Canterbury secured their National 2 South status with a game to spare, despite losing a stunning game 56-49 at Cambridge on Saturday.

Needing just a single point to ensure their survival, the city club made a blistering start and four tries in the opening 27 minutes were enough to secure the crucial bonus point.

They eventually secure a losing bonus point with the final kick of the game, but could not avoid defeat in a game which saw 16 tries shared between two sides committed to attack.

Flanker Sam Rogers put the visitors ahead inside two minutes, touching down after a catch and drive from a lineout, while Alex Veale’s break and fine handling set up Charlie Harding for the second score.

Cambridge themselves were on the mark through wing Albert Portsmouth and scrum half Mike Gillick and were seeking a third when Mason Rosvall intercepted a pass and tore 70 metres to touch down.

Five minutes later another long-range effort by Harding, converted by Harding, secured the bonus point, and safety, plus a 10-point lead, though despite a second score from Rogers, the lead had vanished by the break as the hosts ran in four tries with Portsmouth, Steve Hipwell, Jack Green and Tom Ellis touching down, and Jim Stokes adding three conversions to make it 36-27 at the interval.

After the break, and with injuries hampering the city club, Portsmotuh completed his hat-trick while Jim Wigglsworth added another, with Stokes comverting both and slotting a penalty as Cambridge passed the half-century mark.

However Canterbury dominated the final 20 minutes with some strong forward play paving the way for an overlap try by Dan Smart, Rogers piling over from close range to complete his own hat-trick and Guy Hilton side-stepped his way over.

Two conversions from Ollie Best ensuring the second bonus point, though the hosts missed a penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage-time which would have wiped it out.

The city club complete their season at home to Clifton on Saturday (3pm) with an outside chance of finishing in the top-10.