DIRECTOR of rugby Alex Davidson believes a mid-table finish could be on the cards for Luctonians thanks to another excellent win.

The Kingsland have won eight of their last 11 games and are out of the National League 2 North relegation zone.

Their latest success was a 31-24 win at Preston Grasshoppers, with their next match being a trip to Harrogate this Saturday.

"I think it started to turn around at the end of November," said Davidson.

"We're climbing away from danger and still have got games in hand.

"So we could be looking at a mid-table finish, which sounds delicious when you think about the position we were in.

"If we get 10 points in our next two games, you start dragging the eighth, ninth and 10th placed teams into a relegation battle.

"I think a lot of teams will finish with over 60 points, whereas normally two teams are normally dead and buried."

Davidson reserved praise for winger Josh Watkins, who scored two tries and set up another.

Watkins is a former Worcester Warriors player and is contracted to play for England Sevens.

"He has represented them for the majority of the season, but they said he wouldn't be available for their remaining games, so released him to 15s rugby," added Davidson.

"We only saw him last Thursday, so it was a bit of a punt to play him.

"We had to rest Jimmy Norris and Will Hodnett, so needed him to perform well, which he did.

"The first try was all his work and the second try was due to a lot of build-up play from him.

"He then showed great vision to put Joe Doyle through for the last try.

"His brother Ryan is in his third season with us and is still signed as a player-coach."

Watkins opened the scoring in the second minute when he ran from his own half after exposing some poor tackling from Preston.

Louis Silver added the conversion before the former Coventry player kicked over a penalty.

But a good break from Scott Jordan led to a Grasshoppers penalty from Lewis Allen and it was Jordan's quick thinking that led to him levelling the game with a try; Allen converting.

Silver landed a penalty before Allen claimed a fantastic try.

He missed the conversion but later kicked over a penalty to put his side 18-13 ahead.

But Lucs levelled after the break through a Will Burton try.

Both sides then traded penalties before Watkins claimed his second try of the game.

Doyle then went over to extend Lucs' lead before Allen slotted over a late penalty.