Valley suffered a chastening defeat at Loughborough Students as the Scholars executed a perfect counter-attacking display.
On the hosts' immaculate and expansive playing surface, Rugby had the lion's share of possession and territory, but struggled to break down the Students' defensive block - while the hosts punished Valley with crisp, clinical counter-attacks.
For the second game running, Town boss Carl Adams made four changes to his starting line-up, with new signing Mike McGrath, Mike Taylor, Trey Charles and Ethan O'Toole in for Josh Thomas, Harrison Nee, David Kolodynski and the injured Dan Summerfield.
Tayo Tucker caused early problems for the Students' defence when stealing possession on the by-line, but his resulting cross-shot missed its target.
Loughborough's Quinton Zolani Dlodlo was soon repeating the turnover process though by dispossessing Charles before unleashing a decent strike from 25 yards - which Town keeper touched over the bar for a corner.
A wayward effort from Charles flew high of the frame, before the hosts opened the scoring on 13 minutes when a quickly taken goal-kick resulted in Joshua Strouts getting in behind down their left channel, and he cut the ball back for Marcus Gilpin - who finished high into the net first time from 12 yards.
Neat interchange play between Chris Clements and Tucker then saw Valley carve out their best chance of the first half, with Taylor somehow not able to convert Tucker's low cross from close range.
A glancing header from Liam Francis and a long range strike from Charles then underlined a brighter spell from Town, but Loughborough continued to threaten at the other end with Joshua Strouts almost adding to the total when he was clean through on goal - only to be denied by a good block from Hathaway.
The second of the evening came as the first half drew to a close - with a very similar goal to the home side's first.
This time, Dlodlo found himself in space in behind down the left and he cut inside before sending a low shot via a deflection into the bottom corner.
Rugby again were on top in terms of possession at the start of the second half, and Charles's free-kick was saved by keeper Charlie Callaghan early in the proceedings.
However, the Scholars then got a third when they pounced on a mistake in Rugby's midfield leading to Halim Bangura streaking clear, and although Hathaway made a good save to deny him, Strouts was on hand to tap in the rebound.
Valley pulled one back on 72 minutes when substitute Hilton Arthur's superb dart into the area and low cross was turned in by fellow sub Kolodynski from close range.
But with Rugby pushing to get another goal, debutant McGrath misjudged a seemingly innocuous clearance leading to Loughborough killing the game off as Dlodlo grabbed his second by turning in Fred Webb's cross.
The final stages were a sorry tale for Rugby as the hosts were attacking with ease and they got a fifth when Dlodlo secured his hat-trick walking the ball into the net after Webb's one-on-one effort was well saved again by Hathaway.
Valley
Line-up: Hathaway; Fitzharris, Ahenkorah, Francis, McGrath; Clements, Sahota (Semahimbo 79'); Charles (Nee 60'), TuXcker, O'Toole (Arthur 60'); Taylor (Kolodynski 60'). subs not used: Rai. Booked: Francis, Clements.
