Canterbury recorded their third straight win in National 2 South with a 28-23 bonus point victory against Redruth in a dramatic game at Merton Lane on Saturday.

The city club had to play for more than 50 minutes a man short after losing centre Ricky Mackintosh to a red card, however the hosts produced a spirited performance to come from behind to claim a memorable win.

The city club dominated the early stages and cruised into a 10-0 lead with tries from leading-scorer Mason Rosvall on the overlap after just two minutes and the first score of a hat-trick from Martyn Beaumont, capitalising on a break from Rosvall.

Tom Best could not add either conversion but Canterbury looked comfortable until a penalty and some sloppy tackling allowed the visitors back into the match and turned the tide, with Greg Goodfellow crossing for a try, converted by Murray Westren.

Matters got worse for Canterbury as they lost George Micans with a knee injury before Mackintosh saw red after a clash with Redruth fly-half Rhodri McAtee, who received a yellow card.

Goodfellow made the hosts pay with a fine dummy to add their second score, and in the final minute of the half No8 Kyle Marriott picked-up off the back of a scrum and piled-over to give his team a seven-point lead at the break.

However Beaumont inspired a stunning comeback after the turnaround, racing clear from half-way with his first touch of the second half.

Redruth botched a good chance to restore their lead but after surviving the scare the Canterbury pack, using the rolling maul to great effect, regained the initiative, with Best's penalty giving them a slender lead before Rosvall sent Beaumont on the attack, with the full-back kicking ahead and winning the footrace to the ball before beating two covering defenders to the line for a fine solo score.

The conversion made it an eight-point gap for the city club, and though Ashley Hosking notched two late penalties to ensure a losing bonus point, Best added a kick of his own to keep the city club five points clear at the close and take them 10 ahead of the National 2 South drop-zone.