Loughborough travelled to Melton with a depleted pack; talismanic locks Pears and Grice joining the ranks of the injured. Openside flanker/centre Price was unavailable, as was Shaw at full-back. Back rows Nurse and Bell stepped into the void and added much to the team in the loose but the lack of weight in the scrum was noticeable as Melton's hefty pack repeatedly caused Loughborough major problems.
Luckily Loughborough's backs stepped in to save the day, scything through Melton's line repeatedly, with excellent strong and clever running angles.
Loughborough led for most of the game but there was a major scare when Melton scored an unconverted try from a well-worked catch and drive from a line-out. This left them three points clear with only five minutes remaining on the clock.
With thirty seconds to go all seemed lost however a fantastic move left Melton's outside backs grasping at air as Sands showed his pace to break down the right wing and score a length of the field try.
This was a game that Loughborough would have lost last season and it took huge amounts of grit to travel away to Melton with a depleted team and grind out a win while struggling for possession.
Loughborough are expected to be at full strength after a rest week and take on Nottingham Casuals at Derby Road on the 5th of October.