Nuneaton 33 Leicester Lions 22
Unbeaten Nuneaton regained the league leadership with victory in a blood-and-thunder Midland derby which featured some excellent tries and thunderous tackling.
There were three tries for each side but Nuns were aided by the impeccable goal-kicking of fly-half Gareth Cull. Cull stroked over all three conversions and four penalty goals while counterpart Dan Youill was barely less impressive, succeeding with two conversions and a penalty.
Lions drew first blood when No 8 Damien Evans, a former Nuneaton player, took advantage of missed tackles for an early try and various kicks by Cull and Youill made it 10-6 for the visitors.
Home scrum-half Phil Reed then got a simply brilliant solo try, dummying and jinking from halfway to the line, before teenage winger Lee Parry likewise shone when conjuring a try in the corner.
Nuns led 23-15 at half-time after Cull's third penalty and a rolling-maul try by Lions flanker Ben Pain, but their lead was cut to only one point after 55 minutes when Youill converted winger James Purdy's try on the short side of another maul.
In the final quarter, Cull slotted his fourth penalty and converted Reed's second try, scored after a break from a maul, to make the points safe for the hosts. ..SUPL:
