Barnes hopes of avoiding relegation hang by a thread as fellow strugglers Dings Crusaders scored two converted tries in the last five minutes to steal the a 31-17 at their Lockleaze ground, writes Ben Gilby.

Dings were ahead in the fourth minute when winger Sam Cavan dotted down close to the posts. Mitch Burton added the extras, and a penalty to increase the Bristol based side’s lead to 10-0.

Barnes, playing their usual expansive game, managed to get a crucial foothold in the game six minutes later when scrum-half Hamish Reeves plunged over the line.

Josh Coles levelled the scores seconds later as he added a penalty to his conversion.

The scoreboard may have been level, but one place where the game was anything but equal was in the scrum, where Dings were dominant.

From another powerful push, Sylvan Edwards went over with four minutes of the half to play. Burton’s kick was successful, and the Crusaders returned to the changing rooms leading 17-10.

The second half started on a disappointing note for the Green and Golds as they lost both Rich Matthews and Josh Coles to injury.

However, these enforced changes certainly didn’t adversely affect Barnes, in fact, to the contrary, with a quarter of an hour to go, the visitors levelled the scores once more when Gareth Williams-Davies gloriously intercepted a loose Dings pass and stormed under the posts.

He then got up and converted his own try. At this point, Barnes had the scent of a vital victory, but Dings forward power was decisive in the final stages as the pressured Barnes defence conceded a penalty try with five minutes to go.

In the eightieth minute, Crusaders earned the winning bonus point after they completely demolished the Barnes scrum once more, and scrum-half Steve Plummer leapt across the line, with Burton adding the extras.

In order to survive in National Two South, Barnes need to win their final two matches, gaining try scoring bonus points in doing so, and hope that Lydney and Dings fail to pick up any more points.

The battle begins on Saturday at home to fifth placed Henley Hawks.