By David Haigh

Canterbury are hovering unconvincingly above the relegation zone after a 26-17 National League 2 East defeat at Sevenoaks - their fourth successive loss.

The loss saw the City side slip to 12th in the table after a worryingly familiar performance saw them fail to put points on the board when they had momentum.

Going into the last 10 minutes there was only a point between the sides after Canterbury won a penalty try for a collapsed maul and Oaks lost a player to a yellow card, but it was the home side who reacted positively.

In the left boot of full-back Ben Adams they had a potent weapon and his second massive penalty goal pegged Canterbury back before the work of the Oaks pack paved the way for a decisive try by Charlie Naismith.

It was a tight but deserved win over a side who were too predictable in attack and lacked any real penetration in the back division.

The pack, as ever, did an honest job with Tyler Oliver and Jamie Stephens carrying well but it was never quite enough.

They did well to survive Oaks' early blast and it wasn't until the end of the first quarter that Canterbury broke out and took the lead through a Frank Reynolds penalty goal.

Sevenoaks made a quick reply with a try that had a touch of good fortune about it as their loose pass was twice hacked on and Adams won a finger-tip touchdown.

It was in the second quarter that the city side took a grip but avoidable errors and a shortage of finishing power, plus an Adams penalty goal, left them still five points adrift at the break.

Adams slotted a long-range penalty goal five minutes into the second half but there was little between the sides and a swift response saw Billy Young finish off an organised catch-and-drive and Reynolds nail a good conversion.

The best try of the game was scored by Oaks wing Johnny Short as he slipped into midfield, wrong-footed the defence and left Adams with an easy kick.

When Canterbury hit back with the driving maul which brought the penalty try and the difference was down to one point again they had every reason to think they might squeeze a result out of a gritty contest. Instead, their lack of staying power sent then home empty-handed.

Canterbury host ninth-placed Rochford Hundred on Saturday.

Canterbury: Howard, Halliday, Waddington, Best, Calder, Reynolds, Cooper, B Young (A Cooper), Morris, Herriott (Lusher), Cadman (Evans), Stephens, Andrews (Cadman), Murray, Oliver.