DIRECTOR of rugby Lee Waddon praised Taunton’s adaptability after they took a giant step towards a league and cup double this week.

Taunton ran Exmouth ragged to record a 58-9 victory in National Three South-West on Saturday and moved 21 points clear following Old Patesians’ narrow defeat at Barnstaple.

And on Tuesday night, they ground out a 10-7 win in atrocious conditions at home to local rivals Bridgwater and Albion in the semi-final of the Somerset Cup.

Waddon said: “We really had to dig in and battle against Bridgwater.

“We probably could have done lots of damage out wide but the conditions made that impossible.

“On reflection I think we deserved to win but in those conditions, it was almost a coin toss. It came down to which side wanted it more and who had that little bit of luck.

“Both sides deserve lots of credit for the endeavour and passion shown.”

However, Taunton were able to get their free-flowing game going at Exmouth.

Waddon said: “We were back to playing some of our best stuff on Saturday.

“The defence was good but in attack we very clinical and really put them to the sword.”

Taunton’s big lead at the top means another two wins – one with a bonus point – from their remaining five matches will almost certainly clinch the title.

And that’s only if Patesians win all their remaining matches with bonus points, including against Taunton at Hyde Park on April 3.

Taunton are without a game on Saturday but return to action the following weekend away to Coney Hill, while Weston-super-Mare are the visitors to Hyde Park on March 13, the date they could clinch the title.

Meanwhile, Tuesday’s victory over Bridgwater came at a cost as player-coach and centre Simon Martin suffered a dislocated shoulder, which is almost certain to rule him out for the rest of the season.

TAUNTON will meet Weston or Clevedon in the Somerset Cup final – those sides clash next Wednesday.