Taunton Titans Vs Cinderford

After the game members of the Cinderford Committee complimented us both on our hospitality and for the excellent game and the way that our players conducted themselves throughout.  They expressed how lucky they were that Taunton were not awarded the two penalty tries which they thought should have been and we concluded that there are days when external forces beyond our control are such that we can do nothing about them.  We seemed to be singing from the same hymn sheet without outlining what seemed to be a common thread.  I think that is called diplomacy.

Taunton had opportunity and for the first eight minutes completely dominated possession and play putting together a series of nine phases and thirteen phases of play.  It was only some outstanding defence by Cinderford backs that prevented a try by Taunton.  It was one of those sixteen penalties that Taunton gave away that allowed Cinderford to get out of their own half and kick to touch.  They then employed one of their trademark moves with a catch and drive which gave them another penalty which was converted by their scrum half Michael Austin giving Cinderford a three point lead.  From the re-start Taunton again pressed in the Cinderford half and it took yet another eight minutes for Cinderford to get out of their half by Taunton being adjudged to have given away another penalty.  The same procedure for Cinderford kick to touch, win the lineout, catch, and drive and this time Harry Hone, the Cinderford number 8 scored a try which Austin converted and Cinderford, against the run of play have a ten-point lead. Back came Taunton who once again camped in that Cinderford half, and it was only exceptional defence by Cinderford which kept Taunton at bay.  It was that number 8 which caused the problem as eight minutes after Cinderford’s last score, so Taunton were adjudged to have given away a penalty and so back to Cinderford to employ their kick to touch, catch, and drive and a try this time for hooker Nathan Hughes which was converted to give Cinderford a 17-pointlead. 

Eight minutes yet again and Taunton are really battering the Cinderford line when their maul is brought down by Cinderford centre William Baldwin, he received a yellow card, and the crowd were baying for a penalty try which never came.  Taunton pressed the advantage of having the extra man and were rewarded with a try by “Toots”.  The conversion was missed but Taunton were on the score board 5 points to 17 which is how the first half finished,

With just one minute on the clock in the second half one of the Wright Brothers, who were both “flying high” in the lineout in the afternoon, Harry on this occasion,  took a superb catch, and fed to replacement scrum half Jordan Petherbridge, who dummied to pass which opened a large gap at the back of the lineout, he ghosted through and his sheer pace saw him go 30 metres to score close to the posts, a try which Frankie dart converted.  12 points to 17 and Taunton seemed to be on the way back.  It was however not to be as Taunton were again adjudged to giveaway a penalty and Michael Austin converted for Cinderford to give then an eight-point lead.  Shortly after Jordan Petherbridge is given a yellow card and Cinderford have some extended amounts of possession and it became Taunton who displayed what can only be described as some excellent defence especially for the Wright brother and “Toots” all of whom seemed to have covered a tremendous distance during the game.  Within 2 minutes of Jordan returning Alex Rodd was given a yellow card and so Taunton were reduced to 14men yet again.  Again, a fantastic defensive display was carried out by the whole team to keep Cinderford away from the Taunton line but again they were adjudged on 70minutes to have given away a penalty which Michael Austin converted to take the score to Taunton 12 Cinderford 23.  Restored to a full 15 Taunton again pressed that Cinderford line and on 78 minutes when wave after wave of attack was being administered, William Baldwin again collapsed the Taunton maul and received his second yellow for the same offence and of course the colour of the card turned to red.  Even the Cinderford players seemed to think this was probably a penalty try, but it was not to be and so the game ended Taunton 12 Cinderford 23.

There were many superb pointers within this game, and we should have lots of optimism.  Frankie Dart at out half who got man of the match although for 10 minutes he had to play scrum half, and this allowed Jordan Gott to fill in.  This shows how these two players are so talented and interchangeable.  The back row was a fantastic cohesive unit, we should applaud how Brett Harvey is playing the whole eighty minutes and helping and encouraging two young second rows by example.  The competition for front row places is not only good for the Titans but also for the Warriors as they are prepared to turn out for whichever team.  We must never forget those in the backroom who are supporting these players.  I believe the future is bright and we will get well above our present position in the league.

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