HUNTINGDON & District coach Damian Whales was a little confused after his side’s 31-25 win over Market Harborough on Saturday, saying: “I don’t really know how to feel after that game – relief, frustration, joy?”

It was Stags eighth win out of eight Midlands Two East South games, and the club is sitting pretty at the top of the table, seven points clear of second placed Leighton Buzzard – but there was a scare this time around when the Leicestershire side battled back from 31-6 down to come close to upsetting the odds.

Wales continued: “Relief, frustration, joy? I probably a combination of all three. For 50 minutes we played some of the best rugby we have all season, especially in the lead up to Rory Parker’s try, but we then lost our heads completely and just managed to hold on.

“I have to give credit to Harborough. At 31-6 down most teams would fold but they showed a real never say die attitude to fight their way back into the game.”

Harborough opened the scoring with a penalty before Stags got going with James Thorpe scoring the first try and Dan Malem converting.

Harborough scored a second penalty and Malem kicked one of his own before, on the stroke of half time, Ben Strangeways touched down and Malem converting again.

Early in the second half, Parker smashed his way through the Harborough defence for a well-deserved try, and Malem kicked the extras.

Stags went even further ahead when Thorpe got his second of the afternoon for the bonus point.

However, it was at this point that things started to go wrong. Harborough scored but were unsuccessful with the conversion and Tango Morgan was sin-binned before the home side scored a second and this time converted try.

Stags went down to 13 men with Thorpe also shown a yellow card and Harborough reduced the deficit again with just five minutes remaining.

Huntingdon just held out for the win.

“There will be a big defensive focus at training this week as we have a tricky run in to Christmas with four league games and a cup quarterfinal and cant afford to let our line be breached so easily again” said Whales.

Stags travel to Leicestershire again next weekend to take on Oadby.

Midlands Two East South: Leighton Buzzard 46-11 Wellingborough, Lutterworth 47-17 Biggleswade, Market Harborough 25-31 Huntingdon & District, Northampton BBOB 15-35 Vipers, Northampton Old Scouts 33-34 Bugbrooke, Oadby Wyggestonians 13-36 Dunstablians.