Taunton RFC 29 - 0 Chew Valley

Taunton are through to the semi-finals of the Somerset Cup, but it was not as one-sided as the score might suggest.

When they first met at Chew Valley at the end of last century, Chew knocked Taunton out of the Intermediate Cup.

The following year they met twice in the league, both matches won by Taunton and since then have gone in opposite directions.

Chew are currently chasing promotion from Somerset Premier, two levels below Taunton, and after their previous day's 20-6 win at Chard, are in second place.

Taunton fielded mainly 2nd XV players with a sprinkling of first teamers and were given a tough time up front but outclassed the visitors in the wide open spaces.

Chew had an early chance to open the scoring but winger Kirk Middlemass was off target with a long range penalty.

Referee Jerry Wallis then dealt with an outbreak of "handbags" before a chip and chase by winger Chris Hurley led to a lineout on the other flank.

From this Taunton won the opposition throw and swift hands across the line to centre Chris Dennehy gave him space to score.

Middlemass missed another kick before a knock on stopped a drive by his pack which would have produced a try.

Taunton's 8 and 9, Neil Symons and Mark Winter, combined at the scrummage base and from behind their own sticks, full back Mosese Tuisawau and winger Bradley Field broke clear, interchanging passes until Field finished off at the other end.

Stand off Jon Martin converted and 10 minutes later added the extras after he had chipped over the defence for centre Ben Rudkin to touch down - Taunton led 19-0 at the break.

The third quarter was blighted by a rash of yellow cards. Both Tuisawau and Symons were sin binned within five minutes of each other for preventing release at losing rucks, and then three minutes later Rudkin and his opposite number grappled once more without the ball and joined them.

With 12 against 14 for a spell things settled down but Chew could not turn their numerical advantage into points.

They continued to rely on battering ram tactics with their No.8 Darren Jeffries in the vanguard but Taunton's defence denied them.

With Chew playing catch up, Taunton turned the screw. Field first landed a penalty and then closed the match with a conversion. A wild long pass was hacked on by Dennehy and Rudkin strolled over for his second try and eleventh of the season.

Bill Luckett