National 2 South
Cinderford 41, Taunton Titans 24

TAUNTON Titans suffered a second consecutive defeat and slipped further off the pace in their pursuit of third place, as too many mistakes ultimately proved their undoing away to league leaders Cinderford on Saturday.

Having lost at home to second-placed Chinnor last week, this was always going to be a tough test for the Titans, but the early pressure did come from the visitors.

They couldn't breach the defence though, and the home side countered, with Reuben Norville going over in the corner for an unconverted try.

The response from the Titans was good - Aron Struminski going over wide out and Gary Kingdom converting from the touchline to make it 7-5.

A penalty put Cinderford back in front, a lead which they extended when Ed Bogue finished off a fine attacking move under the posts.

The away side would not lie down though, and this time it was Brett Harvey who got the try, converted by Kingdom, bringing the score to 15-14 in the hosts' favour.

But then it all went wrong for the Titans, firstly as Harry Hone finished off a drive from the forwards, and then when visiting fly-half Lewis Webb threw a looping pass which was picked off, and Norville had his second try - the scoreline now 27-14.

Kingdom slotted a penalty to bring the gap down to 10 points at half time, but clearly there was still a lot of work to do.

The visitors made the best possible start to the second period, as James Kenny's try and Kingdom's conversion pulled it back to 27-24.

They were let off the hook once - a penalty coming back off the post - but not a second time, as a missed tackle proved fatal and the Cinderford pack rumbled over for another converted try.

A big driving maul completed the job for the home side, as Hone claimed his second and the league leaders won 41-24.

With Redingensians beating Canterbury, there is now a seven-point gap between them in third and the Titans in fourth.

Next Saturday brings Taunton's final home game of the season, against Tonbridge Juddians (ko 3pm).

Taunton Titans: James Kenny, Andy Hamilton, Charlie Tribble, Stu Persey, Andy England, Brett Harvey, Jamie Fleming, Sam Prior, Connor Banks, Lewis Webb, Jack Claydon, Freddie Fraser, Ollie Rice, Aron Struminski, Gary Kingdom.
Replacements: Jon Gatford, Dave Edwards, Tom Hooper, Charlie Samways, Jordan Paul.

There was some better news for Taunton Colts, who beat Nailsea 77-12 to become Somerset Under-18 League champions for the second year running.