Taunton 41 - Coventry 33 (Match Report)

User Rating:  / 0

A warm welcome in weather and spirit was given by players, staff and supporters of Taunton Rugby as they entertained Coventry RFC, a side steeped in history having been a popular fixture in the top tiers of English Rugby for so long and producing many players to grace the international stage.

Coventry’s recent fortunes have seen them relegated from the Championship amid struggles on and off the field whilst Taunton, despite a disappointing last season by their own standards, has been the reverse as they continue to grow into an adept national league club. History was to count for nothing and it was to be the home side taking the spoils with a well-earned and promising 41-33 win.

The game was played in three periods of thirty minutes with both sides fielding large squads giving the home support the chance to see many of the new signings for the first time. It was also good to see some of the more familiar faces returning for another campaign and the mixture of youth and experience is one that should build a strong foundation for the team to build on ready for the season proper.

Tony Yapp got the game underway for the hosts although it was the visitors, who play in the higher National Division 1, which started more aggressively. It was not long before they opened the scoring account for the afternoon with their right wing picking off a loose pass from the hosts midfield and outpacing the retreating defence to score a converted try with barely 3 minutes on the clock.

It was Taunton who controlled the rest of the first period possession and field position when on 14 minutes it looked like centre Jason Luff had pulled a score back only to be held up on the line. However, the former Exeter Chiefs man did not have to wait long to actually get his name on the score sheet as he crashed over the whitewash. New signing Reuben Haile made the incisive break supported by another new addition, Matt Goddard, before offloading to Luff for a try with Yapp adding the extras to level the scores.

The home side settled well and their confidence grew with the backs combining effectively and the forwards all working hard. Jack Claydon used his pace and power to attack deep into opposition territory and was only thwarted by some brave cover tackling to take the diminutive wing into touch.

The forwards used the line out platform and powered their way towards the visitors’ line for another score. It was another new signing, the impressive Dean Taylor-Mendies, getting the congratulations having been assisted over the line by Greg Charlton returning from a serious injury last season, for an unconverted try in the last action before the end of the first period of play with the home side taking a 12-7 lead.

The second period saw the visitors do what Taunton had done to them in the opening period by controlling field position. They levelled the score within two minutes of the restart after their backline combined well, creating a hole in the Taunton backline for their right wing to gather and canter through for a gifted score, a converted try under the posts. Another converted score soon followed this as the visitors regained a 12-19 lead.

Coventry further maintained the pressure, however the Taunton defence remained strong and repelled repeated attacks. The frustration of the visitors was starting to show and they continually infringed, giving away needless penalties at the breakdown. Having looked in command for a sustained period their failure to capitalise was their own doing, and after six successive penalties at the breakdown the referee awarded a yellow card to the visitors’ replacement flanker Alex Nash.

Taunton capitalised on the extra man advantage in the scrum, and within a minute had a converted try in the bag with hooker Rob Beddard coming up last from the pile of bodies with the ball and Kingdom slotting the extras to level the scores at 19 a piece.

As the second period of play came to a close the lead was back in Taunton’s favour when another new signing, British Army second row Dave Bates, found the ball in his hands and he bumped off a couple of would be tacklers before bounding in from thirty metres out to open his account with an unconverted try. Taunton were back in front with a 24-19 lead and second period ending drawn with 12 points each.

The third period was a much more evenly matched affair and again saw numerous changes to the on-field personnel for both teams. It was a sharp break through the midfield from Christian Gervais that got the hosts moving forward immediately before the ball was spread wide to wing Kyle Gibblett with the youngster using his pace to get behind his opposite number. With only the full back to beat he chipped over the top and rounded the last man only to be tackled without the ball and the try line at his mercy. The referee made no hesitation in going under the posts and awarding the penalty try for which the conversion was a formality as Yapp duly slotted over.

Taunton now had a 31-19 lead but it was the visitors who instead scored two converted tries to lead 31-33 going into the final ten minutes.

The physicality increased and another new signing, No. 8 Liam Wilkinson, did well to resume after a hit on him which appeared illegal, although not late. Tempers began to fray and a couple of niggles manifested themselves with both sides desperate to maintain the intensity and grind out a well deserved win.

Taunton were able to regain the lead through another impressive debutant, Reuben Haile, who even managed a celebratory gesture as he sprinted his way to the line. Yapp converted and it was Taunton in command as they lead 38-33 with time running out for Coventry.

The visitors then threw everything at their hosts, but again the defence held strong. As tempers boiled over once more the referee awarded a second yellow card to a visiting flanker and effectively ended their hopes of travelling back to the Midlands with a win. Yapp stepped up to use up the time on the clock as he successfully slotted over a penalty with the last action of the match giving Taunton a well deserved 41-33 victory over their visitors.

The game was a thriller to watch for the home support and the result was a fair one against higher league opposition. It provided Taunton’s Director of Rugby Lee Waddon and Forwards Coach Chris Bentley the opportunity to see their new charges in action with some outstanding performances and every player giving a good account of themselves.

Taunton’s discipline proved to be key, with a penalty count of 8 conceded during the three periods, compared to their hosts 18, combined with their hard work in the increasing heat secured the win and bodes well for what promises to be an exciting league campaign in 2011/12.

Report By: Patrick Smidmore

All photos are courtesy of Sportography. Please visit their website at http://www.sportography.co.uk/