Leeds needed a last-gasp try from Tom Biggs to seal the bonus point with his side's fourth touchdown of the afternoon after they had seen off a late fightback.

It seemed unlikely Carnegie would make such hard work of the win after dominating the first period. Tries from Hendre Fourie and Rhys Oakley look set to send the new coaching duo of Andy Key and Back onto an easy home win.

However, the hosts then let their intensity slip in the wet conditions.
Back said: "The win was the most important thing for our first game out.
"I was delighted we got the bonus point as well, but we know we need to improve. We didn't deal with the conditions brilliantly and having got off to a good start we dropped off.

"We will learn from that situation, but it's good to be learning lessons in a winning situation."

Leeds had to deal with the sin-binning of debutant Jon Pendlebury before the break and found themselves frustrated by errors and penalties against them in the second half.

Back conceded: "There were too many penalties against us in the game and we need to look at that.

"There were a lot of avoidable ones which we need to get rid of, things that we have worked on in training and did not execute well. Although we finished and started well, there is a fair bit to work on in between.

"We turned the game around and finished positively and we are looking forward now to next week's game at Exeter."

Leeds led 17-6 at the break, Alberto Di Bernardo kicking both conversions and a penalty and Nottingham full-back David Jackson landing two penalties.

Jackson's boot helped the visitors chip away at Carnegie's lead after the interval, he converted two more efforts to make it 20-12.

However, the home side's nerves were settled when Jonny Hepworth latched onto a Tom Biggs through kick to score after 74 minutes. Then Biggs showed tremendous finishing skills in stoppage time to notch his side's fourth try after a great break by Richard Welding.

Those scores came either side of Nottingham's only try of the day from Luke Sherriff.

Carnegie's National One neighbours Otley found themselves on the wrong end of a 36-15 defeat at promotion hopefuls Doncaster Knights.

Ironically, Peter Clegg's side opened the scoring when scrum-half Dave McCormack touched down after 19 minutes, winger Robin Kitching adding the extras.

But Doncaster, who shaded the early possession, hit back with an unconverted try from former Leeds winger Chris Hughes.

The Knights went in front shortly afterwards when skipper Adam Kettle plunged over, fly-half Ali Warnock tagging on the goal.

Otley missed a chance to narrow the deficit with a penalty following a scrum infringement and the match was finely balanced at 12-7 at half-time.

However, within 60 seconds of the restart Warnock dived over near the posts and added the conversion.

Otley replied with a Kitching penalty, but Bryn Griffiths and then full-back Anthony Carter touched down in the corner to stretch Doncaster's lead.

Gallant Otley grabbed their second try of the game, through Kitching, eight minutes from time but Doncaster had the final word with front-row man Toma Toke crashing over after a good drive, Warnock adding the extras.

The Castle Park outfit travel to London Welsh next weekend, while Otley entertain Esher at Cross Green.

LEEDS CARNEGIE: Hinton, Armstrong, Hepworth, Barrow, Biggs, Di Bernardo, Bedford, MacDonald, Ma'asi, McGee, Murphy, Pendlebury,
Paul, Fourie, Oakley. Replacements:Pala'amo for McGee (55), Nilsen for Ma'asi(70), Denton for Murphy (62), Boyde for Paul (75), Mathie for Bedford (46), Brooks for Barrow(70),Welding for Armstrong (62).

NOTTINGHAM: Jackson, Savage, Nirmalendran, Molenaar, Dodge, Taylor, Usasz, Parr, Duffey, Hall, Morley, Rouse, Hammond, Sherriff,
Montagu. Replacements: Loney for Duffey (50), Fowkes, McDonald, Hemingway, Pilgrim for Usasz (74), Thompson for Taylor
(65), Cobden.

REFEREE: R Kitt.