Canterbury take the ball on against Lydney Picture: Phil Houghton

Canterbury ended a run of 13 games without a victory by turning in an eight-try performance to hammer Lydney 55-5 in National League 2 South on Saturday.

The city club's fight to avoid relegation is by no means over but this important success lifted them one place in the table to fifth from bottom.

In an impressive all-round team effort, wing Mike Melford scored three tries and teenage full-back Will Hilton was successful with seven kicks.

Two converted tries from Melford and a Hilton penalty gave Canterbury a 17-5 half-time lead, but at this stage there was still work to be done.

However, six tries followed in the second half, from Nick Dangerfield, Melford, Wim Baars, Alex Veale, Andy Pratt and Peter Kelly.