Rugby Lions fought hard to secure this important victory against their closest National 2 North league opponents, finally achieving a reasonably decisive winning scoreline.

Lions owed a lot to the kicking and general play of full back Lloyd Warner but this was also a thoroughly competent team display with strong defence and, late on, some impressive backs play to give Rugby a second successive win after their long winless run of results.

A blizzard relented in time for the kick off and although the pitch was left white, it appeared to provide a good enough surface.

The big crowd with noticeable Lions support among it were mostly packed into the stand which at least felt less exposed than the far side but the weather was still bitterly cold once the snow clouds had cleared.

Lions got off to a very important good start and Warner kicked two penalties in the first 8 minutes for a 0-6 lead and Rugby were never to be headed throughout the game.

’Street fly half Dan Richards then replied with his own penalty to keep Broadstreet well in touch in what was already looking likely to be a close and hard-fought match with the set pieces quite evenly contested.

After some more considered positional kicking from both sides than is sometimes seen these days, Lions’ Joe Marston and Warner runs combined to take Rugby close before the forwards powered over the line with Tom Williams credited with the touchdown for the first try on 24 minutes.

Two more Richards penalties cut the lead to 9-11 so Lions will have been relieved to see Warner kick his third penalty to at least give Rugby a 9-14 interval lead for their efforts.

Warner extended Lions’ lead on 50 minutes with his fourth penalty for 9-17 and Broadstreet were under pressure having to play catch-up rugby against a tenacious Lions defensive display.

When ’Street centre Gary Challis started to find some room to attack, his side took advantage for Nigel Mukarati to score wide out and close up the game at 14-17 with the final quarter to play.

Now Rugby upped the tempo of their play and following two successful drop goals out of three attempts in an effective change of tactics, Lions sealed the game with a try from winger Tom Harris after Warner’s run.

Rugby Lions: Warner, Marston, Goode, Green, Harris, Andrews, Barker, Williams, Price, Pateman, Munro, Weaver, Saunders, Carney, Nash. Reps: Gregson, Reed, Spokes, Warrilow, Campton