Martock 12 - Taunton 3rd XV 34 (Match Report)

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Taunton Wanderers overcame hosts Martock amidst torrential downpours in a game that was to see all four seasons weather-wise. A strong Wanderers side, ably led by Neil Symons, emerged victorious in an enjoyable match by 34 points to 12 on a super pitch that would be a credit to most clubs.

In a pretty even first quarter, with Martock manfully thwarting constant attacks by a well organised Taunton team, the breakthrough came from a Taunton scrum after 20 minutes on the halfway line. Neil ‘Symo’ Symons broke blind, popping to Josh ‘Oz’ Bray at flyhalf who danced up the touchline before offloading to Rob Case for an excellent score under the posts, converted by Ross Hunter. 0-7.

Another Taunton score followed when a dazzling display of interpassing by Taunton saw winger Ross ‘Jock’ Hunter crashing over to score in the corner, unconverted. 0-12.

Martock were tackling well but not having much possession, and succumbed to a Josh Bray and Perrin offload move that saw the latter jinking through the defence to score another well-worked try, unconverted. At halftime the scoreline was 0-17.

Martock quickly hit back, with stalwart Lee Harding reverting to his more familiar role in the pack and scoring out wide after a rumble with his evergreen pack. The conversion was successful to give the home side some hope at 7-17.

However, from the kick off Taunton’s Perrin broke several tackles in an aggressive fifty yard break that was well supported by man of the match Adam Harvey on the right wing. Harvey bulldozed his way through half of Martock’s young three quarters and deserved to score on several more occasions.

This was followed in quick succession by tries from veteran Lee Terry, niftily intercepting from thirty yards out to score close to the posts, converted by Bray. Replacement Craig Busek then scored an excellent try on sixty minutes from a Bray crosskick after a Taunton rolling maul, taking several Martock players over their line with him.

Taunton’s final try of the match came from a turnover lineout on their own 22-metre line that produced the best move of the season. Fullback Alex Pryde burst through on a forty metre run, followed by interpassing through what appeared the whole team, finally putting Lee Terry over for his second try.

With glorious sunshine now overhead, replacement Vince Carrington (club pastor) also entered the fray, before a consolation try for Martock shortly before the fulltime whistle brought an end to an enjoyable trip to mid Somerset for the Wanderers. Final score 12-34.