National Two South

Taunton Titans 76

Cornish All Blacks 5

Hyde Park

TAUNTON Titans bounced back from their recent dip in form and unfortunately it was the Cornish All Blacks that felt the full force of the Titans recent frustrations.

Taunton scored 12 trys to the All Blacks’ one and inflicted the heaviest defeat of the season to the already relegated team 76-5.

The Titans were on the attack from the start but some resolute defence from the visitors kept them out. However after eight minutes number 8 Sam Prior was held up over the line and from the resulting scrum and several thrust to the line hooker Jon Gatford forced himself over for the try. Gary Kingdom added the conversion as he did for the second try five minutes later scored by prop Alec Chase.

Returning centre Matt Tichias was next on the score sheet having been away with the Royal Navy rugby which Kingdom converted to give the Titans a 21–0 lead after just 18 minutes.

Taunton then bagged the fourth and bonus point try by the other centre, Nick Mason, before Captain Jamie Fleming went over with Kingdom converting the latter.

Mason then ran in the Titans sixth try on the half-hour mark before the All Blacks had their best period of the game. In the Taunton 22 Launceston had a lineout ten meters out and mauled it close to the Titans’ try line. When they were stopped just short they managed to start the maul again for second row Ben Hilton to go over for a rare try on the half time whistle.

Rather than take their foot off the pedal the Titans came out firing and scored from the first attack with Mason getting his hat-trick try. Then winger Freddie Fraser got in on the act going over for two — the first after a great off load by Gary Kingdom and the second after another great off load this one from the unexpected source of prop Alec Chase. Kingdom converted all three of the tries before becoming provider for the next two.

When the Titans were on the attack Kingdom stepped into fly half and sent a great cross-field kick which was gathered by Mason, who was now on the wing, to race in from the 22 meter line. Kingdom then did the same thing and Mason collected once again but this time on the half way line to race in and score his fifth try of the game.

The Titans finished the game off scoring a try on the last play of the game through the industrious Stuart Persey with Kingdom adding the extras.

The Titans will be pleased to have got back to winning ways and despite the score line the Cornish All Blacks can see that they have a foundation to build from.

With players like Captain Richard Friend, Josh Langton and Jordan Duke — all of which never stopped working all day and put in solid performances — they can look to re-organise and hopefully climb back up to where they belong.

Taunton Titans — Tries: Gatford 09, Chase 14, Tichias 17, Mason 21, 30, 41, 65, 67, Fleming 25, Fraser 44, 47, Persey 78. Convs: Kingdom 09, 15, 18, 26, 41, 45, 48, 79

Cornish All Blacks — Try: Hilton 40

Halftime: 38-5

Referee: Gareth Holsgrove

Attendance: 325

Taunton Titans: Kingdom, Fraser, Mason (Heal 47), Tichias, Thompson (Mason 59), East (Edwards 49), Massy-Birch, Prior Turner 54), Vakalutukali, Fleming (Capt), Harvey (Prior 59), Persey, Claydon (29 – 59), Gatford (Caulfield 71), Chase

Cornish All Blacks: Sandercock (Edwards 40), S Chapman, Westren, Dawe (Snell 40), Kneebone, Honey (Dawe 69), Friend (Capt), J Duke, L Duke (Theobold 49), Langton, Hilton, Hockridge (Parish 49), L Chapman (Hocking 63), Bulut, Dugard