Darlington at Veritas Park - Preview

It’s very much the business end of the season now for Taunton Titans and it’s balanced on a knife edge. After the elation of a massive home win against basement club Hull (73-18) there was a reality check on Saturday for Tony Yapp’s team as they went down 39-7 at Bishop’s Stortford. Meanwhile, although nearest rival Esher also lost without picking up any points on the league table, there was a bonus point win for fellow strugglers Chinnor against Cinderford moving the Oxfordshire side five points clear of Titans. This was perhaps against the formbook given that Taunton had won convincingly at Chinnor and lost only narrowly at Cinderford in recent weeks.

Still, it goes to show that you must take care of what you can control and that begins at Veritas Park this Saturday for Titans with the visit of Darlington Mowden Park. Situated on 55 points and in 8^th place on the table, the men from the North East have probably done enough already to guarantee their National League One status for another season. Taunton in 12^th will be aiming to make sure that the long journey home is not a celebratory one for Mowden and a big crowd like the last home game is encouraged to get behind the boys.

Formed in1946 after the war, Darlington Mowden Park has been in National League One since 2014. Their impressive Darlington Arena has a 25,000 capacity and is also home to the Allianz Premier 15s side Darlington Mowden Park Sharks. Their coach, Garry Law, is assisted by former Northampton Saints scrum-half Lee Dickson and the squad includes Taunton-born tighthead Carl Guest, Tongan international lock Talite Vaioleti. In the backs fly-half Ali Ledingham is a German international but the current incumbent at 10 is Aussie Matt Minogue fresh from a brace of tries at the weekend, whilst on the left-wing Morgan Passman used to play for Newcastle Falcons and has already scored seventeen tries this term including one in Mowden’s 33-26 home win over Plymouth Albion on Saturday.

When Taunton went to Darlington earlier in the campaign it was not a happy visit. Firstly, Freddie Fraser suffered the shoulder injury that seems to have ended his season and then Jordan Petherbridge was sin-binned, during which Mowden moved a couple of scores ahead of Titans. Although Charlie Wright and Chris Francis registered tries for Taunton, the home side were home and hosed, securing a 40-13 victory.

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The match sponsor for this game is main sponsor and long term TRFC supporter Somerset County Cars. We look forward to welcoming them and their guests to Veritas Park. The match ball will be sponsored by another long term sponsor and supporter A1 Windows and doors.

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This match will also be a special matchday as we welcome 150+ ladies who are joining us for our annual ladies day lunch.

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It promises to be a busy Saturday at Veritas Park with no further places available for the pre-match carvery lunch. The Titans will be hoping for a big West Country roar from the supporters.

Entrance to Veritas Park is £15 per adult. The fabulous two-course pre-match carvery lunch is sold out but the bars will be open and those with no carvery booking will be able to buy delicious pasties. Parking at Veritas Park on Hyde Lane is available and costs £5 per vehicle. Kick-off is at 3pm.

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