Caldy Vs Taunton Titans

At first glance this score line, Caldy 52 - Titans 31,  might raise the thought that this was a whopping defeat of significant proportions meted out by the top of the League Cheshire side against the Titans but those of us who were privileged to be there witnessed an epic, truly competitive game of rugby in which, with just ten minutes to go to the final whistle the score was 33-31 with the home side on the ropes and gasping for relief after a second half pounding from an exciting, committed Titans side.

Caldy began the game with a series of scintillating drives showing immense pace, drive and width and within 10 minutes were 14-0 up and the Taunton faithful fearing the worst, but after that initial burst the Titans came more into the game, showing their own  brand of expansive rugby,  and fought back with a try scored by the impressive young No8, Hallam Chapman, converted by the equally impressive Titans' out half, Iwan Jenkins. 

Caldy went further ahead with a converted try but by way of a penalty goal and then the award of a penalty try as the end of the half closed in the score was suddenly 19-17 and spirits were high in the visitor'scamp.    As is the way of things, a moment of relaxation let in Caldy for a bonus point converted try at the stroke of the whistle so the half closed out at 26-17 to the home team.

The second session began with the Titans closing the gap to 26-24 when the purposeful Titans' scrum half, Connor Banks, my Taunton man of the match, sniped in from the Caldy 22 to score and Jenkins obliged with the conversion and although Caldy pushed ahead with another converted try of their own, the Taunton tails were up.   Banks then single-handedly wrestled his way past a wilting defence, kicked on to touch down for his second score,  Jenkins duly obliged, and the score was suddenly 33-31 with hopes running high that the home side might be in for a shock defeat such was the tempo of the Titans' game.   Then suddenly in the last 10 minutes it turned sour.     The Caldy game plan which had been torn as under by the vigour of the Taunton boys' assault was suddenly resurrected and with a wilting Taunton side unable to contain the league leaders any longer. they conceded three tries in the last five minutes,  two converted, to find Caldy looking really pleased to have escaped what had looked like a real examination of their promotion credentials.      A great game of rugby,played with a wonderfully competitive spirit and which gave evidence of the continuing improvement

of the Taunton side as they work hard to establish their National League One status.

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