TOMORROW sees the second of three fixtures which could define Taunton Titans’ season in the national league.

After narrowly losing out at leaders Henley last weekend, they entertain second-placed Dorking at Hyde Park (3pm).

Then on Saturday week Titans face Chinnor, the pre-season favourites for the National 2 (South) title, who currently sit in fourth place.

This set of fixtures will surely test the strength and depth of the Titans squad and by the end of the month they will certainly know where they sit in the league’s pecking order.

Dorking, who are new to the division after being promoted last season, have been the surprise package so far. But the reports up and down the league have stated that they are a big, uncompromising, direct running team which will surely test the Titans’ defence as well as their 18 month unbeaten league record at Hyde Park.

The Titans will hopefully be able to pick a similar team to that which took on Henley and so nearly came away with the victory.

But they will have to wait on a couple of fitness tests as well as the well-being of two players who played in the Barbarians v Combined Services in a Remembrance Day fixture on Tuesday night at the Rec in Bath.

The renowned Taunton Titans and Navy player Marshall Cormack added to his Combined Services appearances and lined up facing one of his team mates in Charlie Walker-Blair who made his first appearance for the famous Barbarians invitational side.

The game was won by the Barbarians 31-15 with Walker-Blair adding to a memorable evening by scoring a try.

Hopefully both players came through the game unscathed and will help the Titans to keep the fortress Hyde Park intact for another week.

Speaking after Titans’ 15-10 defeat at Henley, forwards coach Chris Brown said: “In terms of performance, I felt we put a marker down today.

“We did not concede a try and looked comfortable in defence. In attack, we created opportunities and in the conditions looked dangerous.

“I felt there was an encouraging debut for Jack Faulkner, who made line breaks and looked threatening. Charlie Walker-Blair was particularly effective at the breakdown and we took a lot of possession at line out.

“I cannot speak highly enough of the players. They gave everything and came up short. Sometimes it happens, but it is better to have fought hard and lost than not to have fought at all.”