Rosslyn Park 18 Canterbury 29

HEADING for what seemed certain defeat Canterbury scored three tries in the last six minutes to snatch a dramatic victory and extend their unbeaten league run to four games.

It was the city club’s backs who tunnelled their way out of this particular jail with left wing Mike Melford (2) and full back Gert De Kock getting the vital scores to leave Park wondering just what had hit them.

The London side had good reason to scratch their heads because, until those fatal moments, their forwards had dominated the second half and an 18-8 lead was no less than they deserved.

The revival started after newcomer Sam Rasch had missed a late penalty chance but from the restart Canterbury regrouped and attacked the left flank.

Neil Meyer and Miles Littlechild combined to put Melford in at the corner and Rasch kicked an excellent conversion.

With confidence surging it took the city club just two minutes to strike again and go into the lead, this time Melford taking the inside track on to a Littlechild pass and sprinting to the posts from 40 metres out.

Rasch converted and got another simple chance as a rejuvenated Canterbury were not finished. They returned to hammer at the home defence but there seemed little on when Gert De Kock found two defenders barring his way to the line.

With wonderful inside swerves the full back left them both gasping to score a fourth try which not only cemented an unlikely victory but earned a bonus point.