Taunton 27 Esher 18

It seemed much of the same with Taunton giving away penalties and the opposition kicking to the corner, winning the lineout, and scoring a try.  The first of these came after just 4 minutes when former Titans player Andy Hamilton went over for the try which was not converted but gave Esher a 5-point lead.  Just two minutes later the same situation gave Esher back row Rouse the second try which was converted and suddenly Esher had a twelve-point lead.  Taunton were relying on scraps from a very dominant Esher, and it was from the fourth penalty given away by Taunton that Esher flyhalf Morley kicked a penalty to increase the lead to 15-points.  It was then game management which was applied with Taunton bringing on Jay Toogood at scrum half, his speed of, and length of pass from the base of the ruck gave the first receiver more space and more time to encounter the Esher defence.  Taunton soon were starting to dominate and fly half George Worboys, who had an outstanding game was able to start to dictate.  The forwards were rampant, and it was now Esher who were giving away the penalties with George Worboys putting Taunton on the scoreboard on the half hour with a converted penalty.  Still Taunton pressed and Esher gave away penalties, but Taunton changed their game management and instead of kicking to touch and trying for the rolling maul they opted for the scrum.  So dominant were Taunton in this set piece that they had been pushing Esher back and did so again.  Another penalty another scrum Esher going back and giving away another penalty, but this time Isaac (Sniffer) Dalton took the tap and drove to the line and with the help of the rest of his forwards was driven over for the try which George Worboys converted.  There was now just5-points in the game and from the kick off Taunton carried on where they had been before the try driving at the Esher defence and on one such drive Harry Wright broke through the defence and was able to hand on a well-timed pass to Shai Bonnick who with work to do showed just how quick he is to go half the length of the pitch and score close to the posts which George Worboys converted.  Suddenly a 15-point deficit had been turned into a two-point lead on the half time whistle.

The second half started with great intensity by the Esher attack. Their very pacey three quarters were really testing Taunton but the gaps we saw earlier in the season through the centre are no longer there with Harry Strong and Nick Mason really stopping their opposite numbers and if the ball did get past them, nothing was going past Gabriel Goss and Shai Bonnick. Gradually Taunton gained more possession and started pressing the Esher line. A scrum just outside the Esher 22 saw “Toots” pick up at the base and his shear pace left Esher groping at shadows however he was taken down just short of the line only for “man of the match” Charlie Rice to be in support to score the try which George Worboys converted to give Taunton a 24-point to 15 lead. Taunton seemed comfortable but having to work hard and both teams started to use their bench. Changes can take a few minutes to settle in and with just 15 minutes left Taunton gave away a penalty which Esher converted to reduce the difference in points to just 6. This meant that Esher were within a converted try away but with ten minutes left George Worboys attempted a penalty conversion from the 10metreline. The kick was on target but fell just under the posts however this was not the case just three minutes later when slightly closer he did convert a penalty to restore that 9-point lead. In the last 3 minutes Esher had two more penalty attempts at goal but without success and so