Carlton Littlechild scored two of Canterbury's 13 tries against Newbury. Picture: Chris Davey

Canterbury moved a step closer to avoiding National 2 South relegation by scoring 13 tries and opening a six-point gap over their nearest rivals for the drop, Westcombe Park, with a 81-5 win over Newbury on Saturday.

Two players, flanker Peter Kelly with five and wing Mike Melford who scored four, shared the major honours as the city side demolished the league’s bottom club and gained revenge for an earlier defeat at Newbury.

The memory of that performance might have caused misgivings in the home ranks before kick-off, but once the Canterbury pack had taken an early stranglehold, this vital win was never in doubt.

It was 29-5 at the break and the hosts showed their supremacy after the interval with power, accuracy and quick thinking.

Hooker Sam Rogers and Carlton Littlechild both got on the scoresheet with two tries each. Will Hilton kicked eight conversions.