Canterbury Rugby Club’s players only have themselves to blame for their home defeat on Saturday.

That’s the verdict of head coach Matt Corker, who saw his side squander an 18-0 half-time advantage in their 21-18 National League 2 East loss against Old Albanian at Merton Lane.

It’s four defeats on the spin for Canterbury, with their latest loss in stark contrast to the one before when they had recovered from being 40-0 behind at half-time as it finished 45-35 at title-chasing Barnes.

Corker reflected: “After our first half the previous weekend, going in at half-time, we were in a very different place. The frustration is that we left so many points out there.

“By half-time, we probably should have been out of sight. In the second half, our inaccuracy sort of continued, so we didn’t build on our lead, and we let some soft tries in.

“Going into the final four minutes, we got turned over at a very important scrum, as well, so we cannot feel hard done by.

"We probably got what we deserved.

“The focus this week is really going to be on how we get back to our best. There were a lot of positives in there on Saturday but, if we’re being honest, that’s a game we never should have lost.

“It’s very disappointing. The players are, obviously, disappointed, as well. We’ve had a tough couple of games now.

“We need to focus on our performance and what we’re in control of because, in all these losses, we’ve not shown our best.”

It meant tries from Presley Farrance and Harvey Furneaux, alongside further contributions from Frank Reynolds’ boot, proved in vain.

Fourth-placed Canterbury are enduring their toughest spell this term while Old Albanian, now just five points behind them alongside Westcombe Park, seem to have found a winning formula - something Corker and his troops are desperate to rediscover.

Corker said: “They’re six wins in seven now.

“Winning is definitely a habit - that’s something we’ve experienced this season - and it’s important we have the ability to wrestle back control.

“We were very fortunate with some of the results around us on Saturday. A lot of the teams around us, they lost games that I probably expected them to win.

“So, we dodged a small bullet, but we don’t want to finish the season how we’re feeling now.”

Canterbury’s recent run means there’s just 10 points between themselves and ninth-placed Guernsey.

“We want to finish in fourth because we feel we’ve had a strong season and shown some improvements,” admitted Corker. “But it all comes down to how we do in the last five games.

“If we play how we have been playing, that (finishing fourth) will not be possible.”

One positive from their defeat to Old Albanian was the debut of centre Harry Sloan.

Pembury-born Sloan, a player with top-flight experience and also an England under-20 international, has had to be patient, having joined Canterbury in late November when injured.

Corker, who also had lost Garry Jones (hamstring) to injury against Old Albanian, said: “Harry Sloan made his first appearance for us at the weekend.

"He came to the club with a lot of experience, being a professional previously.

“It was great to see him playing his first game. Our head of medical, Charlie Bannigan, has done a fantastic job with him.

“We have got some players out - but that’s the same for every squad - so there’s no excuses there.

“We still put out a strong team on Saturday and will do the same this weekend.”

Canterbury visit Bury St Edmunds, just eight points adrift of them, on Saturday.

Corker said: “Bury have had a disappointing season from their perspective, but they have definitely found a bit of form of late.

"They’re a team full of really good players.

“With them being at home as well, we’re going into a stage in the season where teams don’t have many home games left. I think they have got some sort of event planned this Saturday.

“We have played a lot of good rugby this season but, in the last couple of games, we’ve not put 80-minute performances together.

“Our focus will be on doing that this weekend and getting back on track.”