Both Loughborough Students and Leicester Lions turned in seven-try performances as they recorded important victories in National Two North.

Students won 48-7 at Waterloo to remain top of the table, while Lions claimed the bragging rights after a 45-24 derby triumph against Rugby Lions.

With Macclesfield and Caldy both winning, it was important that Students came away with maximum reward from a clash against the bottom side.

And they managed just that. Within 25 minutes they had the bonus point in the bag and led 26-0 for good measure.

Camillo Parilli, James Silcock, Edmund Rolston and Joe Munro all crossed during that time and Matthew Keville converted three of the scores.

A Keville penalty extended that lead just after the break, as did Rolston's second try on 51 minutes and another Keville conversion.

The hosts did pull a converted try back but Students scored two more tries in the closing stages of the game to put the icing on the cake.

Silcock added his second – Keville added the extras – and David Shotton also got on the scoresheet.

Lions, meanwhile, also had a terrific win and had the bonus point in the bag early on in a game that took a very similar shape to the Students' match.

Ben Walker's try got the ball rolling after 11 minutes and Jon Boden slotted the extras.

Andrew Dockray then crossed and Boden again converted before Drew Rudkin scored and Walker grabbed his second. Boden converted to give Lions a 26-0 lead after just 24 minutes.

Shaun Murray grabbed the fifth try of the afternoon shortly after the interval and Boden added the extras to extend the advantage.

Although the visitors pulled a try back, Jeremy Saxon scored and Boden added two more points to fire Lions into a 40-7 lead after 52 minutes.

Rugby refused to lie down and scored two more tries of their own. Matt Solomon scored Lions' final try of the afternoon but the visitors did leave with a bonus point with a fourth second-half try with four minutes to go.

The result means Lions are in eighth, while Students hold a four point advantage on Macclesfield and an eight-point lead on Caldy, who have been in good form recently.

Both have a game in hand so the title race is truly alive and kicking.