Leicester Forest 22-30 Huntingdon Stags --- HUNTINGDON Stags enjoyed better fortunes on their second trip to Leicester within a week, securing an important victory over their mid-table rivals. The win leapfrogged Stags ahead of Leicester Forest in Midlan

Leicester Forest 22-30 Huntingdon Stags ---

HUNTINGDON Stags enjoyed better fortunes on their second trip to Leicester within a week, securing an important victory over their mid-table rivals.

The win leapfrogged Stags ahead of Leicester Forest in Midlands Two East (South), and brought them level on points with Peterborough Lions.

The thawing frost provided good conditions for the important mid-table clash.

Stags started the game with a serious assault on the Forest goal line and a fumble by the Forest defence allowed Matt Durrant to take possession and run in for an early try.

Damien Whales obliged with the conversion, but Forest stirred quickly and got points on the board when a penetrating run from the Forest frontline saw them cross for an unconverted try.

Both teams worked hard, with Stags getting some joy from the scrum without delivering points.

Forest counterattacked but the Stags defense held firm, taking possession before breaking out for Ben Strangeways to nip in for a try.

Stags compounded their advantage when Heath Crawford intercepted from the restart and galloped 50 metres to bag a third Stags try, and the conversion extended the lead at the break to 17-5.

Forest struck back with a try early in the second period, but again the conversion kick was missed. From the restart Stags attacked and pressure saw Forest concede a penalty, which Whales knocked over to put Stags lead at 10 points.

A converted Forest try allowed the hosts to within three points of Stags, but a driving maul yielded a penalty and Whales established some breathing space at 23-17.

Good play in the lineout by James Pinkney and Doug Bentley, backed up by excellent midfield tackling by Strangeways, Whales and Neil Welsh saw the Stags edge back towards the Forest line yet again.

The constant Stags pressure had to tell and James Fitch's try, converted by Whales, effectively tied up the win for Stags.

Forest never gave up and came back yet again to score another try, but Stags had done enough and were worthy 30-22 winners.

IN MIDLAND East (South) Pool A, St Neots were defeated 13-31 at home by league leaders Rushden and Higham. Neots went into the game in second place, but dropped to third after Oundle recorded a low-scoring 8-7 win at St Ives, who sit fifth in the seven-team division.