Valley Cougars were knocked off the top of Conference League South after losing 30-20 at home to Nottingham Outlaws on August 22.
The Cougars will still finish top if they win their final two games, one being a game in hand at home to Oxford Cavaliers, but for now it’s the Outlaws who top the table after doing the double over the Cougars.
Jimmy Goodwin opened the scoring for the Outlaws with two quick tries. Dan Smith converted the first as they went into a 10-0 lead.
James Allen hit back for the Cougars with Mike Hurley converting before a well worked move saw Lee Goddard go over for the Cougars’ second leaving it ten-all at the break.
It looked like the second half was going to be a carbon copy of the first, with a breakaway try from Adrian Chaima, then a second for the same player which Smith converted, making it 20-10.
However, when Smith went over for one of his own, that went unconverted, they were 14 points to the good.
Dean Higgs struck back for the Cougars before a George Strachan try for Outlaws converted by Adam Cunliffe made it 30-14.
Cougars scored again in the final minute with Higgs going over for his second and Dan Davies converted, but it was too late for another comeback.