Canterbury boosted their chances of staying in National League 1 South with a 43-26 win at Taunton on Saturday.

They scored seven tries, survived a second half wobble when a 31-6 lead reduced to only five points in the space of 15 minutes in the second half, but tries by Tom Best, and Michael Melford, pictured, his second of the game, helped them clinch a maximum five point return, on a day when fellow strugglers Shelford and Westcombe Park both won as well.

Pete Kelly, Juan De Val, Chris Hinkins, Melford plus three conversions by Will Hilton put Canterbury 26-6 ahead, and then No 8 Wim Baars added another early in the second half, following a 40 metre sprint to the line, Canterbury looked on course to win.

However Taunton responded with three scores of their own, one conversion and a penalty, but Canterbury finished strongly, Best weaved his way through with a 45 metre run and Melford scored again after clever running and handling set up the chance.