Tows early season drubbing of Rugby Lions was reversed on Rugby's home pitch, Tows, forced to play centre Pepe Nanci at fly-half and scrum-half Sam Pamment at full-back, the changes catching up with Tows in the second half.
The game started promisingly for Tows, who made a mess of several early scoring chances before scrum half, Ben Barwell broke from a solid scrum to score wide out, Nanci's conversion rebounding off the posts, Lions got on the scoreboard with a penalty from the kick off, tows then lost Tom Threlfall through injury, and Lions went ahead with a converted try, two cover tackles from Nanci on Lions right wing kept Tows in the match and Adam Wilkinson then levelled it on the stroke of half-time with a try wide out.
Tows went back in front , the ball going through the hands, to release no.8 Craig Holton, but after this score Tows lost their way and perhaps the exertions of the midweek cup game took its toll on some of the players, Tows slipped off the strong running Lions wing forward, Tanfield, for Lions second try, and they exerted more pressure, Tows bravely repelling but eventually they broke through for a third try, now roared on by a raucous home crowd, Tows conceded a soft try, but to their credit still came back with a try through debutant centre Louis Evans, who featured strongly throughout.
The defeat leaves Tows mid table in seventh spot but with third place only 9 points ahead, a strong finish to the season is needed.
Tows 2nd XV were also in action in a tough fixture against Nuneaton 2nd XV, veteran fly-half Marc Yeates going over for Tows crucial score in a hard fought 13 - 10 win.