CANTERBURY began another defence of the Kent Cup, which they have held for the past three seasons, with the whitewash of Ashford which many had predicted.

The National League 3 side scored 12 tries without reply from their Kent Division 1 opponents in their 2nd round tie.

Winger Andy Pratt ran in three tries with his final score of his hat-trick representing his 150th for the club while full back Miles Littlechild scored four of his own.

Ashford put up a brave fight from the start and limited Canterbury to just one score in the opening 25 minutes from Blair Morris.

However the early heroics came at a price as Canterbury's superior pace and fitness gradually sapped Ashford's energy.

Both Pratt and Littlechild grabbed a brace apiece and Andy Bernthal added another try in the 15 minutes before half-time while Kieron Lewitt notched three conversions to take a 36-0 lead.

After the break Neil Meyer crossed before Pratt's historic score, Littlechild added another two, Mike Melford grabbed one and Morris scored his second while Lewitt kicked four conversions to wrap up the win.

More rugby in this week's Kent Messenger Group newspapers.