HEAD coach Tony Yapp has said his plans to build Hyde Park into an imposing fortress for visiting teams took another step forward after the Titans fought back to beat Canterbury 38-34 on Saturday.

Yapp said: “We’re delighted to pick up five league points and our third on the trot at Hyde Park.

“Staying unbeaten at home for as long as possible is one of our key goals this season. We want to now win more home games and make Hyde Park a tough place for sides to visit.

“We have bigger challenges to come, and there are plenty of very good teams yet to play us at our ground, but we are happy with three wins from three thus far.

“The Canterbury game was interesting, with a half-time scoreline of 7-24 at home it would suggest that we hadn’t played very well.

“However, looking back Canterbury scored with every opportunity they had. We played some good rugby but our accuracy let us down a little in the attacking third.

“We didn’t panic, there was no half-time ‘hairdryer treatment’, just a very clear message of what we needed to do; be more aggressive in defence, not play too much in our own half, retain possession and be patient.

“Some of our exits in the second half were outstanding. The boys responded well to instructions and we played some of our best stuff to notch up 31 points in that period.

“The manner in which we came back shows a confidence that we perhaps lacked last season.

“We’re enjoying levels of fitness that allow us to push up through the gears and lift the tempo even at the latter stages of a match, which is credit to the work Lyndon has put in with the team.”

This week the Titans are on the road again when they travel to Gloucester-based Hartpury College.