Towcestrians faced a strong Tunbridge Wells side at Greens Norton Road on Saturday and with only three of last weeks pack available faced an uphill struggle right from the get go and came away battered and bruised after a heavy defeat by the Tunbridge outfit.

The visitors ability to retain and use the ball better in difficult conditions and execute when in Tows 22 proved the difference in the first half as they raced out of the blocks and crossed for two tries within the first 7 minutes , from their scrum half and right wing, the visitors adapted well to the biting cold, wet and muddy conditions far better than Tows and a blind side move off a scrum saw them go over for another score half way through the half from no.8 Nick Doherty, he followed that up with another score from the base of a dominant scrum for the visitors to end the half 29 points up and a heavy defeat looked on the cards.

Tows improved considerably in the second half, despite shipping a score early in the half for Doherty's hat-trick, they enjoyed their best period of the game, camping in the visitors 22 for long periods, time after time just coming up short through some stout defence, and Tows own poor handling, continuing to attempt back of the hand passes and 50/50 offloads in the vile conditions, despite the pressure it was Wells who scored again, turning ball over and through a number of phases giving them field position and an overlap created from a scrum for their winger to score.

With the sending off of a Wells player for two yellow cards it was Tows who finally crossed, giving them some scant reward for their efforts, Sam Sturley hitting the line at pace and spinning out of tackles for a good score.

Next week Tows are on the road again against top 3 side Hertford