Tabard slumped to a 34-6 defeat against Honourable Artillery Company in London Two North West on Saturday.

The contest was moved to Chiswick where conditions were appalling. Tabard started well with a penalty and a well-taken drop goal from fly-half Jack Reilly putting them 6-0 up after 20 minutes.

Reilly had to leave the field soon after his second kick and that was to be the last time Tabard troubled the score.

The Tabard pack was under powered through injuries while some of the regulars from the back division were also unavailable due to injury.

It became pretty much one-way traffic for the rest of the game and on the 25-minute mark HAC opened their account with a try in the corner.

Just before half time Tabard were caught out as the HAC second row chipped a nicely weighted ball behind the defence forcing a scrum. The hosts’ number eight pushed his way over to hand them a 10-6 lead at the break.

Tabard were not helped when prop John Tiley had to leave the field and the scrums went unopposed with the visitors reduced to 14 men.

It was HAC who went over the line after 15 minutes’ play when they again scored off the base of the scrum. The successful conversion took the score to 17-6.

Tabard were not able to capitalise on a good attack after the HAC fly-half had fumbled the ball in his own 22. The ball was ripped away and kicked up field.

The driving rain made a clean catch nigh on impossible and HAC kicked through to Tom King who was bundled in to touch. HAC won the ensuing line-out and went over in the corner for another try.

HAC scored a well-taken try when their full-back caught a well weighted chip and dropped over the line for the try although the conversion was missed, before another score rounded off the win.