National 2 South

Worthing Raiders 19, Taunton Titans 25

IN wet, greasy conditions it was the side that made the least mistakes that was going to control the game and the score board, writes Keith Brooking.

The Raiders that started the brightest, and in their first venture into the Titans half they created the space for back row Kemp Price to power his way over. 

Fly half Matt McLean converted to give the home side a 7-0 lead after just five minutes.

The Titans replied with a couple of Gary Kingdom penalties before the home side went over for their second try when winger Sam Boyland raced away to score.

McLean added the extras once more and score stayed 14-6 until half time, with both sides losing the ball with scoring opportunities beckoning.

Taunton started to control the ball a lot better in the second half and had the home side under pressure, which resulted in prop George Head receiving a 10-minute rest for hands in the ruck close to their own line. 

The visitors made the extra man count, with winger Ollie Rice going over after Taunton had moved the home defence from one side of the pitch to the other to create the space for Rice on the outside.

Hooker Paul Davis then burst through the middle to score under the posts before Worthing were back to their full 15, and with Kingdom converting one it gave Taunton the lead for the first time. 

The Titans started to turn the screw at the set piece and it wasn’t long before they increased their lead, with Davis claiming his second off the back of a driving maul. 

Kingdom converted once more to make it 25-14 in Taunton’s favour with five minutes to go. 

The Raiders weren’t done yet and centre Jack Forrest went in for a try - the conversion opportunity was declined as the home side went in search of the win but failed to control the ball from the kick off and Taunton managed to turn the ball over to kick it out for the final whistle.   

Referee: Mr Adam Wookey
Attendance:  481
Star Man – Paul Davis (Taunton Titans)

Taunton Titans; Kingdom, Struminski, Mason (Capt), Fraser, Rice, Webb, Banks, Baker, Davis, Dalton (Wilman 73), England (Persey 57), Lugg, Fleming (Francis 73), Frost (Vakalutukali 53), Oliphant-Thompson (Prior 53 – 79)