Sponsored by
Stags are over the line!
Hemel Stags pulled out one of their best performances of the season to finish in the coveted third spot.
Their 28-20 defeat of Nottingham Outlaws in the RLCN means they go into the play-offs with one, possibly two home ties to play, starting with Dewsbury Celtic on Saturday in a 2.30pm kick off.
"It's a huge advantage for us," said boss Troy Perkins. "We've put ourselves in a great position.
"We haven't been beaten at home for five months and we have beaten all the teams we could go up against.
"It's a real bonus not having to travel up to the other side of the country."
Should Perkins' men see off Celtic they will set up another tie at their Pennine Way home with either Huddersfield Underbank Rangers or Kippax Knights.
A win there will put them a win away from making this year's grand final.
Ashley Fyson put the depleted Stags ahead in the 12th minute on Saturday and Jame Acton doubled the lead mid-way through the half when he got on to a huge bomb from the returning Ben Joyce.
Barry John Swindells converted both efforts.
Outlaws took took a 14-12 lead into the break thanks to converted tries from Nick Cooper and Adam Millward and a penalty from Nathan Walmsley.
Aaron Hall regained the lead for Stags in the second half, Swindells by-passed four tackles to go over in the corner before Jason Price also dotted down.
Outlaws' George Strachan crashed over to set up a grandstand finish, but Swindells penalty secured the points for the men in yellow and blue.
"We had a bit of pressure on us as we knew we needed to win," added Perkins.
"It was one of our best performances of the season against a team that had nothing to lose."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -4 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
