Preview Titans vs Sale FC

If Titans had any nerves about making the long trip to the Northeast of England to play Darlington Mowden Park, they did not translate to the results sheet. Every one of the 301 miles recommended by Google Maps’ suggested route would have felt worth it for the Somerset lads as they brought back the chocolates with a 24-33 win, lifting them above Leicester Lions to twelfth in the table. For their part, Leicester lost 29-36 at home to Bishop’s Stortford who climb to tenth. Cinderford is now the team in Titans’ sights, the men from the Forest of Dean sit in eleventh place following a 19-43 hammering at home by Sedgley Park (4^th).

At the top Plymouth Albion – 19-18 victors over Birmingham Moseley – and Chinnor who whalloped Richmond 55-26 kept the pressure on leaders Rams, though the Reading side secured a convincing bonus-point win of their own 22-42 at Blackheath. The biggest winning margin of the day was recorded by Sale FC who triumphed at home over Rosslyn Park 45-12. As luck would have it, Sale FC are this week’s visitors to Veritas Park.

The Cheshire side currently occupies bottom spot in National League One, in contrast to when they last arrived in Taunton in January as league leaders. On that occasion Titans squandered several chances to upset the form book, not least when a crucial try-scoring pass was intercepted. Sale pinched the points with a 14-19 win but ‘The Dogs’ could scarcely believe that they had been up against a team embroiled in a relegation dogfight. Taunton’s tries that day were scored by Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, now the subject of interest from both England and Wales, and Charlie Wright with George Worboys adding the conversions.

Formed in1861, making it the fifth oldest surviving rugby club, Sale FC is the parent club of the Sale Sharks team in the Premiership but competes as its own distinct amateur entity.

Coached by Director of Rugby Jonathan Keep, himself a formidable player in his time, Sale finished second to Cheshire rivals Caldy in National League One two years ago and third, yet only one point behind Cambridge, last season.

Playing in the traditional blue and white shirts, Sale FC boasts several players with Premiership rugby experience, notably veteran centre Fergus Mulchrone, formerly of London Irish, who now runs the Sale Sharks Academy. Plenty of their squad were involved in Sale Sharks’ Premiership Cup campaign which helps explain the Dogs’ lowly position in National One.

The Match Sponsor for this weekends fixture is long term supporter of TRFC A1 Windows and doors. The group will be headed up by Les Taswell with an impressive group of guests. We hope they all enjoy their day at Veritas Park with great food, plenty of laughs and what we hope will be an entertaining game of National League rugby.

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This Saturday the Taunton Warriors are also at home, welcoming their rivals from Imperial. The Brislington-based club lie in 8^thplace in the Counties Two Tribute Somerset table where as Warriors are on top of the pile with nine wins from nine outings and a phenomenal points difference of+527 (an average winning margin of over 58 points per game).

Kick-off for Titans vs Sale FC at Veritas Park is at 3pm. Entry is £15 for adults and free for Under-16s. Parking at Veritas Park on Hyde Lane costs £5 with free parking in the overflow car park across the road. Booking is essential for the exceptional two-course pre-match carvery, the envy of the National League and still, incredibly, just £20 per head. To book please contact the club office on 01823 336363. There will also be delicious hot pasties and coffees from the Proper Cornish pasty van and three bars will be open where new sponsor and sole cider provider, Sheppy’s Cider, is now on tap.

Taunton resident and rugby lover, Richard Kitzinger writes content for Taunton RFC’s club website and match-day programmes. His day job is writing Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney - he can be found at www.westcountrywills.co.ukor reached on 07504 991893.