Ealing Trailfinders suffered their third loss of the season as Matthew Goode's late drop goal clinched an exciting 26-25 win for Rugby Lions in a thrilling game at Vallis Way.
The defeat may well have snuffed out Ealing's lingering hopes of landing the National There title - and promotion.
Goode's late cameo capped a man-of-the-match performance for the centre who was at the heart of most of the visitors' best play.
Going into the final 10 minutes, Ealing led 18-15. But then substitute Lions winger Adrian Hales returned a drop-out for a try in the left corner before a Harry Owens penalty extended the visitors' lead to 23-18.
Ealing looked to have won the game when Owen Bruynseels latched onto Ben Ward's inside pass to cross under the posts and Ward kicked the conversion, but Rugby applied enough pressure to create the opportunity for Goode.
The Lions enjoyed the better of the opening quarter, but failed to capitalise as fullback Jack Green missed three penalties.
Ealing made the most of their first visit to the visitors' 22 after scrum-half Dan Smaje stole the ball at back of Rugby's scrum and David Howells crossed for the 30th time this season.
Howells almost scored again immediately from the kick off, but the Lions escaped and crafted their own try after a clean break by Goode set up Thomas Harris for a long run in.
The Lions winger was caught by Bruynseels short of the line, but crashed into the post pad to register the score. Owens, taking over the kicking responsibilities from Green, kicked the extras and a first penalty shortly after to give Rugby a 10-5 lead.
Ealing regained parity on the stroke of half time with Howells' second try, as the wing made the most of a quickly taken penalty to round the defence and score.
Early in the second half, full-back Pete Hodgkinson finished off a great attack to give Ealing a 15-10 lead after Mark Tucker broke and offloaded to Ali James.
And again, the Lions hit back and tied the score with a similar try by substitute Hales. A move off the back of scrum on the Ealing 22, with Goode creating space, gave the winger room to sneak over.
With the game in the balance, Howells missed a golden opportunity to put Ealing ahead when he dropped the scoring pass with the line at his mercy.
But the omens looked good for Ealing as they started to build pressure and only the cynical killing of the ball by prop James Hadfield denied another try opportunity. Ward kicked the resulting penalty and Hadfield escaped a yellow card.
Ealing captain Andy Dalgleish was not so lucky when he slowed down a quickly taken free-kick and during his time in the sin bin, the see-saw conclusion unfolded.
This weekend Ealing travel to top-of-the-table London Scottish at the Richmond Athletic Ground (2pm). Scottish are five points clear of Ealing, have a game in hand and are unbeaten in the league this season.
