By David Haigh

Two tries in the closing 10 minutes from a rampaging pack secured a 42-35 win for Canterbury against Dorking in National League 2 East.

Victory in their final home game of the season guarantees the city club will end the campaign in fourth place, their highest position for three years.

A magnificent crowd at the Marine Travel Ground had plenty to entertain them, with some outstanding individual tries among the 10 shared by the teams, the lead changing hands four times and a final home appearance for retiring Canterbury stalwarts Tom Best and Danny Herriott.

In a cagey opening quarter, two Frank Reynolds penalty goals and a converted Frank Morgan try built a 13-point lead. The try came from a Dorking handling error, with Harry Sloan kicking the loose ball on to set up the score.

That stirred the visitors and a powerful finish from lock Jasper King and the first of Henry Anscombe’s five conversions sparked the tit-for-tat nature of what followed.

Next came a great score from city full-back Aden Moss, who returned a clearance kick by skewering every defender in a 45-metre run to the posts.

Reynolds again obliged but by half-time Dorking had crept into a single-point lead. They made a catch-and-drive position pay with a try from Callum Watson and, two minutes before the break, full-back Max Coyle matched Moss’ effort with a brilliant run and finish.

There was further trouble for Canterbury soon after the restart when Dorking worked blindside space for wing Brian Hotston’s try.

Reynolds third penalty goal shaved three points off the visitors’ lead after Dorking skipper Will Scholes was handed a yellow card and a subtle shift in the the balance of pack power gave Canterbury fresh momentum and opened the way for Sloan’s try from a close quarter lineout.

That inspired an immediate response as Anscombe grabbed Dorking’s fifth try to restore a five-point lead but then came the decisive late stages when Canterbury's forwards took impressive control.

On 71 minutes a driving maul carried Tyler Oliver over the line, Reynolds converted, and with three minutes remaining they did a repeat performance as Eoin O’Donoghue’s try closed out an absorbing match.

Matt Corker’s side end their league campaign at Colchester on April 26.

Canterbury: Moss, Morgan, Sloan, Waddington, Jones, Reynolds, Williams, Huntley, O’Donoghue, Frostick, De Vries, Stephens, Thomas, McGovern, Oliver. Replacements: Kenny, Herriott, Macmillan, Best, Calder.