.

That translated into a 60th minute try. Offered a kickable penalty chance the city chose instead a lineout catch and drive opportunity. It went to plan as prop Jim Green scored from the second surge and Best nailed the conversion.

Silence on the terraces apart from the small but vocal Kentish support.

Canterbury, with judicious use of replacements, were looking a different proposition and Redruth knew it. With the game very much in the balance they battled for territory and when Vinnicombe squeezed in at the corner it won them a small breathing space.

The final disappointment for an energised Canterbury came after a fracas broke out in the aptly named Hellfire Corner and hooker Neil Wakefield was judged to be the only guilty party in the mass argument.

He was sent off, Redruth got a scrum and as it retreated the referee awarded a penalty try, converted by Manakee. Redruth took the victory but Canterbury now command fresh respect,

Canterbury: M.Beaumont, H.Sayers, W.Farris, T.Best, M.Rosvall, G.Hilton, D.Smart (repl O.Best), C.Townley (rep J.Green), S.Rogers (rep N.Wakefield), A.Wake-Smith, T.Burns (rep R.Cadman), T.Edwards, G.Micans, R.Ward, M.Cantwell (rep S.Nixon).