Three yellow cards cost Tabard as a late try from Old Merchant Taylors’ denied them the win.

The try, in the last 10 minutes on Saturday, gave the London North West Two’s bottom club a 22-18 win, their first success of the season.

The result was not enough however to lift them above Tabard at the foot of the table.

The cards meant the Radlett rugby club played shorthanded for a quarter of the game.

Near arctic conditions were not ideal but both sides contributed to an entertaining match.

Harry Gough got the first points of the day, kicking a penalty from in front of the posts after 10 minutes.

OMT were soon level, taking advantage when Tabard tried to play their way out of their own 22.

The first of the home side’s yellows came after Leon Leonidas was penalised for hands in the ruck.

OMT scored their first try during this period with a well-executed catch and drive.

A second yellow to Tom King, for a late tackle, on half-time left Tabard 8-3 down at the break and facing another 10 minutes a man short.

The second half started in explosive fashion with Toby Davies and one from OMT heading to the sin-bin following a set to at a ruck.

With King returning to the field, Tabard shortened the gap, Gough kicking his second penalty of the day.

But their determination to play with the ball in-hand was to be their undoing as they gifted OMT a second try on 55 minutes.

Seven minutes later though the quick passing worked for Tabard, Gerard Arasa finding Liam Glynn with a wonderful offload who in turn put Leonidas in close to the posts.

And with just eight minutes to go King’s arcing run split the OMT defence and George Hurford was the beneficiary, putting the hosts 18-15 up.

It was OMT who had the last say however, out flanking the Tabard defence to grab the winning score.