National League Two South

Taunton Titans 59 Exmouth 10

HAT-TRICKS from wing Aron Struminski and full-back Gary Kingdom inspired Taunton to a stunning nine-try victory over Exmouth in National League Two South.

Newly-promoted Exmouth were put under pressure from the off with the hosts bagging their bonus-point after just 20 minutes.

Struminski outpaced the Exmouth defence to score inside five minutes, with Kingdom converting, before a forwards move paved the way for try number two on 10 minutes.

With the Titans pack putting their opponents on the back foot, a driving maul making its way ominously towards the line was halted illegally and the referee went under the posts for a penalty try.

Kingdom converted before then going over for his first try of the afternoon shortly afterwards, again taking care of the extras.

With their tails up, it wasn't long before Taunton were over again as Struminski bagged his second – and best – try, running in from half way and beating several Exmouth players in the process.

Kingdom converted the bonus-point winning try to make it 28-0 after 20 minutes before the visitors got themselves on the scoresheet through full-back Richard Cadywould's unconverted score.

The Titans took a 33-5 lead into half time with Struminski completing his treble before Kingdom grabbed his second two minutes after the re-start which he also converted.

Arron Gibbs cut a great line to score his first try for the club just past the hour mark before captain Tom Popham crashed over, with Kingdom converting both scores.

With time running out the Titans scored one more try when centre Popham went nearly 80 meters but was felled just short, however Kingdom was on hand to pick up and force his way over to claim his hat-trick try, again converted to take his personal points tally to 29 points.

Scorers Taunton – Tries: Struminski 4, 19, 37, Penalty try 10, Kingdom 13, 42, 78, Gibbs 62, Popham 71; Cons: Kingdom 5, 11, 14, 20, 43, 63, 72.

Exmouth – Tries: Hawley 33, Goldson 68.

Teams Taunton Titans; Kingdom; Struminski (Popham 66), Fraser, Popham (capt, Laverick 40), Bright; Huntley (Landray 22-74) (Frost 74), Webb; Claydon (Chase 49), Frost (Gatford 59), Owlett, Persey, Lugg, Harvey, Vakalutukali, Prior (Gibbs 46).

Exmouth; Cadywould (Richards 59); Downie, Goldson, Bedford, Rice (Mears 30); Meadows, Watkins (Ryan 33); Dalton, Gibbons (Wonnacott 40), Goulden (Savage 46), Richards (Thomas 40), Fahy (Capt), Harris (Watkins 73), Bargent, Hawley.

Referee: Karl Dickson

Attendance: 350

Half Time: 33-5

Star Man: Gary Kingdom