With numerous changes to the starting line-up due to injuries and unavailabilities, this game was always going to be a huge test for the in form Blues side, but the way the game started you would never have known that it was the home side searching for the points to ensure the league title was theirs, as the Blues tore into the Lions and dominated the first quarter of the match.

Joe Daniel failed with his first 2 penalty shots at goal with the 2nd bouncing off the upright to safety, but struck his third effort straight through the middle to give the visitors the lead on 17 minutes.

Lions struck back almost immediately with a well worked move from a scrum, which saw their left winger burst through and outpace the cover to score their opening try, which was converted to give the hosts a 7-3 lead. A penalty then saw their lead extended as their physical game asked questions of the Blues defence.

Back came Kettering, but they suffered a blow when scrum half, Tom Bridgeman had to leave the field with a shoulder injury.

The re-shuffle meant that fly half Ben Dawson had to step in at scrum half and Joe Daniel moved to the 10 slot. Despite this setback the Blues stuck to their task and concerted pressure in the home 22, lead to the Lions trying to run the ball out of defence. Daniel spotted the chance and intercepted a pass to run in under the posts and then level the scores with the conversion.

The scores remained locked at 10-10 until the 55th minute when a strong catch and drive by the Lions was inexplicably allowed to carry on and after such a fine rearguard action the Blues forwards crumbled to gift the home side a soft try, which was also converted to give the home side a 17-10 lead going into the final quarter.

Daniel then kicked another penalty on 63 minutes to close the gap to 4 points, but that was as close as the Blues came as a 77th minute, unconverted try by the hosts finally secured the win. The Blues did have another penalty opportunity which would have given them a deserved losing bonus point, but they chose to go for the try and proceeded to lose the resultant lineout and the game ended with a jubilant Lions side celebrating and the Blues reflecting on what might have been, had they performed to the level they had reached in previous weeks.

RAJ Man of the Match: Dan Martin