Friday Night Lights

With the Titans sitting second in the league table and Clifton lying third the clash between these two near-neighbours was always going to make for an entertaining encounter when they met at the Towergate Stadium on Friday evening (writes Dick Macey). What hadn’t been taken into account was the likely impact on proceedings

by the weather with a driving South Westerly wind blowing down the pitch and some relentless rain and these two elements combined to make things difficult but remarkably not sufficient to reduce the excitement.

The Titans were on the board within ten minutes through a try by lock, Chris Courtier, converted by full back Gary Kingdom, and they were showing signs of dominating possession.  However, the Clifton defence showed early defensive defiance which was to be on display throughout and despite the Titans dominance in possession the visitors were rewarded with a penalty goal scored by outside half Barnes to rein the rampant home side in. None the less the Titans continued to bang on the door as half time approached only to have the wind taken right out of their sails when a misdirected pass among the Taunton backs allowed a Clifton interception and winger Malpin ran the length of the pitch to touch down and give the visitors half-time advantage 7-8.

The Taunton boys had the wind at their backs in the second session and quickly displayed their coach’s half-time words had not been in vain,  In the space of eight minutes, with some thoughtful angled kicks from Kingdom, winger Jack Arnott scored three tries, all converted by Kingdom.   With prop, Isaac Dalton, adding another, again with Kingdom adding the extras, suddenly the Titan’s dominance was visible on the scoreboard as they led 35-8 with a bonus point in the bag and victory seemingly assured.    

Clifton had other ideas and for the last twenty minutes they went through the gears, scoring three tries through Uren, Sharp and Broden with two converted by Barnes and as the final whistle approached and the Titans were under the cosh, the referee intervened and in the space of three minutes issued three yellow cards against an under-pressure Titans defence. Whilst Clifton would not have been too content with the final outcome they had the satisfaction of taking home a  4-try bonus point and the Titans could bask in the overnight sunshine of being top of the league,

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