Titans v Hornets

Teenager Matthew Whitlock used his strength and pace to score three tries in Taunton Titans four try, bonus point exciting win over Hornets, to overtake them in the league.

The Titans started this match with grit and determination after Hornets kicked off with a swirling wind behind them and for the first ten minutes dominated possession with some exciting drives by “man of the match” prop Ollie Schuster-Wood who acting as first receiver on many occasions was only stopped by some determined defence by Hornets.  Many of these stops were deemed as penalty offenses by the referee.  On10-minutes Hornets showed their capability putting together a string of sixteen phases of play which were determinedly stopped by a solid Titans defence.  The Titans through captain Nick Mason overturned the ball and from within his own 22metre area he broke away with the ball to be hauled down in the Hornets half. Hornets drove through the ruck and Sonny Davis the Hornets number eight was able to pick up and storm away for a try under the posts, which Jack Gupper converted to give Hornets a seven-point lead. From the re-start Hornets seemed to be able to have more possession but gradually the Titans worked their way back into the game and on twenty-six minutes the Titans moved the ball to their right wing where Matt Whitlock with very little room, used all of his pace and strength to score in the corner.  Kicking into a strong wind Tom Putt just failed with the conversion.  From the re-start the Titans pressed the Hornets half and Hornets continued to concede penalties in their desperate defence. Thirty-five minutes on the clock and from a penalty the Titans kick to the corner, ball won they maul to the Hornets line good strong defence repels wave after wave of Titans attack before Scott Gibson the Titans scrum half picks up the ball and spins it wide to Nick Mason to go in for the try.  Tom Putt converts and the Titans have a five-point lead.  Nick Mason was giving the Hornets many problems with his power and decisive breaks and on the stroke of halftime he was able to break through and pass on to Matt Whitlock for his second try of the game.  Tom Putt added the extras and the half came to a close with the Titans leading Hornets by19-points to 7.

The Titans kicked off for the second half and Hornets showed their skills , when they had the ball, to retain possession and put together many phase of play. It seemed inevitable that after 21 phases something would happen and having soaked in the defence their scrum half James Murray was able to skip infor the try which Jack Gapper Converted leaving them just five-points adrift.  This seemed to give Hornets added incentive and it was only some superb last line defence and especially from Scott Gibson which kept Hornets out. Still, they came back and with what seemed a good move they threw a long pass to their talented wing which Matt Whitlock read extremely well and with his height he jumped for the interception and was able to race away for the try, his third and hat trick in this game. Tom Putt converted and the Titans had a twelve-point lead.  The game then seemed to settle with both teams gaining the edge from time to time but the Titans scrummage was getting on top pushing Hornets off the ball.  The game came to light when replacement centre Ben Heath used his dancing feet to make the break but got hauled down in the Hornets half.  With ten minutes of the game left the Titans conceded a rare penalty and Hornets were able to kick to the corner and win the ball from the lineout.  Several phases of pressure saw the ball come wide to centre Connor Vickery, a former Taunton player, to score the try which Charlie Carter converted with a drop kick and put Hornets just five-points adrift. With time running out and Hornets conceded another penalty on their own10metre line, with the wind behind him Tom Putt opted to kick at goal.  The kick was good and the Titans now had an eight-point lead with just two-minutes left. Whilst Hornets attacked the Titans defence held firm and resulted in a twenty-nine point to twenty-one victory.

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