National 2 South
Guernsey 19, Taunton Titans 50

TAUNTON Titans recorded a handsome win in their penultimate match of the season, at already relegated Guernsey on Saturday evening.

The visitors had the best of the opening stages, but then fell behind to an unconverted try from Layton Batiste, following a lineout.

Yet the Titans had their first try on 18 minutes, Chris Francis crashing over, and Gary Kingdom's conversion edged them ahead.

Winger Matt Jess then showed his Exeter quality by outpacing the defence, making it 12-5 at half-time.

Come the restart, Guernsey scrum-half Tom Teasdale was sent to the sin bin, and the Titans took advantage with Lewis Webb and Connor Baker crossing for converted tries.

With the Titans down to 14 themselves, Matt Creber's try pulled it back to 26-12, but the last 15 minutes were dominated by the away side.

Francis went over for his second, with Sam Prior, Connor Banks and Freddie Fraser inflicting further punishment, and Kingdom added another two conversions.

The hosts only had a Dale Martin interception try to show for themselves, as they ended well beaten.

Taunton: Connor Baker, Chris Francis, Isaac Dalton, Corry Teague, Barrie-John Chapman, Dan Ogden, Watisoni Vakalutukali, Ben Oliphant-Thompson, Lewis Webb, Sam Baker, James Keay, Tom Popham, Freddie Fraser, Matt Jess, Gary Kingdom. Replacements: Alex Rodd, Alfie Petch, Sam Prior, Brett Harvey, Connor Banks.

The victory moves the Titans onto 99 points in the 'no man's land' of fifth place – 16 points behind fourth, and 31 clear of sixth – ahead of their final match of the 2018/19 campaign, away to 10th-placed Worthing Raiders on Saturday, April 27 (ko 3pm).

Before that, Taunton's 2nd XV (the Warriors) contest the Somerset County Cup final against North Petherton tonight (Thursday).

The match kicks off at 7.30pm at Bridgwater & Albion's ground.