RUGBY

Peterborough Lions gave it their all but still came up agonisingly short in Saturday’s big Midlands Premiership match at Bretton.

They pushed Birmingham all the way but the visitors to Solstice Park were celebrating a title win after 80 pulsating minutes.

They took the honours 2220 in a top-of-the-table thriller in which fortunes fluctuated throughout and they are indeed worthy champions.

Lions chairman Andy Moore agreed they are a very good side.

“They’re the best but we’re second best and a very close second at that,” he said.

“I just hope we’ll be joining them in National League Two next season.”

That is still a distinct possibility as the Lions remain in the hunt for runners-up spot and a promotion play-off place but it’s far from cut and dried.

Lions’ advantage over third-placed Newport has now been cut to five points and while the Lions have just two games left, Newport have three.

Lions travel to Bournville on Saturday and then entertain Bridgnorth on April 21 while Newport’s remaining games are Doncaster (away), Longton (home) and Birmingham (away).

“We have to win our last two games that is a fact,” added Moore. “But I reckon now it’s all going to go down to April 28 when Newport go to Birmingham.”

That wouldn’t have been the case had Nico Defeo slotted a last-kick-of-the-game penalty against Birmingham.

It sailed inches wide and instead of four points the Lions had to make do with just one losing bonus point.

There was nothing to choose between the two sides after the first half. Although Birmingham had much more possession it finished at 7-7 with Ben Young scoring the Lions try after a fine 30-yard break by skipper Chris Humphrey.

Early in the second half, and with Lions down to 14 men following the sin-binning of Chris Cutts, Birmingham forged ahead 12-7.

But then the Lions hit a purple patch. First Defeo slotted a penalty and then against the run of play Tom Gulland and Semisi Sitanislei Tei snatched tries on the counterattack to give the Lions a 20-12 lead with 65 minutes gone.

But it was a lead they just couldn’t hang on to. First they conceded a penalty and then a very late penalty try and the title race was over.

Lions: Josh Waller, Niko Moa, Chris Cutts, Tom Lewis, Marius Andrijauskas, Chris Humphrey, Tom Gulland, Vaha Halaifanua, Tom Dougherty, Ben Young, Ashley Hill, Nico Defeo, Rory White, Kaz Henderson, Semisi Sitanislei Tei. Subs: Alex Ioannou, Jack Lewis, Owain Pearce.

■ In Midlands Division One there was another heavy defeat for Borough.

They went down 74-10 to league leaders Bedford Athletic at Fengate and it was their eighth loss on the trot.

Boroughvice-chairmanArchie Bennett said: “I know the record doesn’t look good but we’ve had a really bad run of departures (five players went off to Australia), injuries and unavailability since January.

“Hopefully we can win our last two games - against Bugbrooke and Huntingdon - and get back to some sort of normality.”

Oundle were 37-34 winners at home to Huntingdon and had Robb Shingles cross for a hat-trick of tries.

■ Bourne are back in title contention in Midlands East Division Four (South).

They thought they’d blown it two weeks ago when losing 16-15 to leaders St Neots and were convinced they would finish runners-up.

However, a shock 22-10 defeat for St Neots at Brackley has put Bourne back in contention.

They trail St Neots by just two points and both teams have one game left to play on April 21 - Bourne at Thorney and St Neots at home to Deepings.

Bourne smashed local rivals Stamford College Old Boys 96-7 on Saturday with wing George Venables and back row Adam Binns both crossing for a hat-trick of tries. ■ The Borough men may be struggling but the Borough ladies team, coached by Rich Parsons, are flying.

On Sunday they beat RFUW Championship Midlands North Two leaders West Norfolk 15-7 away and are now in with a great chance of taking the title.

They need just two points from their two remaining games - away to Coalville on Sunday (April 15) and away to Mellish the following Sunday (April 22) - to win it.

Sarah Winder (2) and Michelle Bark scored tries at West Norfolk. Winder was voted back-of-the-match with Verity Swinscoe taking the forward-of-the-match award.

Midlands Division Two East (South) Stewart & Lloyds ..................................... 29 Stamford ................................................... 5

Midlands Division Four East (South) Bedford Swifts ......................................... 41 Thorney ...................................................... 7

Bourne (tries: Venables 3, Binns 3, Lynch 2, Castle, Greenwood, Brown, Smith, Holden, Cheek. cons: Evison 13) ........................... 96 Stamford College Old Boys ......................... 7

Eastern Counties

Crusaders ................................................ 31 Wisbech .................................................... 25

WOMEN’S RFUW CHAMPIONSHIP

Midlands North Two

West Norfolk Ladies ................................... 7 Peterborough Ladies (tries: Bark, Winder 2) .............................................................. 15

PICTURES: MICK SUTTERBY Try-scorer Tom Gulland on the attack for the Lions against Birmingham.

Nico Defeo is caught by two Birmingham players.

Lions skipper Chris Humphrey is jumped on by Tawanda Chipadza.