Matt Corker has explained why he’s excited for the second half of Canterbury Rugby Club’s season.

Corker’s team will return to National League 2 East action at Merton Lane when they face Oxford Harlequins on Saturday after a two-week break since an agonising 17-16 defeat at Henley Hawks.

The sixth-placed side travel to second-placed Dorking next weekend - as they reach the halfway point of their league campaign - before they finish the calendar year with a home derby against Sevenoaks on Saturday, December 21.

Canterbury are yet to beat any of the five teams ahead of them this term but have only faced Barnes on home turf.

“What’s important for me is this group is very capable,” said head coach Corker, whose troops had won both of their other games in their last block before being edged out by Henley. “We’re travelling in the right direction.

“It’s important we maintain high standards and keep pushing.

"If we drop our standards by five per cent, the impact on the scoreboard is massive. When we reflect on our last block, absolutely, we’re happy - but there’s definitely more to come.

“What’s important for me is that we have not beaten anyone above us this season but, also, we have only played one of those teams at home.

"I’m looking forward to the second half of the season, when they’re coming to our place, and showing what we’re all about in those fixtures.”

Canterbury’s defeat at Henley last time out had been a particularly tough one to take, battling awful weather conditions in Storm Bert, as well as their high-flying hosts.

“We’ll use the week off because the players have worked hard,” admitted Corker, who now has Harry Sloan in his ranks after the club confirmed the signing of the Kent-born former Harlequins and Saracens centre - an England youth-team player - last week.

While Canterbury are only three points behind Henley, and six adrift of third-placed Barnes and Guernsey, three clubs below them are within 10 points.

Corker said: “There’s not a lot of margin for error in these blocks. They’re short and sharp.

“We’re just really focused on finishing the year strongly.

“We need to be at our best consistently and, if we can do that, we will be in an exciting position.”

Weekend visitors Oxford Harlequins have only got three positive league results this season, two wins and a draw, all of which came at their Horspath Sports Ground home.

Canterbury have been named as Club Mirror rugby club of the year for a third successive year, sharing the award with Eccles RFC.

Becky McCracken, Canterbury’s head of girls’ rugby, and women’s player and community coach Alice Hayward collected the prize at last Wednesday’s event in Leicester, hosted by sports broadcaster John Inverdale.

They were presented with their award by ex-England international winger Chris Ashton.

“This is an amazing achievement and testament to everyone involved at the club,” said chairman Giles Hilton. "This award belongs to all of you, who make Canterbury Rugby Club the incredible community it is.

“Here’s to another year of success, camaraderie and rugby excellence."