Tabard RFC took a huge step towards London North West Two survival with a narrow 15-14 win away to Old Merchant Taylors’.

The win, Tabard’s fifth of the campaign and fourth since the turn of the year, puts the Radlett-based rugby club ten points clear of their opponents in the battle to stay in the division with just four games remaining.

Tabard dominated their hosts in the scrum which laid the foundations for the well deserved win.

Both teams scored two tries apiece although both were guilty of not finishing some well constructed moves.

Tabard’s first chance at points came to nothing when Jack Reilly’s penalty attempt cannoned back off the upright after 11 minutes.

And it took a break out from his own half by Rhys Lewis on 27 minutes to set up the first score.

He sidestepped his way clear before the ball found its way to Liam Glynn via off-loads from Jermaine Ijieh and Leon Leonadis.

Leonadis was close to scoring minutes later when the Tabard scrum pushed the hosts off their own ball in their own 22 but he to settle for a penalty from Reilly.

OMT had a chance to get on the scoreboard just before the break but spurned a kickable chance from the 22.

Reilly also missed a penalty after the interval, this one from 35 metres out, but after winning the ball back from the drop-out, they forced a scrum.

OMTs’ attempts to disrupt the Tabard drive earned the referee’s displeasure and brought a penalty try.

However, any thoughts Tabard had they would close the game out without too much trouble were soon dispelled.

A quickly-taken penalty saw the hosts cross for their first try, which was duly converted, as was the second with three minutes to go.

Two try saving tackles by Harry Gough between the OMT scores ultimately kept Tabard in the game and they hung on for the vital four points.