Taunton Titans 41 Hinkley 26

For the first five minutes of the game the Titans dominated, keeping possession and forcing Hinkley into mistakes.  On conceding a penalty after just four minutes Tom Putt slotted over the goal to give the Titans a three-point lead.  Hinkley did show a threat and it was only a superb tackle by 19 years Old Matt Whitlock in his first game for the Titans, that prevented a score.  On ten minutes Ben heath showed his stepping ability and pace to score the first try which Tom converted to extend the lead to 10-points.  It was on 16-minutes that the Titans gave away their first penalty and Hinkley opted for the scrum the first of the match.  Their scrummage challenged the Titans from which they conceded a second penalty, again scrum disruption and they gave away their third penalty it was on the fourth penalty that they held firm but Hinkley won the ball and their centre Reed went in for the try.  The conversion was missed the Titans held a slender lead.  Try number two came from Drew Humberstone when from a Hinkley lineout Alex Long read the throw in and won good clean ball.  This set the Titans on the attack and Andrew Humberstone was able to out pace his centre opposition to score the try which Tom converted.  With 5-minutes of the half left the spectators sprung into action with positive cheers and shouts for the team.  This seemed to raise their game and Hinkley conceded the penalty.  Tom kicked to the corner, Ben O-T won the lineout and the maul started.  The crowd roared encouragement and Alex Spurdle scored the try which Tom converted. The whistle went and the Titans had a 24-point to 5 halftime lead.

Hinkley kicked off to re-start the second half and chased hard causing a rare error from the Titans who conceded the scrum.  Hinkley showed their ability in the scrum pushing the Titans back. Another scrum and the Titans went back this time Hinkley crossed the line and the try was scored.  After consultation with the Assistant Referee a penalty try was awarded.  For the next ten minutes both sides endeavoured to gain the upper hand with the Titans breaking the deadlock when on fifty three minutes 19 years old “Man of the Match” Ben Rogers picked up on the halfway line from the base of the ruck, stepped through the tackle and raced off towards the line a desperate attempt by Hinkley to make the tackle saw him step through that attempt and then race to the line for the try.  The conversion was missed but the Titans has a seventeen-point cushion and a try bonus point.  Almost from the re-start Hinkley pulled back that score when their centre Reed went in for his second try which was converted.  The spectators’ nerves began to tremble when on sixty-eight-minutes Lamb the other Hinkley centre score the try which was converted  putting Hinkley just three points behind.  Garry Kingdom saw the threat and brought Jay Toogood into scrum half, and Reece Malone onto the wing and Dan Martin to fullback. This injected more pace around the base of the scrum and after just two minutes of the new structure it  released “Toots” to score the try which Tom converted and a ten-point margin was restored.  Just three minutes later and quick ball to Tom allowed him to miss pass to Ben Heath who fed inside to Dan Martin to speed through for the try. With the conversion missed and only seconds to go everyone could breath a sigh of relief as the game was now safe.

The number three may have some significance in this game as we had three nineteen years old players in this game who had a significant impact on the game, two of them playing in the backrow.  We had three Ulster men in the game two of them scoring tries.  It was a hard-fought game and credit must go to both sides as the penalty count from both sides was very low and there were no yellow cards. Next week will be a local derby with Barnstaple who secured a good win this week and will pose a challenge.  We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible