Yatton 19 - 6 Taunton RFC

Despite losing their final match of the campaign, Taunton finished third in the league. They recently won the Somerset Cup for the third time in 20 years and have enjoyed their best season for a long time.

Injuries, non-availability and a refusal depleted their resources - only six of those who started the home game in November, when they beat Yatton 34-0, lined up for the opening whistle.

Critically, they had no recognised scrum half which, against a sharp back row in a side needing to win to avoid relegation, disjointed the whole effort.

Yatton took full advantage of Taunton's difficulties and, in a wind assisted first half, built up a lead of 16-3 by the interval.

There was never any question of Taunton taking it easy, having nothing to play for and they had their moments, particularly with driving mauls from lineouts but their haphazard, yet predictable, back play let them down.

During the times Taunton got their act together and threatened the home line, Yatton's defence was rock solid and they regularly turned the ball over.

Similarly, the visitors' cover tackling and defensive organisation prevented a heavier defeat.

Yatton's Tony Hill opened the scoring in the second minute with a penalty from near half way which cleared the Taunton team bus behind the posts and finished in the road.

Matt Ayres replied soon after from shorter range into the cold easterly wind; Hill missed one before he boomed over another to put Yatton back in the driving seat.

The hosts looked to be on their way to the corner but Jon Martin's last ditch tackle prevented the try. Relief was short lived - another build up took Yatton to the away 22 where Jon Shorney's pin-point cross-kick found Alan Walters lurking in the opposite corner.

Hill converted from the touchline and landed his third penalty with the last kick of the half.

Taunton made multiple positional changes and brought on the replacements at the start of the second session but to little avail.

Ayers missed an early penalty before Tom O'Keefe was hauled down just short of the posts and the threat was cleared.

Martin slotted a penalty to reduce the deficit to 10 points but that was Taunton's last contribution to the scoreboard.

The closest they came to a score was when Boschie Muller combined on the narrow side with Alan Gill who was flagged for a foot in touch.

Yatton were the more potent force as the match neared the end and a late drop goal by Shorney cemented their place in South West Two.

Exmouth finished on top with 40 points and second placed Barnstaple (whom Taunton defeated three times!) meet Salisbury in the promotion play-off.

Camborne, Barton Hill and Hornets (who should have gone last year) are relegated while St. Ives drop from S.W.1.

Avonmouth and Paignton are promoted from Western Counties with the winners of the Sidmouth v Old Reds play off clash.

Taunton played 29 matches this season. They won 21, drew 1 and lost 7, scoring 709 points to 313.

Top try scorer was Ben Rudkin with 15 followed by Tevita (Tex) Raratabu with 11.

Top points scorer was Jon Martin with 194 and deserving a special mention was Matt Ayres, still playing Colts rugby as well, who racked up 71 points including 5 tries. 23 of these points came in the County Cup final when he came a close second to man of the match, Raratabu

Have a good summer!

Bill Luckett