Canterbury 17 London Scottish 14

On a day of high drama in rugby’s World Cup Canterbury made their own contribution to the celebrations with this significant victory over the unbeaten league leaders.

It was no less than they deserved because this was, as Head Coach Danny Vaughan said, the best display his side has produced this season.

Until the last 15 minutes of the match Canterbury had been the better side.

In those desperate closing minutes, with Neil Meyer yellow-carded and off the field, it was Canterbury’s ability to wheel and disrupt as Scottish attacked from five metre scrums, that played a major part.

Canterbury’s Sam Rasch and Lee Cholewa for Scottish kicked two first half penalty goals apiece before, deep in stoppage time, Blair Morris set up Ian Burgess to cruise in for a try.

Rasch kicked a third penalty before Cholewa pulled Scottish back to 14-9 but Rasch hit a drop goal to extend the lead.

It was needed as Scottish, despite lacking a cutting edge in attack, imposed themselves steadily in the last quarter and finally worked Anton Petzer over for an unconverted try.

From that point it was a long five minutes of survival for the city club.