West Country Wills Match Preview Round 25 Taunton Titans vs Hinckley

This Saturday brings the penultimate round of fixtures in this National League Two West season and Taunton Titans are at home for both Hinckley’s visit at the weekend and that of Loughborough Students in a fortnight. Titans are still targeting a third place finish and seemed to have five points in the bag – including a bonus for scoring four tries – to cement their position until a yellow card sin-binning a quarter of an hour before the end of the game away at Redruth allowed the Cornishmen to score two tries and pinch the win 29-27. Nearest challengers Cinderford comprehensively walloped Bournville to reduce the gap on the table to three points. Meanwhile, second-placed Clifton hosted long-time leaders beside the M5 and triumphed 41-26 to leapfrog them into the sole promotion spot by dint of the three extra bonus points acquired over the season.

At the foot of the table, Bournville’s defeat in the Forest of Dean confirmed their relegation, alongside Devonport Services. The remaining team to take the drop will be either Macclesfield or Exeter University, both of whom lost. Macclesfield trail the students from Devon by three points. The visitors to Veritas Park this Saturday, Hinckley, got up57-26 over Old Redcliffians and sit in ninth position in the division.  

Formally formed in 1892 at Hinckley Grammar School, Hinckley have been fixtures in National Two since winning a promotion play-off against opponents from National Three North in 2016. They finished solidly mid-table in7^th place last season but this time around spent much of the first half of the campaign in the lower reaches of the ladder before battling their way to mid-table safety.

Director of Rugby, Chris Campbell, has been at the club in various coaching roles since 2012 and the Head Coach is Emyr Lewis who combines the role with his position as Head of Rugby at Loughborough Grammar School. Titans will have their work cut out in defence as Hinckley – known as the Hornets –have been racking up big totals in recent months, including several scores in excess of a half century.  

Kick-off for Titans against Macclesfield at Veritas Park on Saturday is at 3.00pm. Entry is £15 for adults and free for Under-16s. Parking at Veritas Park on Hyde Lane costs £5 and there will be free parking across the road in the overflow. With only two more chances to experience it this season, don’t forget to book in for the two-course carvery lunch prior to kick-off. For any enquiries please contact the club office on 01823 336363. For those turning up for kick-off, there will be hot pasties and coffees from the Proper Cornish pasty van and there will be three bars open.

Taunton resident and rugby lover, Richard Kitzinger writes content for Taunton RFC’s club website and match-day programmes. His day job is writing Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney - he can be found at www.westcountrywills.co.uk or reached on 07504 991893.

‍