Canterbury were found wanting by Richmond after 61-19 defeat in National League 2 South.

The visitors toiled for more than an hour without reward as their promotion-chasing opponents reached their half-century. Only then, with the result beyond doubt, did Canterbury get back some pride.

Mike Melford had the chance to make the opening period more interesting, but was caught on the long run-in, and from then on the home team racked up the points to make the game safe by half-time.

Melford missed out again, failing to ground the ball when over the line, but late tries by Juan Del Val and Alex Veale, and a Peter Kelly catch and drive score from a line-out, took Canterbury close to a bonus point.

Two conversions by Will Hilton added to the response, but were the limit of Canterbury’s resistance.