WORCESTER Jaguars were left to rue a slow start to the game in their heavy 46-18 defeat to West of England League favourites University of Gloucester Old Boys last weekend.

Jags made the trip knowing the challenge that would face them but had no answer to the blistering start the hosts made.

UoG Old Boys came out of the traps quickly and stunned the Jags with 3 tries in 15 minutes, putting 16 points on the board.

The Jags replied with an unconverted try through dummy half Sean Roberts but the joy was short lived as the home side crossed again to make the scores 22-4.

It got worse with more defensive mistakes leading to the UoG Old Boys adding a further couple of tries to lead convincingly at the break by 34-4.

The game had often threatened to spill over in the first period and after UoG had scored another to make it 40-4, Jags' Aron Middleton and UoG's Jack Simpson were sent off as tempers frayed.

This actually proved to play into the visitors' hands and Jags began to seal their defensive gaps and play with promise.

Jags' Academy products Torr Strange and Evan Thomason came on and had a big impact on the game. The pressure was building and Jags did get on the scoreboard again as Callum Spires crossed to bring the score back to 40 – 8.

Evan Thomason scored a great try on the right wing and then Jake Wright on the left flank as the away side finished with a flurry.

UoG did have the last laugh, however, leaving the final scores at 46 – 18.

Head Coach Dan Bancroft said: "This is another game we started off asleep and by the time we started playing the rugby we can do; it was too late.

"Our second half performance was fantastic and this is against the favourites to win the league. It showed what we can do and where we can go as a team this season."

Stuart Hood, club President, echoed Bancroft's comments; "I am disappointed we lost but the second half showed the potential we have.

"With us going back to training to work on our early defensive shortcomings, we will still have a strong and successful season. It was great to see our Academy lads coming through the system to show that we can produce our own high-quality players."