By David Haigh

Canterbury scored a last-gasp try to take the National League 2 East derby spoils with a 31-29 win at Tonbridge Juddians.

It was a pulsating end to a game that swung first the city club's way and then, in a fiercely-contested second half, to a resurgent Juddians.

After overhauling Canterbury's 14-point half-time lead, the home side thought they had won it through Tom White's 79th-minute penalty. But a minute can be a long time in rugby and a committed Canterbury hurled themselves back into attack, kept the ball alive and fly-half Frank Reynolds squeezed over by the corner flag. To add to the tension there was a consultation between the referee and his assistant before the score was justly awarded.

After the capitulation at Dorking the previous week there was a new steel about Canterbury's approach and the return of long-term absentees like Tristan King, Sam Sterling and, from the replacements' bench, Charlie Kingsman, gave Matt Corker's squad a more balanced look.

They fell behind to an early try from TJs centre Duncan Tout, but hit back with three of their own and gave nothing away in defence before the break.

Cameron Murray finished off a precise handling move for the first score, hooker Nathan Morris completed a catch and drive and, in the last minute of the half, skipper Jamie Stephens crashed through despite Canterbury losing Sterling to the sin-bin.

The first 20 minutes of the second half put the city side through their sternest test. They defended brilliantly but lost Jesse Dr Vries to a yellow card and by the hour mark it was all square as the TJs backs produced tries for Bryan Hotston and Howard Packman, both converted by White.

Having come through the fire Canterbury's composure paid off as they worked a fourth, bonus-point touchdown for front row man Eoin O'Donoghue and Reynolds made his third successful conversion.

That seven-point advantage was quickly wiped out by the home side as Josh Van Buuren powered over the line and White brought the sides level again. When the experienced fly-half nervelessly landed that late penalty goal it seemed like job done, but Canterbury still had a last clear message - never write us off.

Canterbury return to league action on February 18 with a home game against Sevenoaks while Tonbridge visit North Walsham.

Canterbury: Waddington, Hilton, Sterling, Hollidge (Kingsman), Morgan, Reynolds, Cooper (Williams), Young, Morris (O'Donoghue), Herriott (Macmillan), Irvine (Morris), De Vries, King (Furneaux), Murray, Stephens.