With the Lions clinching the championship and promotion to National League 3 the previous week, there was always the chance of a potential banana skin against their city rivals, who were relegated a few weeks back and had pride to play for.

The pre match assumption was of an away cricket score favouring the Lions, but the 80 minutes to follow proved otherwise. A late withdrawal from lock John Harlock due to work commitments saw a call up for Fijian back row Ulaiasa Tuibotou, who arrived 30 minutes before the fixture following a work shift. Hooker Joe Roberts was deployed at Blind Side Flanker for the first 25 minutes as the Back row was shuffled around to accommodate absent personnel.

The first half was pretty even, with the Lions breaking the deadlock after 20 minutes, with a penalty from Fly Half Duncan Low. PRUFC then managed to repel numerous 5 meter scrums on their 5 meter line, with the Lions driving their opponents back. The final 5 meter scrum was driven half a meter from the PRUFC line, but was somehow kicked from Stand-in Number 8 and Captain Chris Humphrey's feet as the "Boro" pack retreated.

The first of 2 Lions tries was scored following the first real succession of phases that the Lions put together. The ball was spun into the wide left and then almost immediately back. Vice-captain and Inside Centre Gediminas Marcisauskas dotted down with 2 further Lions players on his outside. Low was unsuccessful with the conversion.

Half time score: PRUFC 0 - 8 Peterborough Lions.

The Yo-yo tussle continued in the second half with the vast majority of the game played inbetween both the hosts and visitor's 22 meter lines. The hosts built up pressure and forced a kickable penalty of their own to take the scores to 3-8.

The scoring for the game was complete on the 65 minutes mark, as captain and Number 8 Chris Humphrey picked and went from the back of a scrum 25 meters out and scored a solo effort just outside the right hand upright. Replacement Scrum Half Jaco Steenberg was successful with the conversion.

The final whistle went on what was a pretty dour game. The PRUFC faithful will probably take a lot more out of the game than the league champions, who have 2 games to play and still remain top of the Raptor League.

Up next at Bretton Park is the arrival of Mansfield, who sit mid-table after a resurgent mid-season, in what is the penultimate league fixture in this 2013/14 season. Please pardon me if I have some of the events wrong on this one as I suffered mild concussion. LOL!!!

Man of the Match: Chris Humphrey