Taunton Warriors 35 Gordano 21

At the end of last weeks Warriors Report, you were invited to come and support the exciting talent coming through the Warriors.  After just five-minutes of the game the spectators saw Errol Pearson at outside centre take a well-timed pass before handing off his opposite centre and accelerating through the gap to completely outsprint the opposition defence to score the try in the corner.  Andrew Humberstone then sent a difficult kick from close to the touchline for the conversion and the Warriors had a seven-point lead.  From the restart the Warriors drove into the Gordano half but gave away the penalty.  Gordano kicked to touch, won the lineout and started to maul to the line.  The Warriors were again penalised for offside this time and the kick to touch was very close to the Warriors line.  The catch and drive was on and had proved effective for Gordano but the Warriors had Dylan Nation who out jumped his opposite number and the Warriors cleared their line.  Gordano then had a good patch of possession and showed the strength of their pack both in recycling the ball and when they did let it go to their backs some good support. The Warriors conceded another penalty for offside and whilst deciding what to do the Gordano scrum half took a quick tap and raced away for the try which was converted and levelled the scores.  The Warriors always looked dangerous in getting the ball to their backs.  On twenty-five minutes the backs having gone close were well supported by the forwards for second row Oliver Wrelton to go in for the try which Andrew Humberstone converted restoring their seven-point advantage.  Another penalty conceded by the Warriors and a kick to the corner by Gordano and this looked ominous however, this time Oliver Wrelton out thought and jumped to secure the ball and the Warriors were able to relieve the threat. With just one-minute of the half left another piece of brilliance from Errol Pearson saw him go in for his second try and with Andrew again converting the half finished with Warriors 21 Gordano 7.

It was twelve-minutes of the second half before we saw the next score. This was Andrew Humberstone who saw half a gap which he went for, with his strength and determination he shrugged off the tackle and raced for the line scoring a try which he converted. This was the fourth and bonus point try. The work and drive by the backrow was immense and when Jack Burnett took a pass which was man and ball in the centre of the pitch the thud could be heard as far away as the county ground. It was Jack who came out of it with the ball and his tackler in a heap on the ground.  He then set up the pass and the move finished with Ethan Smalley scoring the try on sixty-three minutes which Andrew converted.  A series of penalties in the next ten-minutes allowed Gordano to get back in the game when they kicked to touch, won the lineout and mauled to the line to secure converted tries on twenty-six and thirty minutes reducing their points deficit.  Whilst suggesting that the Warriors had a problem with conceding penalties so did Gordano.  In the match as a whole Taunton conceded fifteen and Gordano fourteen but according to the signals from the referee the majority of those for the Warriors was for offside and sadly for Gordano for high tackles.  

This was a hard-fought game by the Warriors and a very good win.  It was Dylan Nation’s first game back after injury against Chard in October.  Henry Webb acquitted himself very well in his move from centre to outside half.  Charlie Harris had his second game in senior rugby and is progressing very well.  And the team gelled and performed extremely well.  They are on the road to Bristol next week against Old Bristolians, kick off 2pm and any support will be greatly appreciated.  We will not see them at home again until 7^th March against Midsomer Norton and that week it would be nice to fill the stadium as there is not a Titans Match.

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