TAUNTON Titans started 2022 with a solid home win over Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday in the mud at Veritas Park.

It was a game for the forwards in Taunton as the conditions restricted the backs from throwing the ball around, however this suited captain and hooker George Gosling who ran in a hattrick of tries.

The final score was 24-14 in favour of the Titans and despite a short drop in concentration, Taunton were in control for the majority of the match.

The home side started on the front foot and were putting pressure on Darlington early, and in the eighth minute the visitors were a man down thanks to a yellow card.

Soon after that Taunton ran in their first try of the afternoon, George Gosling leading the maul over the line to get it over.

Jack Walsh missed the conversion and the score was 5-0.

Ten minutes after that Gosling scored his second in a very similar fashion, a driving maul took Taunton over the line and Gosling got it down, the conversion was missed once again but the score was 10-0.

Ralph Appleby pulled a try back for Darlington in the 30th minute, and it was converted by Garry Law in the 30th minute and that was all the action for the first half.

In the second period, Taunton had a change of jerseys and looked refreshed however Darlington were the team with the momentum.

They took the lead for the first time in the 48th minute, Joe Craggs found some space to cross and Garry Law converted to make the score 10-14.

However this snapped Taunton out of their slumber and they pressed on to retake the lead.

In the 54th minute, Greg Kitson scored perhaps the best try of the match when he intercepted the ball inside his own half and ran in down the wing to put Taunton back on level terms.

Jack Walsh added the extras from the sideline and the Titans were back in front, 17-14.

Then in the 63rd minute Taunton were pushing forward once more and from another driving maul George Gosling got down for his hattrick and a bonus point try for the Titans.

Walsh again added the extras and Taunton were up 24-14 with time running out on the clock.

 

Darlington to their credit kept Taunton from scoring any more points in the latter stages of the match and they too were unable to create any more chances.

The result means Taunton have completed the double over Darlington Mowden Park and takes them to sixth place in the National League One table.

Up next, Taunton travel to Rosslyn Park on Saturday January 15, kick off is 3pm.