MENTION was made last week after the Titans’ defeat of Albanians, and the gritty forwards display that came with that, of the need to build consistency into the side’s overall performances as the team builds for the middle third of the season’s fixtures, writes Dick Macey.

Last Saturday’s performance against Bury St. Edmunds, with the Titans dishing out a 50-0 beating, was perhaps early evidence of the development of a steely core so necessary if the boys are to seriously compete for a top two slot.

The visiting Suffolk side face one of their longest journeys when coming to Taunton and that necessitates an overnight stop which never seems to settle the players and so the visitors would have been on edge before the game began, especially as they have yet to beat Taunton, home or away.

Their apprehension would not have been helped by the fact that the Titans were on the board within two minutes of the kick-off through an unconverted try by skipper Nick Mason, and they looked decidedly ragged and unsettled throughout the first half.

The nett result was the Titans were 35-0 up as the referee brought blessed relief by blowing for half time with the try bonus point already in the bag.

Some personnel changes from the bench and a serious ear-bashing from the Bury coach brought out a different side for the second period and their efforts were much more purposeful.

In the centre and at full-back they had a couple of elusive and determined runners who worked hard for a breakthrough but the Titans defence held firm to the point that a couple of turn-overs on the Taunton line brought heartbreak for the visitors when they might have thought they were in with a sniff of a score.

Some might say such resolute defence showing early evidence of that steely core?

The Titans are blessed with an excellent squad of forwards in all positions, particularly in the back row where Jarrard Hayler is becoming a regular try scorer and turning in a real shift week on week.

But collectively they are becoming mean and supportive which provides a key platform for the side to build upon.

This weekend, the Titans travel to South West London to tackle an improving Barnes team and the cider men will be determined to put another win under the belts before they enjoy a week off prior to the epic game against the league leaders, The Rams, at Hyde Park on November 17, a game not to be missed!