Tows back on track – by Hugo Austin

Tows latest trip into pastures new led them to the hospitable Reading Club this week.

Both teams have had similar results in the league so this was always going to be a hard fought contest and so it proved.

The home team started strongly maintaining an early grip in possession, a barreling kick from Fly Mills pushed play up to the Tows line and their No 7 Ashley McNaughton took advantage of a loose Tows pat back at the line out to stroll in, his try was converted by Andrew Tweedie.

As Tows established themselves into the game their backs looked capable of stretching the Reading defence, James Falvey breached the Reading line first under the posts only to be brought back for receiving a forward pass, but Reading’s backs were deemed to have been offside and Falvey slotted the penalty. Tows failed to capitalize on a number of try scoring opportunities but eventually ran in a deserved score, a searing break from Aaron Goodman finding Scrum Half Hopewell outside for Tows to end the half with a one point lead.

The first period of the second half saw Reading grudging with their possession, starving Tows’ ability to attack but the score board was nudged forward in their favour with a further Falvey penalty. Replacement flanker Callum Threlfall then marked a switch in tows’ disposition; the back row had up until then been working hard in defence but now went firmly on the attack led by Threlfall’s gain line crossing thrusts resulting in tows’ best passages of plays. Both wingers were released In separate attacks forcing reading into desperate defence. The game was eventually made safe for Tows when Flanker Eugine Baxter scored a try off a loose Reading line out, a carbon copy of the first half Reading score. Falvey’s accurate boot added the conversion points and the result was sealed.

Next week Tows host Salisbury K.O. 3pm.