National Two South

Old Albanian 35 Taunton Titans 24

THIS top of the table clash lived up to the billing with a pulsating game that saw Taunton Titans slip to their second defeat of the season, writes Keith Brooking.

With both teams liking to play with freedom there were always going to be plenty of tries and unfortunately for the Titans, two five minute spells of poor defending let in four soft tries which, when challenging for the top of the table, you cannot afford to do.

With a strong wind blowing straight down the pitch, the Titans found themselves playing into it in the first-half and after absorbing the initial onslaught of the hosts they moved into the Old Albanian’s 22.

A lineout 15 meters out was the chance for the forwards to flex their muscles which they duly did and drove the OA’s pack over their line for hooker Jon Gatford to score.

The boot of full-back Gary Kingdom added the extras and gave Taunton a 7-0 lead after 23 minutes.

The Titans forward pack worked hard all day and were often pushing OA’s off of their own ball. However the home side’s backs are notoriously dangerous and like to run at every opportunity - and with a willing back row and a wide pitch, they are very good at it.

Before half-time the home side ran in two tries, one of them on the half-time whistle to open up a 12-7 lead.

The Titans had the wind in the second-half but OA’s capitalised on a dropped kick-off and a lapse in concentration.

OA’s gained a penalty, which was followed by a try straight from the restart when some uncharacteristic soft tackles allowed them to score from far out.

Some similar poor defending allowed OA’s to extend their lead to 25 – 7 after just 10 minutes of the second-half.

The Titans then rung the changes, with fresh legs adding some impetus and they scored two tries in five minutes.

The first went to prop Jake Caulfield who went back against the flow and drove over the line to score.

The second went to Dan Frost - after another quick tap by Webb he drew the last defender before off-loading to Frost dive over.

Again Taunton were their own worst enemy.

After getting themselves within six points at 25-19 they let in another two soft tries in two minutes which effectively cost them the game.

The Titans rallied once more claiming a try bonus point for their troubles, when the pack disrupted the OA’s scrum.

The ball popped out for replacement scrum-half Oli Claxton to scoop it up before passing to Paul Davis to power his way over.

Titans tried to push for another score to claim a losing bonus point, but lost the ball in key areas and the home side managed to clear their lines to the final whistle.

Taunton Titans: Kingdom, Struminski, Fraser, Tichias, Claydon, Simmonds, Webb (Claxton), Chapman, Fleming (Frost), Harvey, Hales (Davis), Persey, Caulfield (Chase), Gatford (Spurdle), Woolmore

Tries: Gatford 23, Caulfield 53, Frost 56, Davis 74

Conversion: Kingdom 23, 56