AFTER avoiding relegation by two points the season before last, the 'green and whites' went into last season's campaign with a degree of trepidation, however, it proved totally unfounded.

Four wins from five in November (the defeat coming at Park Lane, where Sedgley won 33-20) banished any relegation worries, and then five straight wins in January (including a 22-17 defeat of Sedgley) hoisted them into the promotion slots.

Led by Kiwi flanker Craig Hammond, stand-off Neil Stenhouse top scored with 238 points, with wing David Jackson emerging the team's top try scorer.

Al three remain with the club and also catching the eye so far this campaign are flanker Richard Lloyd, wing Chris Wyles, Ben Thompson and Tongan international prop, Tonga Laa'aetoa.

Nottingham have won two games from nine (Henley at home and surprisingly Birmingham/Solihull away last Saturday).

But just as important, they have picked up four bonus points for scoring four or more tries - three of those in games they lost. That puts them in 12 points three more than Sedgley

INS: Lee Morley (back row - Nuneaton); Kevin Brennan (scrum-half - London Irish); Ben Thompson (utility back - Exeter Chiefs); Luke Sayer (Leicester Academy); Chris Wyles (wing - Leicester Academy); Tom Kirk, Howard Quigley (both back row - Bedford); Simon Jenkins (hooker - Newbury); Andy Fuller (Manchester); Alex Loney (Leicester); Ben Pain (Lock/No.8 - London Welsh), Nigel Hall (prop - Canterbury (NZ); Johan Van Den Berg (Eastern Province).