Natioanl League Two (S)

Redingensian Rams 14 Taunton Titans 40

TITANS got back to winning ways with a bonus-point win away against a spirited Redingensians Rams.

It was the Titans that got the first points of the day through the boot of full back Gary Kingdom, who put in a flawless man of the match performance, amassing 20 points with a 100% record from the tee.

With a slim lead, it was the home side that scored the first try of the day, after stretching the Titans defence and scoring in the corner through winger Sean McDermottroe, with fly half Luke Flower adding the extras to take a 7-3 lead.

Taunton then started to turn the screw and upped the pace, forcing the home side to concede penalties, which Kingdom kicked to extend the lead to 9-7.

With centre Toby East leaving the pitch with a dead leg, it was his replacement Nick Mason who scored the first try for the Titans.

After multiple phases of moving the hosts from one side of the pitch to the other, Mason found a gap just one metre out and flopped over, with Kingdom’s conversion extending the Titans lead.

This gave the home side the incentive they required and they took the game to the visitors.

The Titans nearly pressed the self-destruct button when under pressure in their own 22, and with the penalty count increasing it wasn’t long before the referee lost patience and sent one of the Titans to the bin for persistent infringement.

With BJ Chapman having a rest, the Titans were then reduced to 13 men, when second row Brett Harvey followed Chapman.

With the Rams camped in the Titans 22 it was the visitors who finished the half the strongest, keeping out the home side until the half time whistle.

With Lewis Webb, who was playing at 10 but wearing 24, it was he who added his considerable bulk to the scrum five metres out, and with his help the Titans managed to withstand the pressure until half time.

The turning point of the game came just three minutes into the second half, when Nick Mason went in for his second try, while the Titans were still down to 13 men, which seemed to break the Rams spirit.

Once again after several phased the Titans came around the corner and Mason’s ghosted through a gap to race in from just outside the Rams’ 22.

With both teams back to 15, it was Redingensians who scored next with a second converted try scored by full back Jamar Richardson.

Kingdom kicked his fourth penalty, before winger Aron Struminski showed his pace to skin his opposite number and score in the corner. With the score 14-33 the Titans pushed hard for a fourth bonus point try and were rewarded for their endeavors when Paul Davis crashed over.

There was still 10 minutes of the game to go and the Titans tried to add to the score but were denied by some dogged Rams defence.

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