LIONS........................................42, SHEFFIELD EAGLES................24: THE Lions got back to winning ways in National League Two on Sunday at Park Lane with this defeat of the Eagles.

However, things didn't start as the Whitefield-based side had planned.

The Eagles gained possession from a short kick-off and from that first set of six Alex Dickinson went over by the posts to give the visitors an early lead.

However, the Lions stuck to their task and on 15 minutes a Lee Marsh chip rebounded off an Eagles' defender close to a corner flag and into the arms of Lee Patterson, who had the simple job of walking over the line to touch down. Lee Marsh's conversion equalled the scores.

The Eagles regained the initiative when from another short kick-off they gathered the ball and two tackles later Aled James walked over by the posts. Goddard's conversion gave the visitors a 12-6 lead.

But then the Lions began to hit their stride, both mentally and physically.

On 25 minutes a Sheffield knock-on in their own half put them on the back foot and from the resultant play Wayne English scooted through the Eagles' defence to dive onto a clever kick right under the sticks to give Lee Marsh an easy kick and level the scores at 12-12.

It then got even better. Five minutes before half-time another Sheffield mistake on their 15 yard line resulted in a scrum from which Ian Watson spotted a large gap in the Eagles' defence to dive over after being ankle tapped just before the line.

Marsh's conversion gave the Lions a 18-12 lead and he then made amends for an early penalty miss when just before half-time he put the Lions 20-12 in-front at half-time.

The second half started well for the home side when Marsh put Patterson through 20 yards out, and his power took him through two Sheffield tackles before crossing the line. Marsh's goal kick then made it 26-12.

The Eagles threatened to get back into the game when the DeChenu ran the length of the pitch to score and Brown kicked the conversion.

But Stuart Oldham ran in another Lions' try on 55 minutes after a Marsh chip was fumbled by the Eagles' defence and he regained possession.

A quick pass out to Oldham gave him a straight run to the line and Marsh's conversion make it 32-18.

Watson then made the game safe ten minutes later when he took an inside pass from Marsh and his diagonal run beat the defence. The conversion from made it 38-18.

The Lions' final try came five minutes later when the bounce from a Mick Coates' kick beat both the full-back and Coates himself, but Ian Sinfield was backing up to touchdown.

The Eagles had the final say when Tillyer crossed over and Goddard converted, but the Lions had done more than enough by that point and victory was theirs