Tows started the match badly with a penalty awarded to the opposition in the first minute of the game. Fly half James Mortimer slotting the points for the Ath.

After that Towcester’s misfortune continued with a try from the Ath’s colossus lock Martin Wolfendon. Mortimer added the conversion to make it 10-0.

Towcester then at last came into the game. Chrissie George poached a ball from the driven back Athletic scrum to release debutant wing forward Gareth Collins to sprint to the line. James Falvey converted.

After the Towcester try, most of possession was with the visitors whose backs looked dangerous as they spread the ball wide at pace.

Tows lost centre Aaron Goodman to a yellow card and Athletic took advantage of the extra man running in two unconverted tries from the tight head and the fly half Mortimer.

Towcester refused to lay down however coming back with a try from Richard Tustian after some well worked interplay between forwards and backs.

Right wing Adam Wilkinson then dotted down under the posts. Falvey stroked the ball over and by half time Tows were trailing by one point at 19-20.

At the start of the second half a storming lineout drive secured a try for the Ath, converted by Mortimer.

A Falvey penalty kept Towcester within touching distance, and with the Tows backs now getting the ball out quicker than ever, only handing mistakes prevented them from scoring.

The Tows scrum, now dominating the heavier Ath eight, had a series of penalty scrums on the oppositions line and Tows scrum half George touched down wide out.

Falvey’s conversion narrowly missed and the game was level with five minutes to go with the scores at 27 apiece.

Tows failed to put the ball behind the Ath defence and paid the price with a line out five metres out from their line.

Ath’s efficient line out drive secured a try and gave Bedford Athletic the win. Tows at least gained the two bonus points from the game.