A SECOND successive high-scoring win took Nottingham up to third in the RFU Championship table as they beat newly-promoted Jersey 48-16 at Meadow Lane.

Without playing as well as they had done in the win over London Scottish a week earlier, the Green and Whites (or to be precise the Pinks) gradually took control over the second half to make it four wins from six this season.

Alex Shaw grabbed two tries, with Andy Savage and Rhys Crane also touching down to add to a penalty try. James Arlidge enjoyed a near-perfect afternoon with the boot, converting four of those tries and slotting over five penalties.

For their part the visitors had their moments, and with a little more luck could have had a couple more scores on the board.

In the first half in particular they showed good handling as they put together some impressive attacks. But they did seem to tire and make too many mistakes as Nottingham dominated possession in the second half.

A bright start brought an early penalty for Arlidge to open the scoring for the home side, but when they knocked on from the restart they were then penalised at the resulting scrum, giving Michael Le Bourgeois a straightforward chance to level the scores.

As Nottingham hit back strongly the kindest of bounces, from an Arlidge chip through, fell straight into the arms of Savage for the opening try, Arlidge making it 10-3 with the conversion.

And it was another clever kick from Arlidge that created the chance for the second try just two minutes later as Tim Streather gathered the ball and fed Rupert Cooper, who made ground before sending Shaw in for the try, which Arlidge again converted before slotting over his second penalty of the day.

And so with just over ten minutes on the clock Nottingham held what looked a comfortable lead at 20-3.

The visitors' first serious attack of the game suggested otherwise though as they camped on the home line only to be penalised for holding on.

It was a missed tackle which gifted them a try as Le Bourgeois got on the end of a two on one down the middle and raced clear, adding the conversion to bring Jersey back to 20-10 midway through the first half.

Arlidge and Le Bourgeois exchanged penalties but with Nottingham pressing hard for a third try a loose pass saw the visitors storm upfield, and it took some fine defence to deny them a second try.

Another swift counter-attack from Jersey threatened a score but again the home defence held them out to go in at the break leading 23-13.

A knock on at the restart gave Nottingham a scrum midway inside the visitors' half, which produced a penalty for Arlidge to extend the lead.

But a patient, multi-phase attack from Jersey eventually took them into the home 22 and brought a penalty for Le Bourgeois to make it 26-16.

A fifth penalty from Arlidge was quickly followed by a break down the left from Joe Duffey, who sent Shaw in for his second try. Arlidge's conversion attempt was just wide - his only miss of the day.

The bonus point try came ten minutes later, as the game moved into the final quarter. With prop Ben Evans in the sin bin the Jersey pack struggled to contain the strong Nottingham scrummage, and repeated infringements finally brought a penalty try, which Arlidge converted to make it 41-16.

Another good effort from the impressive Crane five minutes from time, again converted by Arlidge, wrapped up the scoring.

Nottingham Rugby: 15 Andrew Savage 14 Jack Cobden (sub: Lynn, 66) 13 Tim  Streather 12 Joe Munro (sub: Joe Cobden, 48) 11 Rhys Crane 10 James Arlidge 9  Sean Romans (sub: Barnham, 69) 1 Matt Parr (sub: Harris 62) 2 Joe Duffey (sub: Wright, 70) 3 Michael Holford 4 Dan Montagu 5 Nic Rouse (sub: Quinn, 69) 6 Rupert Cooper 7 Brent Wilson (c) 8 Alex Shaw (sub: Calladine 62).

Nottingham Rugby 48 (Shaw 2, Savage, Crane, Penalty tries; Arlidge 4 conv; Arlidge 5 pen) Jersey 16 (Le Bourgeois try; Le Bourgeois conv; Le  Bourgeois 3 pen)

Referee: M Curley

Attendance: 1483