Round 5 Hemel Stags vs Featherstone Lions:
Hemel Stags 30 Featherstone Lions 14
Hemel stayed in touch with Bramley at the top with their fourth win from five outings but were pushed all the way in a terrific contest in the Hertfordshire sun.
Lions battled throughout and were desperately unlucky to concede a try two minutes from time that denied them what would have been a deserved bonus point.
The fans quickly warmed to a classic clash, Featherstone were just held out in the opening set and then forced to scramble on their own line as Hemel had three back-to-back chances to post points.
Stags did open the scoring in the 15th minute, Barry John Swindells was just held up short but from a quick play the ball, prop James Howitt powered over.
Swindells converted but Lions hit back well, making the most of a penalty for interference at the play the ball by shipping it wide for Steve Lawrie to go over, Richard Frankland adding the goal.
Jared Searson broke through in the 28th minute but lost possession offloading when he was caught but the Stags pressure told when Ash Fyson went clear on the left just after the half hour.
Swindells added the goal and Frankland responded with a penalty just before the break to make it 12-8.
Two minutes into the second half, Searson was rewarded as the ball was worked out wide and he stormed through from 40 metres for a picture try.
Lions hit back immediately, Stags losing possession and Steve Clough on the end of the re-gathered ball to reduce the gap to four points.
Virtually half an hour passed with no further addition to the score but mounting excitement as both sides sought the killer punch.
It came thanks to a brilliant run from Swindells on the back of some sterling forward work, which allowed Dean Campbell to cross.
Featherstone pushed to remain in contention but were undone when Scott Clendenning-Fenton found prop Tim Stevens and took the return pass to slice through for a superb score to end a wonderful game.
The Stags look to score five wins in a row when they face Carlisle next Saturday at Pennine Way.
STAGS
1 Barry John Swindells
2 Ashley Fyson
3 Jared Searson
4 Brad Glen
5 Stuart McIntyre
6 Brendan Williams
7 Scott Clendenning-Fenton
8 Tim Stevens
9 Alex Brown
10 James Hewitt
11 Dean Campbell
12 Michael Crosby
13 John Webber
sUBS
14 Joseph Compton-Meyer
15 Jamie Ashton
16 Ian Grime
17 Connor Boyd-Barnes
Tries: Howitt (15), Fyson (32), Searson (42), Campbell (71), Clendenning-Fenton (70)
Goals: Swindells 5
Men of the match: STAGS – Brad Glen LIONS – Mark Richardson
Half time: 12-8
Referee: Darren Hayes