Two late tries from Jonathan Murray, the second in the final play of the game, was just enough to salvage a losing bonus point in what was another hugely disappointing display by Canterbury.

Holding their own in the tight and winning ample first phase ball the city side contrived to waste too much possession and ruin too many opportunities to grab a foothold in a game they had targeted to end their losing run.

Trailing by seventeen points shortly after half time to tries from David McIlwaine, Kemp Price and Harry Forshaw, plus a Matt Mclean conversion, the deficit owed as much to Canterbury’s handling errors and soft defence rather than Worthing’s enterprise.

Despite Canterbury stepping up their intensity in the second half and creating a number of good attacking positions they could make nothing of them as they continued to cough up the ball.

However, the city side have often proved that they are fighters and despite the error count and muddled options at half back they got some reward in the 57^th minute.

A well worked try for Frank Morgan, converted by Dan Smart, finally got them on the score sheet. If that offered a glimmer of hope it was snuffed out when a slick Worthing move brought them a fourth try, scored by Henry Birch, which effectively killed off the game.

Then out of the blue came those late Canterbury tochdowns from Murray to give the impression that this had been a close contest. In truth, the scoreline did not do justice to a Worthing side which deserved its victory while the city club’s problems continue to grow with five games remaining in the season.

Canterbury: A.Moss, I.Horner, J J Murray, S.Sterling, H.Sayers, D.Smart, K.Braithwaite, A.Cooper, T.Rogers, S.Kenny, R.Cadman, M.Corker, J.Rigby, S, Clark, M.Cantwell

Replacements: F.Morgan, J.Otto, L.Whetton, J,.Green, D.Bailey.

Report by Andy Rogers