Without detracting from a capable Towcestrians side, Stags made it easy for their opponents with a spineless display.

Two elements were particularly disappointing: the first was that the substantial improvement evident the previous week was not maintained; secondly, the defence, hitherto pretty solid with 9 tries conceded in the first six games, was as porous as a sieve, leaking 7 tries./p>

Stags faced a stiff wind in the first half and conceded an early try after Tows took a couple of quick line outs, while Stags were still rubbing sleep from their eyes, to score in the corner.

Forward exchanges were even and Stags were impressive at the line out and in the driving maul.

A ten to fifteen point deficit at the interval might well have been retrievable, given the elements, but slack defending allowed the hosts two further tries and a 22 – 0 lead at half time.

Any thoughts of a Stags revival evaporated in the first ten minutes of the second half. Tows won all the loose ball and their scrum half, in particular, found holes in the Stags defence. Further home tries came at regular intervals.

Stags got a consolation try through Matt Griggs and should have scored at least one more in a spell of pressure at the end of the game. A two man overlap went begging, however, and a series of penalties in the red zone (from which Tows were fortunate to escape without a yellow card) brought confusion rather than points.

The task for Stags is now to translate the undoubted enthusiasm and verve shown at training sessions into match situations on Saturday afternoons.

Old Laurentians at Hinchingbrooke in the Senior EDF Energy Vase is the next match, on 28 October, kick off 3.00 p.m.

Damo's Man of the Match: