Nuns undone by Lions but stay on top

National League 3 Midlands

NUNEATON’S lead at the top of the table was reduced to just a single point as they were beaten 20-13 at Peterborough

Lions, and Sheffield cruised to a 44-7 win at home to Lichfield.

At Peterborough, a converted try gave Nuneaton an early lead, but two Will Carrington penalties and an Adrian Wright drop goal saw Lions edge ahead.

Nuneaton led 10-9 at halftime through a penalty of their own, but Josh Waller’s try, and a second Wright drop goal proved decisive for Peterborough.

The losing bonus point saw the Nuns keep a slender lead after Sheffield ran in seven tries, Steve Depledge with a hat-trick in a personal haul of 24 points.

Greg Massey’s try gave Lichfield a first-minute lead, but it would prove their only score as tries from George Wagstaff and Depledge put the hosts ahead.

Depledge’s second try made the lead 18-7 at the interval, with a penalty try sealing the bonus point.

Depledge completed his treble before further tries from Alistair Womack and Andy Hodgson. Birmingham & Solihull Bees remain in third after they picked up an eighth successive victory, 29-13 against Bridgnorth.

First-half tries from Joe Bridger and Michael Stephens put the hosts in control at 17-3 up, with Tawanda Chipadza and Jack Jolly securing a bonus point before Bridgnorth claimed two late tries. The bottom two, Bedford Athletic and Syston, both pushed higher opposition all the way, only to fall to home defeats against

Broadstreet and Derby respectively.

At Syston, three first-half tries saw Derby take a 19-10 lead, but Syston crossed twice to edge ahead, it was short-lived however as two Derby penalties and a late try saw them seal a 32-22 win.

Bedford meanwhile were involved in an absolute thriller against Broadstreet, as both sides recorded try-bonus points, but it was the visitors who edged it 31-30.

The day’s final two games saw Longton pull level on points with Sandbach in midtable, by beating them 24-10. And finally Towcestrians ran out 19-12 winners at home to Old Halesonians.