Rosslyn Park Vs Taunton Titans

After a successful run of results from the beginning of December through to the home win against Darlington/Mowden Park on 8th January, the Titans travelled up to London last Saturday to confront the National One League leaders, Rosslyn Park, at their home patch, The Rock,  in East Sheen, near Richmond. Whilst the Titans knew what they would be up against the Taunton boys are a realistic bunch with a very positive outlook so they were looking forward to the encounter. and travelled in hope, writes Dick Macey.

Rosslyn Park have a 3G artificial surface pitch which is unaffected by the weather and so the game kicked off on a perfect surface and for the first 20 minutes the Titans took the game to the home side with some vigour.   Despite the fact that Park registered the first score of the game with a converted try after 6 minutes the Titans showed some real determined intent and went ahead 14-7 with two tries by Lewis Webb and Jack Walsh, both converted by Jack,  and hopes ran high as Park seemed taken aback and slightly muddled.   However, they are not runaway league leaders for nothing and it was at that point that their organisation and skill set kicked in and from then on, the Titans found themselves chasing shadows allover the pitch.

Park's talented back division took control and began carving gaps which they and their back row began to exploit relentlessly, resulting in them going in at half time In front 33-14.

The second half became a rout as the Park went further ahead with five more converted tries all scored in a manner which the large crowd could only admire and applaud, such was the quality of their back division's dominance and style.   At no time could the Taunton lads be accused of allowing their heads to drop or their determination to waiver but the sheer over powering quality of Rosslyn Park's attack was impossible to resist.  They had declared at the beginning of this season that their sworn ambition through this league campaign was to return to The Championship and based upon the evidence of last Saturday's performance they will surely be successful in that quest and this correspondent suggests that will be fully revealed in the weeks ahead - they are a class apart in National One.   But for all that the Titans grafted throughout and were rewarded close to the end of the game with a try by skipper, George Gosling, converted by Taunton's man of the match, Jack Walsh, leaving the final score 68-21 to the home side. 

This coming Saturday the Titans return to Veritas Park to take on old friends, Bishop's Stortford, kick off 3.00pm.

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