Taunton Titans v Cinderford

There were some real heroes in this game “Man of the Match” Alex Spurdle was relentless in driving at Cinderford with the ball in hand and in stopping them in defence.  The whole team for their discipline and attacking endeavour but most of all to the ground staff who for 10 years plus have constantly badgered the committee for more sand to improve the drainage and quality of the playing surface.  When the money has been tight members have put their hands in their pockets to buy the sand as have groups within the club such as the “Friends” the “200” club and the juniors, So a huge thanks must go to the ground staff for that match.

The Titans set out their intent when Cinderford kicked off and the Titans drove with ball in hand into the Cinderford half and their they stayed for the next ten-minutes.  Eventually the breakthrough came with Cinderford conceding the penalty and Tom Putt converting to give the Titans the lead.  From the re-start back came the Titans camping in that Cinderford half and only some desperate tackling by Cinderford kept the Titans out.  The game changed on twenty-three-minutes when the Titans conceded one of only two penalties in the first half.  Cinderford kicked to touch and won the ball which they mauled towards the line.  They were stopped and managed to recycle the ball for their centre Sean Gardner to score the try which Jack Condliffe converted and totally against the run of play Cinderford were leading by four-points.  From the restart back came the Titans and if possession and territory won games then the Titans should have been in front.  Whilst they went close on several occasions the Cinderford defence held firm and the half finished with Cinderford holding a four-point lead.

The Titans kicked off for the second half and again pinned Cinderford in their own half and after just fourteen-minutes of the half Tom Putt converted a penalty to take the Titans to just one point behind.  A yellow card was given to the Cinderford player and hope’s rose that this may give the Titans an edge.  However, it was Cinderford who made the break and a superb tackle by Matt Whitlock on his opposite number stopped the break.  The Titans then conceded the penalty and Cinderford kicked to touch in the Titans twenty-two metre area won the lineout and mauled towards the Titans line. Another and another penalty conceded from the lineouts and more similar kicks and tactics eventually resulted in a try for the Cinderford back row player Ben Carpenter which Condliffe converted to extend the Cinderford lead to eight-points.  This seemed to give Cinderford some belief and for only the third time in the game they were attacking in the Titans twenty-two metre area. Cinderford conceded the penalty and with the most amazing clearance kick  Tom Putt from his own Twenty-two kicked to touch into the Cinderford twenty-two. “Toots” won the lineout and the maul was on.  Several times it was stopped but then Scott Gibson the Titans scrumhalf picked up the ball dummied and the gap opened up and with electrifying pace he raced through, a sidestep to the left and on he went a sidestep to the left again and with one player now to beat a right footed sidestep and in for the try.  With the Tom Putt conversion, the Titans were now just one-point behind and nine-minutes of the game left.  From there start the Titans again pressed and with just two-minutes of the game left, Cinderford conceded the penalty which Tom Putt converted and the Titans had the two-point lead.  Cinderford desperately tried to come back but the Titans held on for the win.

Next week the Titans are on the road again to Luctonians in Herefordshire and a win there would certainly demonstrate how good a team we have.

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