LIONS...32, SHEFFIELD EAGLES...24: THE Lions pulled back from an horrific start to snatch the points and complete the double over the Eagles. But they didn't have it all their own way.

"We got out of jail today and I think if my side threw away a 16 point lead I would not be best pleased," said a relieved Lions' coach, Paul Kidd.

"We really dug deep, my players were always positive thoughout and I am very pleased how we finished the game.

"We need to be in top form as we approach the playoffs and there will be no foot-of-the-gas next week at Gateshead.

However, the visitors got off to a flyer when Hugh Thorpe knocked on from the kick off and Ryan Dickinson found his way over the try line. Gavin Brown added the goal points.

Six minutes later they were in again when Brown's pass found Andy Poynter in space and he raced in at the corner, but Brown missed the kick.

Eagles increased their lead even further when Jimmy Pearson scored. Brown again added the goal points and the Eagles were soaring.

The Lions' first try came midway through the half when they won a scrum near the Eagles' line and Sarfraz Patel sent out a superb pass for Thorpe to race in at the corner, but Rob Russell could not convert from the touchline.

Russell did, however, convert a simple penalty goal from in front of the posts.

It was followed by the home side scoring their second try five minutes from the break, when Mick Coates put a superb chip kick through the Eagles' defence and Patel raced onto it to score under the posts. Russell added the goal points.

Russell then put his side to within two at the break when he kicked a late penalty goal.

The Lions started strongly in the second half and a great sweeping move saw them almost score their third try, but Gavin Brown was on hand to intecept the last pass.

Russell missed another penalty attempt in the 43rd minute and it was the Eagles who scored next when Bright

Sodje crossed in the corner and Brown added a great conversion from the touchline, following it up with a penalty goal in the 52nd minute.

The next Lions' try came seven minutes later when Danny Tyrell sent Wayne English racing away and he fed Kris Smith who scored wide out on the left, but Russell again could not convert.

The fourth try came when the Lions were on the attack and Sodje got his fingertips to the ball and diverted it into touch, as Thorpe looked an all on scorer.

From the resulting scrum English again put out a great pass and Chris Maye raced in at the corner but again the conversion missed.

Maye grabbed his second try seven minutes from time when he latched onto a Neil Hayden pass and Russell this time added the goal points.

The final try came in the last minute when Coates put in a kick to the left corner and Phil Cushion fed Tyrell for a try in the corner to give the Lions a sensational victory.

LIONS: English, Thorpe, Warburton, Maye, Tyrell, Coates, Hayden, Cushion, Ayres, Sinfield, Smith, Russell, Hodson. Subs: Patel, Rogers, Gardner, Whittaker.