West Country Wills Match Preview Round 19 Taunton Titans vs Luctonians

Taunton Titans head into their last game before the mini-break buoyed by an important win at Old Redcliffians. Holding their nerve, the Somerset men saw out victory at Scotland Lane by 12-19 with tries coming from Charlie Wright and Isaac Dalton. The game saw a debut on the wing for Ozzy James who marked the occasion with a try of his own. Four league points was a good haul on the road in Brislington but Cinderford’s big home win over Macclesfield means that the men from the Forest of Dean sneak ahead of Titans into third spot by virtue of their tries bonus point.

This Saturday’s visitors to Veritas Park, Luctonians, suffered a home loss to Redruth 14-23 which saw them exchange places on the National Division Two West table with the Cornishmen, leaving the Herefordshire club in sixth on 54 points. Titans, on 62 points, are a couple of places higher. Although they have fallen away a little since they set the early season pace in the division, Luctonians will present a formidable challenge as they arrive for their first visit to Somerset’s county town. Their home ground, Mortimer Park in Kingsland, Herefordshire is perhaps most famous as the venue for one of the biggest surprises in county cricket when Middlesex – Phil Tufnell, Andrew Strauss, Angus Fraser et al – were upset in the 2001 Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy third round by the minor county amateurs.

Playing in black and white hoops, Luctonians are Herefordshire’s premier sports team. They have played in National League Two since 2019, regaining a spot in the highest level they have achieved in their 76-year history since their foundation in 1948, having previously enjoyed an 8-year stint in National Two North. Initially, in their early days, the club was comprised mainly of old boys of Lucton School near Leominster and they played their fixtures in a field behind the local pub, the Angel Inn. Amongst their number at that time was the club’s only England international, Douglas Vaughan. The flourishing club has since expanded to offer cricket, netball, cycling, archery, rounders and pétanque in addition to four men’s rugby XVs, a women’s team and both touch and junior rugby.

When the two teams met close to the Welsh border back in October it was another upset, though not of the magnitude of Herefordshire’s great cricketing triumph. Titans overturned the then league leaders 12-23 with tries from Toots and Rocky Prowse with the remaining points all coming from the boot of Louie Sinclair.

In Counties 1 Tribute Western North, Taunton Warriors have a weekend off but will be at home on the evening of Friday 21^stagainst Burnham on Sea.

The Match at the weekend will be sponsored by Summerfield Developments who are a main sponsor of Taunton RFC. We hope Summerfield and their guests have an enjoyable day again at Veritas Park. The Match Ball is kindly sponsored by Monkton Building and Developments.

Kick-off for Titans against Luctonians 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, providing the weather has not been too wet, there will be free parking across the road in the overflow. Spectators are kindly requested not to park along Hyde Lane itself – the mayhem that was caused by the parking for the Friday night game against Exeter University does little to endear the club to our neighbours.

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.

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