Canterbury produced one of their best performances of the season to overcome National 2 South promotion challengers Taunton Titans at Merton Lane on Saturday.

The only slight twinge of disappointment was that the 19-14 success was not quite enough to earn them a bonus point, though their first points in five games did lift them out of the relegation zone for the time being.

The hosts had to endure a nervy conclusion despite storming into a 19-7 half-time advantage, but held their nerve to avenge a 43-12 defeat in Somerset earlier in the season.

Aggressive scrummaging put the city club on the front foot from the off, allowing the backs the platform to impress which saw the hosts ahead inside five minutes.

Martyn Beaumont found space after a loose ball and after off-loading to Ricky Mackintosh, good handling paved the way for Charlie Harding to touch-down.

The conversion missed in gusty conditions, which also contributed to the Titans missing a penalty soon after, though the visitors did take the lead when a kick bounced kindly for Toby East to race through out wide, with Gary Kingdom adding a fine conversion.

Tom Best missed a penalty kick but Canterbury continued to boss the game and leading scorer Mason Rosvall cut inside from Harding’s pass to storm through and finish under the posts to leave Best with a simple task of adding the extras.

The lead grew to 12 points when Rosvall added his second after 27 minutes, taking the pass after Mackintosh had surged through and finishing, with Best adding the conversion.

Despite continuing to probe, the city club could not extend their lead, with one glorious chance going begging after a goal-line fumble following a fine Beaumont kick.

The pattern continued after the break as catch-and-drive chances were repelled and Beaumont was hauled down a metre short of the line after a break.

Best saw two penalties drift wide and the visitors set up a tense finale eight minutes from time as Brett Harvey touched down after a driven lineout, with Kingdom adding the extras.

It was only enough to secure a losing bonus point however as the city club held firm to climb out of the drop-zone.