Table topping Tows took to the road to take on a Newbury team who were unbeaten at home, knowing that a win could see them stretch their lead at the top of the league in the run up to the half way stages

Tows started poorly and conceded a try in the very first minute, Newbury cheered on by a large partisan crowd, Tows tried hard to get back into the game, having the territory and possession but making errors, pressing too hard in defence and last passes going adrift

Eventually Tows did put phases together and from a clean line out take, spread the ball along the back line for winger Alex Chalcraft to continue his impressive try scoring season.

Tows dominated in the Scrum all game shoving the home 8 all over the park, but it was Tows who conceded the first scrum penalty, and while remonstrating, Newbury took a quick tap and put in Ryan Trevaskis for a try to end the first half 10 – 5 ahead

Newbury’s defence held firm in the second half with their back row to the fore, the referee struggling to see anything wrong with their attempts to stop, by now, a scrummage in full reverse. Newbury managed a Penalty to extend their lead to 8 points and Tows, with 10 minutes to go, were now in danger of coming away with nothing, this spurred them into some urgency but they failed to convert any chances, it was a disjointed performance and Newbury Blues took a deserved win to leave the Towcestrians in second place having been overhauled at the top of the league by Salisbury

Coach Robbie George spoke after the game “We have to be consistent to have any ambitions of league success, we were really disappointed with our overall performance today and Newbury got off to a good start and we failed to get any real momentum, the boys worked hard, there were some good individual performances, but on the whole we’re not happy with that display and we will be having a long hard look at ourselves”

Tows will again need to be on their game next week as they face another tough test against Swindon at Greens Norton Road

A hugely impressive Tows 2nd XV beat local rivals Old Northamptonians 2nd XV 39 – 5 to give a decent sized home crowd something to cheer about and after the 3rd team match was cancelled Tows took a crowd of players to play the Old Scouts Vets, who took the invasion in good part, thankyou Scouts

Tows Colts slipped to a 12 -10 defeat at Southam