In front of their largest crowd of the season, Stags were by far the more fluent and inventive side, had the bulk of the territory and no doubt felt that they should have won this match, yet but for the frailties of the S&L kicker in the dying minutes would have lost it, albeit undeservedly.

The first  half was largely attritional and sometimes fractious though nonetheless compelling, such constructive rugby as there was coming exclusively from Stags, exemplified by an excellent try started with a break by Elliot Baldwin from half way and continued by the backs for Dale Abblitt to be put in at the corner..

The swirling wind made kicking tricky all afternoon, and though Damien Whales missed the conversion he struck two good penalties for an 11-3 half time lead for Stags. Save for one 40 yard driving maul, S&L had simply not been in the game and were flattered by their single penalty on a rare visit to Stags half.

An exchange of a penalty and a drop goal ( Whales bringing up his 100 points for the season in the process) maintained the 8 point margin and Stags had an opportunity to close out the game when a break from defence led by Simon Leader created a 3 to 1 overlap but the opportunuty went begging.

All afternoon Stags' Achilles heel had been the line out and the S&L dominance in this area now really began to count, their number 4 being particularly effective. Stags began to look anxious and an S&L penalty brought them to within a score. With 4 minutes left that score materialised but the conversion was missed. Still S&L had the chance to win, an unwise Stags attempt to run it out of their own 22 resulting in a not too difficult penalty. It drifted wide, Stags were simultaneously relieved and disappointed and that was that.

At the half way point in the league campaign Stags can be satisfied with their endeavours to date; 7 wins and this draw out of 11 matches keeps them in touch with the leaders and a chance, albeit an outside one, of a top two finish.