Physical game against Clifton ends in defeat for Taunton Titans

IN a typical physical local derby, with four tries apiece it was the visitors who wanted it more and it showed in the end with Clifton coming from behind to claim the deserved victory in front of a big crowd at Hyde Park, writes Keith Brooking.

The Titans started brightly with a penalty from Gary Kingdom before Bradley Barnes replied three minutes later.

Taunton then got the first try of the game through winger Richard Bright before Barnes and Kingdom then traded penalties to make the score 11-6 after 25 minutes.

Alfie Tooala scored Clifton’s first try of the game with Barnes’ kick hitting the upright - his only miss of the game.

This tied the scores but, just before half-time, Dan Frost intercepted a pass and ran the ball in from his own half.

Kingdom converted to make the half-time score 18-11.

With only one score in it, the first points of the second half were going to be crucial and Clifton came up with their second try through centre Dan Wells, Barnes converting to level the score once more.

The game went end-to-end, however it was the hosts who claimed the next points with two driving maul tries - one for scrum-half Oli Massy-Birch and the other for second row Sean Lonsdale.

With Kingdom converting one the Titans now had a 12-point lead 30-18.

Some people will say Taunton threw the game away with poor discipline, tackling and set piece, however, teams have to capitalise on mistakes and take their opportunities and Clifton did just this.

Raising the tempo and attacking the Titans from all over, Clifton were rewarded with two further tries - one by replacement Finlay Sharp and the other by scrum-half Mitchell Spencer.

Both were converted by Barnes to give Clifton a two-point advantage.

The Titans tried to get themselves back into scoring positions but mistakes cost them once again and Clifton, with a bounce in their step, managed to keep the ball and wind the clock down to take the deserved win and five points.

Taunton Titans; Kingdom, Bright, Mason, Tichias (Oliphant-Thompson 71), Struminski, Webb, Massy-Birch, Chase, Gatford (Spurdle 41), Caulfield, Persey, Lonsdale, Gibbs (Tribble 41 – 43), Frost, Oliphant-Thompson (Harvey 50, Fleming 53).