HUNTINGDON Stags were finally put out of their misery when Stewarts and Lloyds Corby comprehensively beat them at Hinchingbrooke to relegate them on Saturday. Stags attacked from the outset and showed a desire that they have been lacking all season, quic

HUNTINGDON Stags were finally put out of their misery when Stewarts and Lloyds Corby comprehensively beat them at Hinchingbrooke to relegate them on Saturday.

Stags attacked from the outset and showed a desire that they have been lacking all season, quickly gaining a penalty that was converted by Elliot Baldwin for the lead. The hosts' scrum was back on form and started to push Stewarts and Lloyds back as Stags spent the opening 25 minutes in the visitors' half.

The second placed Corby team soon started to gain momentum though and a prolonged attack on the Stags line that seemed likely to end in a try instead ended with a smooth Stags counter that saw Chris Baines score a try. They fought back though for a try that went unconverted to reduce the deficit to three.

Stags were soon caught unaware as the visitors got a converted try to storm into a lead at the break that they would not relinquish. The second half started with Corby applying the pressure and camping in the Stags half, getting another converted try to lead 19-8.

The hosts countered with some good running from Ben Strangeways and Tom McCreadie, but their poor tackling allowed the visitors to get another converted try. With the gap widening the hosts kept pressing and Baines got his second try that was converted by Richard Ruddy, but a Corby penalty and converted try quickly widened the gap once more to lead 36-15.

Stags lost possession with a penalty given against them in front of the Corby posts whose subsequent try was converted for the final score of 43-15. Despite a strong and determined performance it was not enough for Huntingdon who now find themselves heading to the Midlands Four East (South) Division for next season.

To avoid relegation, Stags would need to win their last two games while hoping the two teams above them do not, and make up for a deficit of 129 points while doing so. They next play at third-placed Northampton Old Scouts on April 18.