Shaken Nuns fight to avoid banana skin

NUNEATON battled back from a 14-point deficit to prevent a second shock in eight days and hold on to top spot in National Three Midlands table.

The Nuns lost at struggling Syston last weekend and trailed second-bottom

Bedford Athletic by two Steve Smith tries, both of which were converted by James Mortimer.

Umraan Dixon-Jadwat halved the arrears before the break with his second try after the restart putting the visitors in front before Theo Knight (2), Joe Wilson and Rob Cook ensured a 3914 success. Closest rivals Broad

street maintained the pressure with a 53-8 drubbing of Derby.

Tony Worthington, Ed Boxall (2), Andrew Murray and Rob Knox sealed the bonus point by half-time.

Nick Thatcher, Sam McNulty (2) and Josh Grimes then added gloss to

a ninth match without defeat for the hosts, who stay within four points of the summit. Peterborough Lions also boast a nine-match unbeaten streak after a fine 24-14 win at title-hopefuls Sheffield.

A Sam Crooks brace sandwiched a try from Tom Lewis for the visitors.

Jonny France got over the line for Sheffield, who slip to fourth and ten points off the top ahead of playing their game in hand at Old Halesonians, the only fix- ture next weekend. For their part, Old Halesoni

ans warmed up for that clash by recording a 22-7 win at Syston.

Meanwhile, Birmingham & Solihull leapfrogged Sheffield into third, courtesy of a 30-10 win at home to Longton.

Danny Wright had put the Bees in front before Jack Jolly was sin-binned.

Longton levelled but Ashley Scriven and a pair of Jolly penalties made it 18-10 at the interval before a penalty try, and one for Jolly, rounded off the scoring in the second half.

Tries from Greg Massey (2) and Callum Turner proved in vain as Lichfield were sucked back into the relegation dogfight by a 2320 defeat at Bridgnorth.

The home side kicked a penalty five minutes from time to win but still got dragged into the bottom three, following Sandbach’s 29-27 victory at

Towcestrians – James Snook, Craig Holton (2), and Matt Bodily scoring for the Tows.