Towcester ground out a 12th League win at Market Harborough to maintain their spot at the top of the table.

They made hard work of the start and found themselves on the back foot after conceding a string of penalties.

Harborough had several chances to go in front but their kicks at goal were skewed wide.

The home side pressure eventually told when fly half Matt Gilbert broke the Tows’ line to score.

Tows finished the half camped deep in Harborough territory but turned round 5-0 down after choosing the wrong options in attack.

A half-time rocket from coach Robbie George saw a different Towcester side start the second half.

They scored ten points in quick succession. Matt Yuill slotted a drop goal and then chipped over the heads of the opposition.

Centre Martyn Harvey followed up, pounced on the ball and crossed for a try which Yuill converted.

Towcester squandered a further scoring chance but soaked up further pressure from the home side to scrape the win.

The 65-minute mark saw veteran prop and former skipper Paul Osborne-Wright, now Towcester chairman, return to first team rugby.

Now more familiar on the touchline watching his son Zak play in his old front row berth, ‘Ossie’ held up manfully to the final whistle.

Towcester continue their League campaign on Saturday playing bottom-placed BBOBs at Greens Norton Road. (KO 2.15)

Both Towcester IIs and IIIs had their fixtures called off: the IIIs following a last minute pitch inspection.