Huntingdon were unable to turn their dominance into points as they slipped to a third successive defeat last Saturday.

The Stags went down 22-13 at a Derby side who climbed to the top of the Midlands Division One East table in the process.

Huntingdon controlled much of the opening period but had only two Dan Malem penalties and a narrow 6-5 advantage to show for their endeavours at the interval.

The hosts had scored a try which was allowed to stand despite a blatant piece of obstruction.

They also survived a 10-minute spell with 14 men following a sin-binning for a line-out offence.

Stags did increase their advantage when an incisive Malem break created a try for Duncan Low early in the second half.

Malem also did the honours with the conversion but Derby responded with a converted try of their own.

A penalty then edged the home side ahead and a breakaway score increased their advantage, while Stags were left to ponder what might have been.

Huntingdon have a break from league action this Saturday as they stage their 80th anniversary celebration at the Racecourse.

They face their first-ever home opponents, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, at noon ahead of a 1.30pm lunch which is expected to attract around 150 guests.

The club’s first home match took place on Saturday, November 30, 1935 at Sapley (the exact location was not specified in that week’s edition of the Hunts Post!)

The Stags were beaten 17-3 on that historic occasion and will no doubt be keen to settle the score some 80 years on.

Their first-ever match had been played some weeks earlier away at Deaconians in Peterborough.

The anniversary celebrations actually begin on Friday night when Stags are holding ‘Proptoberfest’.

It’s a mini beer festival with 11 real ales and music to start the festivities.

Entry is £5 per person and that also includes a burger.