Taunton Titans come from behind to beat Cinderford

The Titans set out their intent when Cinderford kicked off and the Titans drove with ball in hand into the Cinderford half and there they stayed for the next 10 minutes, writes Mike Amos.

Eventually, the breakthrough came with Cinderford conceding the penalty and Tom Putt converting to give the Titans the lead. 3-0.

From the re-start, back came the Titans camping in the Cinderford half and only some desperate tackling by Cinderford kept the Titans out. The game changed on 23 minutes when the Titans conceded one of only two penalties in the first half. Cinderford kicked to touch and won the ball which they mauled towards the line. They were stopped and managed to recycle the ball for their centre Sean Gardner to score the try which Jack Condliffe converted and totally against the run of play Cinderford were leading by four points. 3-7.

From the restart, back came the Titans and, if possession and territory won games, then the Titans should have been in front. Whilst they went close on several occasions the Cinderford defence held firm and the half finished with Cinderford holding a four-point lead.

The Titans kicked off for the second half and again pinned Cinderford in their own half and, after just 14 minutes of the half, Tom Putt converted a penalty to take the Titans to just one point behind. 6-7.

A yellow card was given to the Cinderford player and hopes rose that this may give the Titans an edge.

However, it was Cinderford who made the break and a superb tackle by Matt Whitlock on his opposite number stopped the break. The Titans then conceded the penalty and Cinderford kicked to touch in the Titans' 22-metre area, won the lineout and mauled towards the Titans line.

More penalties were conceded from the lineouts and more similar kicks and tactics eventually resulted in a try for the Cinderford back-row player Ben Carpenter which Condliffe converted to extend the Cinderford lead to eight points. 6-14.

This seemed to give Cinderford some belief and for only the third time in the game they were attacking in the Titans' twenty-two-metre area.

Cinderford conceded the penalty and with the most amazing clearance kick, Tom Putt from his own 22 kicked to touch into the Cinderford 22.

“Toots” won the lineout and the maul was on. Several times it was stopped but then Scott Gibson the Titans scrumhalf picked up the ball dummied and the gap opened up and with electrifying pace he raced through, a sidestep to the left and on he went a sidestep to the left again and with one player now to beat a right footed sidestep and in for the try. With the Tom Putt conversion, the Titans were now just one-point behind and nine minutes of the game left. 13-14.

From the re-start, the Titans again pressed and with just two minutes of the game left, Cinderford conceded the penalty which Tom Putt converted and the Titans had the two-point lead. 16-14.

Cinderford desperately tried to come back but the Titans held on for the win.

Next week the Titans are on the road again to Luctonians in Herefordshire.