Prop Sam Smith ran on to play a full 80 minutes out of position in second row, reducing the Tows bench to just one replacement.

Despite having little margin for error, Tows managed a comfortable win at Peterborough with a Matt Yuill bagging 19 points.

They went ahead through a Yuill penalty and he added another seven points with a converted try when Pepe Nanci put him away.

Tows frustrated the hosts’ attacking endeavours with strong tackling and Marc Yeates increased the lead by stroking a massive drop goal.

Peterborough’s indiscipline saw two of their players binned and Nanci took advantage with a dart down the blindside.

Yuill converted and at half time Tows turned round 20 points up with the home side yet to trouble their scorer.

The hosts struck back in the opening minutes of the second half with a converted try but Yuill deflated the fight back with an outstanding individual score.

Watched by his father Steve, the former Saints and Bedford centre, Yuill danced down the touchline beating four defenders to touch down under the posts.

He converted his own try to make it 7-27 and 20 point lead was welcome as No 8 Chirs Kirby joined the growing ranls of the injured.

Centre Martyn Harvey had already left the field to use up Tows’ last remaining sub and when Kirby left, Tows were reduced to 14 men.

They still took the game to Peterborough however, out-scrummaging the hosts on their own line.

But the numerical advantage finally told and the hosts scored through a pick and drive, the failed conversion bringing the game to an end.