THEY might have become the first team this season to stop Harrow scoring try – but Old Merchant Taylors' still went down 18-17 to their title rivals on Saturday.
OMTs scored three tries to Harrow's none, and even came back from 12-0 down at the break to lead 17-15 at one stage, but were undone by six penalties.
The result meant Harrow are pretty much nailed on for the Herts/MIddx Two title now, but OMTs are favourites to grab the second promotion place.
Al of which means Uxbridge will have to probably have to settle for third place, despite their 14-7 win at Royston on Saturday.
However, although only two promotion place are expected, the RFU regularly change the goalposts at this stage of the season, meaning third place could prove crucial.
After a couple of good breaks from Jason Clay and Tom Redrup, Uxbridge were were camped on the Royston try line, where a great piece of sniping from Jamie Dack brought about the first try, which Luke Matthews converted.
After the break, Uxbridge competed well again at the lineout, with Gareth Nicholls and Adam Lackey causing a lot of problems for the hosts, leading to several scrums on the five metre line, but after several infringements from the Royston scrum, no penalty try was given and the hosts eventually got the ball away.
Royston then went back down the field, and from a tap penalty and lapse in the concentration from the Uxbridge defence, forced the ball over and levelled the game with a converted try.
Uxbridge responded by going straight back to the other end of the pitch, and after a great run from skipper Simon Batts, a great pass from Clay put in Waheed Safi, who rounded his marker and ran in to score under the posts, which Matthews again converted to seal victory.
Elsewhere in the same division, Ickenham gave their survival hopes a huge boost with a 28-10 win over bottom side London French.
But in London One North, there was little for Ruislip to shout about as they went down to a 17-5 defeat at North Walsham.
