Bishop's Stortford 38-29 Taunton Titans

TAUNTON Titans suffered their eighth defeat of the season at the weekend away from home against Bishop's Stortford.

In the National One Rugby match, Bishop's Stortford won 38-29 over the struggling Titans side.

The result leaves Taunton in 12th place in the league table with Stortford jumping above them into 11th.

The hosts started this match on the front foot and swiftly forced Taunton back inside their own 22.

From a penalty, Connor Lloyd took a quick tap and forced his way over for a try with only two minutes gone in the match. The scrumhalf added the conversion for 7-0.

Stortford kept the pressure up and, although Lloyd was stopped inches short of a second try from another quick penalty after good build-up work, backrower Austin Pope crashed over for a try with 19 minutes gone, again converted by Lloyd for 14-0.

Taunton looked threatening on occasions, and on one of those occasions, Charlie Wright seized on the ball to show an impressive turn of speed to burst through the line for a try after 25 minutes, converted by Louis Sinclair for14-7.

This seemed to take the wind out of the match and the score line remained unchanged up until the break.

In the second period, Taunton started quickly and Sinclair narrowed the margin to 4 points with barely a minute gone, when Stortford were penalised at a breakdown.

However, against the run of play, Stortford went further in front when Fraizer Kiff forced his way over the line from the base of a ruck for a try, converted by Dan Cole for 21-10.

Within 4 minutes, lightning-fast winger, Noah Fenton took full advantage of hesitation by Stortford's defence, when a Taunton pass fell behind their centres to seize on the ball and sprint round for a try and the score was 21-15.

Two tries to the home side in the next 7 minutes, though, seemed to take them out of sight, with a penalty try, as a maul was driving at the visitors' line, followed by a touchdown by Chris Smith.

Taunton were able to fight back and score two more tries, one a piece from Wright and Fenton as the pair both picked up doubles on the day.

In between those scores, Stortford scored a long range penalty to go further in front and despite a final period of extreme pressure from Taunton, the score line remain unchanged.

The home side dug deep and eventually pushed the opposition back to seal a crucial win for them, leaving Taunton with a long journey home with a defeat.

Up next for the Titans is a home match on Saturday, November 18 as Leicester Lions come to Veritas Park. 3pm kick off.