Tabard failed to maintain their recent form on Saturday and this, coupled with a game that was never allowed to flow, saw them suffering another league defeat at the hands of Westcombe Park.

Tabard did not achieve the early forward dominance they have been used to recently, but their rucking, inspired by number eight Ron Matthews and flanker Jon Ions, was sufficient to give them the edge and the pressure was converted to points when fullback James Drew converted two long penalties, both for offside, to put Tabard six points ahead.

This was a good platform for Tabard to build on, but this week the game never got going and the customary Tabard forward drives up the pitch, before unleashing the three-quarters, were stifled at source.

The game thus degenerated into a stalemate, until Westcombe caught the Tabard defence wrong-footed with a long pass to the blind side winger Lewis coming into the line.

He scored and Tabard led by a solitary point, until a penalty from stand off Thomas gave Westcombe the lead at half time.

The second half was as stunted as the first. Although Tabard tried to establish a winning pattern of play, everything they tried again seemed to be stifled at source.

This led to some frustration, and again a defensive lapse let Westcombe in for another try, this time Thomas jinked through the cover to score and then add the conversion.

Tabard fought back with Giles Mitchell in the centre having some thrusting runs and big Ron Matthews driving from the base of the scrum.

Tabard could not maintain the cohesion however, and Westcombe retaliated with a further try on the wing by Littlechild which Thomas converted to put Tabard 22 points to six adrift.

This spurred Tabard on, and two minutes later, from a line out close to, second row Mike Finnie palmed down to his boiler house partner Rob Sussum, the drive was set up and the Tabard forwards powered over the line with Flanker Jag Johal claiming the touch down.

The last ten minutes saw Tabard throwing everything in for the elusive scores, but it was not to be and they found themselves the losers of a disappointing game.

TABARD: Drew, Higgins, Mitchell, James E, James B, Daniels, Stringer, Bromham, Sharp, Lockwood, Sussum, Finnie, Webb (Johal, 65minutes), Ions and Matthews.o

On Saturday Tabard play Weston-Super-Mare at their Cobden Hill ground, kick off 2.15pm.Touch down: Jag Johal

Westcombe Park 22

Tabard 11

National League 3 South