This was perhaps not the best time to be travelling to Men’s Own, confident after three consecutive victories but under a hot sun and on a hard bare pitch Stags secured their future in Midlands 3 for next season by deservedly overcoming their hosts.

The first half was even. Men’s Own scored a well worked try and Stags replied with a Damien Whales penalty. Stags should have had a further three points just before the break but a penalty decision in their favour was reversed, a happily rare lapse of control in a season where discipline has, on the whole, been very good. 7-3 to Men’s Own at half time.

Playing with panache and confidence, Stags effectively won the game in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half. Tom Beattie playing on the wing in possibly his last game for Stags, put into space by Whales, finished well from forty yard out. Further tries followed from James Thorp and Tom McCreadie, Whales converting one. 20-7 was now a reasonably comfortable margin and Simon Orange and Bennie Giglio both just short of touching down were very close to creating a decisive one.

It was not to be, however, and Men’s Own came back with the bulk of territory. Stags were forced to defend and nerves were raw all around the ground. Stags held out until a couple of minutes from time but the conversion was missed; 20-12 and there was still breathing space. Then, in the final play Charlie Cook and Quentin Minnaar combined well for the latter to put the icing on the cake for Stags.

The last league fixture is against Towcestrians at Hinchingbrooke on 21 April kick off 3 p.m. After scoring 24, 27 and 25 points in their last three games Stags will be looking to end the season with a final flourish.