First Half

Tows wasted no time getting into their stride, with Cam Young crossing in the opening minutes after some early pressure from the home side. The conversion drifted wide, but Tows had an early 5–0 lead.

Leicester Forest responded with a spell of pressure of their own, but couldn’t make it count, passing up an opportunity to get on the scoreboard with a missed penalty. Tows soon made them pay, as Young grabbed his second try after just eight minutes before adding the extras to make it 12–0.

The hosts continued to turn the screw. Lucas Sanger finished well out wide on 14 minutes before Sam St Julian produced arguably the try of the afternoon, with Tows breaking from inside their own half and racing in under the sticks. The conversion stretched the lead to 24–0 after just 17 minutes, with the bonus point already in the bag.

Tows weren’t finished there. A cleverly worked set play following a penalty in front of the posts created the opening for Jack Buckingham to cross on 21 minutes, extending the advantage to 29–0.

Things became a little heated as the half wore on. An initial scuffle saw both sides receive a warning from the referee, but tensions flared again shortly before the break, resulting in yellow cards for Ellis Harry and a Leicester Forest player.

Despite the late flashpoint, Tows headed into the halftime firmly in control.

HT: Tows 29 – 0 Leicester Forest

Second Half

Tows picked up where they left off after the restart, with the forwards laying a strong platform and putting Leicester Forest under pressure at scrum time, including an impressive shove just five metres from the visitors’ line.

Phil Andrews got himself on the score sheet with great determination to get over the line. The conversion was unsuccessful, but Tows had stretched their lead to 34–0.

To their credit, Leicester Forest continued to battle and enjoyed a period of sustained pressure. However, Tows stood firm defensively before turning defence into attack in spectacular fashion.

A brilliant break from Luke Mayo opened up the Leicester defence, and he found William Eastwood in support to finish under the posts. The conversion took the score to 41–0.

The tries kept coming, with Ollie Comerford next to get his name on the scoresheet before Young added the conversion to bring up 48 points. Unfortunately, Young’s afternoon came to a premature end shortly afterwards when he was forced off with a knee injury following a heavy knock.

Ellis Harry then put his earlier yellow card firmly behind him, producing a superb individual effort to power over for Tows’ ninth try of the afternoon and take the score to 53–0.

Leicester Forest refused to throw in the towel and were rewarded for their persistence in the closing stages, crossing in the far corner for a deserved consolation try. The conversion went wide, leaving Tows to celebrate a convincing victory.

It was an impressive all-round performance from Tows, combining some excellent attacking rugby with a determined defensive display. Nine tries, a bonus point and plenty of positives to take into next week’s home game against Nuneaton.

FT: Tows 53 – 5 Leicester Forest

Tries: Cam Young (2), Phil Andrews, Sam St Julian, Jack Buckingham, William Eastwood, Ollie Comerford, Ellis Harry, Lucas Sanger.

Conversions: Cam Young (4).

MOM: Luke Mayo