TAUNTON Titans start the New Year with a home fixture and revenge certainly on their minds, writes Keith Brooking.

This time last season in the first fixture after the Christmas break the Titans travelled to Barnes and were beaten, which didn’t help any aspirations for that season, with the Titans then going on to lose a further five out of the 14 remaining games.

This time out the Titans will be fully focused on the task at hand and will be hoping to start 2017 with a performance of the standard of their in-form end to 2016.

But Barnes have always been a bit of a bogey side for the Titans, with Aron Struminski’s last-ditch tackle saving Taunton in the home game last season.

And it was a Gary Kingdom penalty and try seven minutes from time that helped Taunton to victory at Barnes at the beginning of this season.

Barnes are in need of starting the New Year with a bang themselves, as they are currently second from bottom, but they know that a couple of good results will see them out of the dreaded relegation zone, with all of the bottom six in danger.

After the players have had a couple weeks’ rest the coaches will be hoping to be able to pick from a full squad.

With a couple of long-term injured players back in contention – Tom Popham and Arron Gibbs both back in training – there will be renewed competition for places.

The match takes place today (ko 3pm) at Hyde Park.

***

In Western Counties West, Wellington sit firmly at the bottom of the table after their talented but young team found it tough going in the first half of the season.

They will enter the second half looking to add to their improving points tally, although staying up looks to be a tough call.

Today they re-enter the fray with a bang, travelling to take on second-placed Cullompton who are just three points behind leaders Devonport Services.

Wiveliscombe, meanwhile, have had an impressive first half to their season in the Somerset Premier.

They lie in fourth place, having lost just four of their 14 matches, but look unlikely to catch leaders Winscombe who are yet to drop a point.

Today they face a tough test at home to second-placed Weston-super-Mare.

In Somerset One, Minehead Barbarians probably have the best chance of promotion, lying in third, just one point behind Imperial Bristol and six adrift of Bristol Barbarians.

Their opposition today are Wyvern, from Taunton, who are having a tough year of it and are fourth from bottom - but unlikely to be relegated with Yatton and Castle Cary struggling to pick up points.

In Somerset 2S, Barbarians 2nds are comfortably in mid-table and will be looking to push on when they travel to third-placed Winscombe.

Wivey’s second string entertain bottom club Midsomer Norton 2nds.

Wyvern 2nds travel to basement Crewkerne 2nds in Somerset 3S.