A visit to Billing Road saw Tows leave empty handed on a day where both teams were sporting yellow socks to raise money for the Air Ambulance charity after two ON’s players required medical attention last week. Fortunately both players are on the mend

The first half started quite even, the deadlock being broken by Scrum half George Speakman in his first game for the 1s in months slipping a couple of tackles at the base of the ruck. ON’s replied almost immediately charging down a kick, gathering the ball to go over putting them ahead by 2. This followed by 2 penalties. Tows then mounted some serious pressure and had a lot of possession and territory peppering the ON’s line which was defended well, but after a string of infringements Kieran O’Connor was sin binned for the home side. Tows finally got over through Adam Wilkinson out wide reducing the deficit to three. Once again, Tows concentration dropped and were punished almost immediately with an unconverted try. The half time score was 18-10

Early in the second half Tows didn’t make the numbers count after a second player was yellow carded for the opposition after having many opportunities to get over only to conceded a long range effort from the home team’s substitute winger who broke a few tackles to score, this galvanised the Northampton outfit who scored their second unconverted try of the second half. Tows were dominating possession but couldn’t seem to find an answer to a very well organised and resolute defensive line. Skipper Craig Holton then scored for Tows but as if to summarise Towcester’s day the kick off was fumbled, pounced upon by the chasing floppy haired number 6 who scored himself. The end of the game had Tows desperate to try and get at least a losing bonus point only to be kept out yet again, the match finishing 33-17. The only opportunity this season is a potential meeting at some point in the Alliance Cup

Tows will rue the missed opportunities when in the red zone and hope to improve this in the coming weeks especially against a struggling Olney side at home this week. Olney’s only win of the season so far game against Towcester so a point to prove for the home side. 2.15 kick off at Greens Norton Road