Taunton Titans beaten by Lymm in National League 2 clash

The Titans produced a performance defined by resilience, adaptability and no small amount of courage, despite defeat at home, writes Mike Amos.

The Titans endured no fewer than four yellow cards, effectively competing for around 40 minutes with just 14 players.

The opening stages, however, were challenging. Four penalties conceded within the first 10 minutes handed Lymm early control and from the fourth, a well-executed kick to touch and driving line

out saw them open the scoring with a converted try. 0-7.

Matters worsened around the 20-minute mark. Full-back Reece Malone and centre Dan Martin both required on-field treatment before being withdrawn. Barely had the side adjusted when Ben Rogers also departed with a leg injury.

Lymm capitalised swiftly, moving the ball wide for their winger to cross and extend the lead. 0-12.

A first yellow card for the Titans followed shortly after and when a seventh penalty of the half was conceded on 29 minutes, the outcome felt inevitable: another kick to touch, another line-out win and another driving try. 0-17.

Yet, just before the interval, with 15 players finally restored, Scott Gibson seized the moment, finishing a well-worked move and Tom Putt’s conversion brought the half-time score to a more respectable 7-17.

The second half began much like the first ended for Lymm. An early penalty led to a quick tap from the scrum-half and a converted try, stretching their lead and securing a bonus point. 7-24.

Further misfortune followed when Jo Elsworth was penalised and, more seriously, knocked unconscious. His injury required hospital attention, the third such case for the Titans on the day.

Forced into yet more positional changes, Ewan Guy moved into the centres while prop Ollie Schuster-Wood shifted into the back row. The Titans’ numbers briefly returned to 15, only for another yellow card to reduce them once more. A flare-up between the sides resulted in further sin-binnings, leaving the Titans with just 13 players at one stage.

With six minutes remaining, Will Holmes, now operating at scrum-half picked up from a maul, he dummied cleverly before linking with Schuster-Wood. Carrying play deep into Lymm territory, the ball was recycled for Holmes to release Putt, who crossed and converted.

Moments later, from another maul near halfway, Holmes again provided the spark, this time sending Toots through a gap to score. Putt added the extras with efficiency.

From the restart, the Titans pressed once more, and Elliott’s pace down the stand side completed a superb fourth try — and a deserved bonus point — again converted by Putt.

At the final whistle, the Titans had fallen agonisingly short.