Leeds Carnegie needed a last gasp try from Tom Biggs to secure a bonus point 34-19 win over Nottingham at Headingley Carnegie.
Having dominated the first half, the home side were becoming increasingly frustrated after the break by a great try by Jonny Hepworth, set up by Biggs, and the wingers late effort ensured maximum points.
A new era at Headingley Carnegie in warm but wet conditions. The arrival of Andy Key and Neil Back has engendered a spirit of optismism within the club and there was a feeling of excitement ahead of kick off.
The home side took the game to Nottingham right from the kick off and camped themselves in the oppositions half. Leigh Hinton and Jonny Hepworth made the initial in roads through the visitors defence before the forwards took over. Having declined a kick at goal from a penalty, props Mike MacDonald and Tommy McGee rumbled towards the line before Hendre Fourie had the presence of mind to pick up and dive over the line. Alberto Di Bernardo added the conversion to make it 7-0 after five minutes.
That lead was doubled two minutes later when Rhys Oakley was alert at the tail of a line out to collect a wayward Nottingham throw to score the simplest try of his career and go over untouched. Di Bernardo added the conversion to make it 14-0.
Nottingham did manage to get on the scoresheet after nine minutes when David Jackson kicked a penalty for offside from 30 metres out however Leeds were soon back on the attack.
Hepworth had a try disallowed after he chased through to dive on a well weighted grubber from Di Bernardo. With the rain getting heavier as the game continued, Leeds elected to kick for goal from their next penalty chance and Di Bernardo made it 17-3 after 21 minutes.
Nottingham managed to cancel out that penalty with one of their own after 30 minutes after Leeds were penalised for hands in the ruck just inside their own half. Jackson, despite the wet conditions, hit the ball cleanly straight between the posts to make it 17-6.
Leeds were finding themselves on the wrong side of referee Rowan Kitt's officiating and after several penalties against them, they found themselves down to 14 men when debutant Jon Pendlebury was sin binnned for killing the ball at a ruck with four minutes remaining in the half.
The home side faced a huge test soon afterwards with the eight man pack of Nottingham having a scrum against the seven of Leeds ten metre out. However, Leeds showed real determination to not just survive but actually drive the visitors off the ball and earn a penalty.
The second half saw the introduction of new signing Scott Mathie to lift his side however as the rain continued to fall, Nottingham managed to cut the Leeds advantage with another penalty from Jackson after 48 minutes however that was soon cancelled out by Di Bernardo two minutes later with a penalty from 25 metres out.
Referee Rowan Kitt was ensuring his performance was remembered by all inside Headingley Carnegie with constant whistle blowing throughout the second half resulting in another penalty for Jackson, which he converted to make it 20-12 after 53 minutes.
Nottingham were clearly reveling in their role as underdog and grew in confidence as the game went on. In contrast, Leeds were finding themselves being penalised too often by the official which prevented them from gaining any sort of momentum.
They needed a moment of inspiration and it came with eight minutes remaining from Tom Biggs. The club's record breaking winger wrapped up a loose kick by Nottingham replacement Ben Thompson but little seemed to be on in heavy traffic inside his own half. However, he stepped through the first tackle before chipping ahead. The Nottingham defence tried to block Biggs as he raced through however they failed to spot the on rushing Hepworth who brilliantly picked up the bouncing ball and raced in to score between the posts from 20 metres out. Di Bernardo added the conversion to make it 27-12.
Nottingham managed to get a try with three minutes remaining when back row Luke Sherriff eventually forced his way over after a number of rolling mauls on the Leeds line. Jackson added the conversion to make it 27-19 with two minutes remaining.
Nottingham had denied Northampton a bonus point in both meetings last season and it looked like they would do the same to Leeds with time running out. However, as the game entered stoppage time, Richard Welding made a brilliant break down field before offloading to Biggs, who cut back inside before racing through to score between the posts. Di Bernardo added the conversion to seal a 34-19 win over one of Leeds Carnegie's major rivals for promotion this season.

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: Rowan Kitt
Attendance: 3,703