National Two South

Bishops Stortford 22 Taunton Titans 26

TITANS came away from a superb game against Bishops Stortford with an impressive bonus-point win on the road, writes Keith Brooking.

Tries from Freddie Fraser, Dan Lee, debutant Mark O’Meara and Alex Brown completed a fine afternoon for Tony Yapp’s men, while Gary Kingdom kicked three conversions.

This was the first time Bishops had lost at home for over 12 months and it was the first time since they arrived in National Two South that any team has done the double over them in a season.

Both teams went at each other in the first 10 minutes, gaining territory in attack and thwarting their opponents in defence - however, the hosts were the first to find a way through and over the line when fly-half George Cullen put a well-placed kick into the arms of winger Nick Hankin, and he rounded the last defender to score in the corner. The conversion was missed.

It was then the Titans’ turn to attack and in the Bishops 22, fly-half Lewis Webb's kick was half charged down and ricocheted for centre Freddie Fraser to collect and brush through some tackles to go over under the posts.

The conversion was kicked by Gary Kingdom to give the Titans the lead for 7-5.

It was the home side that finished the half the strongest, going over for a converted try scored by Matt Tomlinson to lead 12- 7 at the half-time break.

The second half saw last season’s captain Dan Lee, who has joined the Titans on loan from the Cornish Pirates, making great impacts in defence and with ball in hand.

It was Lee who gave the Titans the lead once again, as he took a great offload from second row Duncan Hales to score under the posts for an easy conversion for Kingdom.

With a two-point lead, it was the Titans that now had a spring in their step and great hands in midfield, saw the backs created space on the outside for winger Alex O’Meara, on debut, to race over in the corner for 19-12.

A penalty for Bishops kicked by Cullen reduced the deficit, before Titans centre Alex Brown, who had a great game once again, cut a great line and broke some tackles to go in under the posts for the Titans fourth try.

Kingdom converted once again to give the Titans an 11-point lead.

Bishops came roaring back with a penalty try to make the score 22-26 with five minutes to go - but Dan Frost won a turnover and booted the ball into touch to bring an end to proceedings.