Tabard slumped to a disappointing 31-3 home defeat to Honourable Artillery Company in London Two North West on Saturday.

The hosts were adversely affected by unavailability and injury as they were well beaten by their high-flying opponents.

Tabard started strongly enough with their forwards disrupting the HAC scrum early on.

The home side got on the scoresheet first when Jack Reilly’s penalty fired them into a 3-0 lead after the visitors were caught offside.

Tabard should have doubled their advantage but they failed to find the target from another penalty.

HAC came to life and scored their first points of the match through the outside centre as he glided through the defence for the first try of the contest. After adding the conversion the visitors took a 7-3 lead.

A penalty for HAC extended their advantage as they started to take a grip on the contest.

The visitors punished Tabard shortly afterwards when a quick tap penalty enabled their flanker to run over for a converted try. This gave them a 17-3 lead heading into the second half.

Dan Calnan set up an attack for Tabard after the break but the move eventually came to nothing.

Home forward Mark Salteras was then given a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.

The visitors took advantage with their fly-half pouncing for another converted try.

It got even worse when the HAC winger produced a chip through and raced on to his kick to score their fourth and final try.

Tabard will hope to have some of their first team players back in action this weekend when they visit Belsize Park in the league.