Nuns 'still not out of equation' insists coach

Nuneaton start a run of four home games crucial to their survival in National Division Two when Waterloo come to Liberty Way. Last week's 22-16 defeat at Wharfe- dale has left Nuns 11 points shy of the relegation cut-off in next to bottom place and with little margin for error.

"We got a bonus point last week, but the boys have been made well aware that this is a must-win," said coach Mike Umaga.

"We're still not out of the equation and losing last week just means we have got to go away and win at places where it is difficult as well as making sure we win our home games."

Nuns conceded a try in injury time to trail 22-8 at half-time last week, but Umaga felt the critical period of the game came in the third quarter when - playing with a strong wind behind them - they failed to make any inroads.

"I had it as a 25-point wind and we turned round 14 points down," he said. "What did kill us was probably that in the 20 minutes after half-time we didn't do enough to utilise the conditions.

"The disappointing factor is that it was a game we could still have won. We had a try disallowed and a couple of decisions didn't go our way.

"There was no lack of effort, but we just need that little bit of nous and intelligence to come with it now - we are creating chances, but it's the conversion rate that is poor. We need to raise our intenstiy and keep working away at what works for us."

Nuns will be without lock forward Ben Griffiths, ruled out by a back problem, while backs Alex Croft and Aaron Takarangi face fitness tests.

Nuns went down narrowly 29-25 Waterloo, who arte currently fifth in the table, in September.