RUGBY: Bentley out injured as Taunton Titans entertain Henley Hawks tomorrow (From Somerset County Gazette)

RUGBY: Bentley out injured as Taunton Titans entertain Henley Hawks tomorrow

1:50pm Friday 28th September 2012 in Sport

THERE is no respite for Titans with the visit of unbeaten Henley Hawks to Hyde Park tomorrow (3pm).

Hawks are averaging 54 points a game in National League 2 South and boast a defence that has leaked just six tries all season.

Last Saturday Titans lost 32-23 at Shelford, a defeat described by coach Tony Yapp as “more than disappointing.”

He said: “Having finally produced the fast, open, side-to-side ‘Total Rugby’ running game that we have been working for, we contrived to give our advantage away and gift Shelford the win.

“There are no excuses. We scored four fabulous tries in the first half, should have had at least two more and looked like champions.

“For more than 30 minutes of the first period we simply blew Shelford away. The loss of Jack Childs and Chris Bentley with injury hurt us a lot and I was not happy with my own performance on the day.

“We’re setting high standards in our approach and attitude in all we do at Titans. Honesty is high on our list of priorities.

“We had hoped to be in the mix at the top, of the table at the end of this season. I've not given up on that aim, but accept the four points lost on Saturday is a major set-back.

“It's going to be another tough test for our lads against unbeaten Henley this week but the Titans will be going on the field with the object of winning this game. I ask Taunton rugby fans to turn out in force to see how we shape up to the top team in the division.”

The Titans will be missing Chris Bentley for tomorrow's contest. The former Exeter Chief damaged a knee against Shelford and his absence will put extra pressure on his fellow lock Will Carrick-Smith who has been so impressive this season.

It was a long road back from Cambridge to Taunton on Saturday. The dream of what should have been a famous Titans victory was crushed by the reality of defeat at Shelford.

With just four games played, it’s been a tough baptism for Taunton in this season’s National League.

A stuttering win over Dings Crusaders following losses to Redruth and Hartpury, was not the record to strike fear into the Shelford faithfully.

However, in the first half in Cambridge on Saturday, moments of brilliance from the visitors silenced the home crowd as Titans took total control of the game.