By David Haigh

A match of swinging fortunes ultimately went Clifton's way as hosts Canterbury went down 38-24 in National League 2 South.

Clifton's bonus-point victory keeps their title hopes just about bubbling, but only because the city side - after a confident start which earned them a 12-point lead - suddenly switched off.

In a 20-minute spell, either side of half-time, Canterbury's defence fell apart and they conceded 31 unanswered points - although a late rally brought a losing bonus point.

What started so well with tries from Royce Cadman, peeling off a driving maul, and Frank Reynolds, who chased down a clever sliding kick, began to go downhill in the 33rd minute.

Canterbury, who had defended well up that point, were forced into a goaline drop-out but stood transfixed as Clifton full-back Alex Howman speared past weak tackles. He was stopped short of the line but lock Henry Harper finished the job.

By half-time it was all square, through a Howman try created by centre Marcus Nel's clean break and a conversion by Zak Ward.

From the first minute of the second half Canterbury were in deep trouble as they handed Clifton easy territory, fell off tackles and were hit with a rapid three tries. Nel got one almost from the kick-off, fly-half Luke Cozens' accurate kicking set up position for a catch-and-drive score for Geroge Taylor and Harper got his second in the 54th minute.

Cozens added two conversions and the damage looked irreparable.

Amid the wreckage, however, Canterbury finally produced the rugby they should have played for the whole 80 minutes. Delightful interplay by the backs sent Will Waddington under the posts, Kyan Braithwate landed his second conversion and three minutes later came a sliver of light when Will Hilton's pass put Frank Morgan across for the bonus-point try. But to recover from that painful mid-game period was beyond them and Clifton topped things off with a late converted try from Fin Sharp.

Canterbury visit bottom-of-the-table Westcliff on Saturday.

Canterbury: Corcoran (Moss), G Hilton, Sterling, Braithwaite, Morgan (Corcoran), Reynolds (W Hilton), B Cooper, A Cooper, Young (Otto), Herriott (Lusher), Cadman (De Vries), Stephens, Evans, Waddington, Oliver.