Lions stay top of Midland 2 East (South) despite going down to their second defeat of the season but Tows have two games in hand.

If Tows can repeat their performance on Saturday when Lions travel to Greens Norton Road for the return fixture, they will lead.

Tows lost no time in setting down a marker to the home side when they spread the ball wide for No 8 Craig Holton to score.

Matt Yuill added a penalty to give Tows some daylight but Lions were not to be denied and hit back through their heavy pack.

They drove over from a line out for a converted try and another followed moments when Tows’ defence stuttered and failed to contest a 22 drop out.

Trailing for the first time, Aaron Goodman put Tows back in front when he finished off a break by Dave Devlin-Jones to make it 14-15.

Tows now lifted their game. Chrissie George turned over the hosts’ possession to gift Yuill his second penalty of the day.

Yuill then launched one of his trademark runs from deep, stepping several players before releasing wing James Tilley to run in.

Another try scoring chance went begging just before half time and after the break, Eugene Baxter’s covering tackle prevented a certain score.

With the opposition tiring, Tows superior fitness began to tell. Prop John Causebrook was driven over and tries followed from James Falvey and a second for Yuill.

Yuill’s conversion put Tows 14-42 up but an injury to Goodman saw them reduced to 14 men for the last ten minutes having already used all their subs.

Lions made the numerical advantage pay and spread the ball wide for both their wingers, Liam Mills and Alex Cluchlesus, to score before the final whistle.