Taunton Titans vs University of Exeter Preview

Following Darren Allway’s excellent coverage on Twitter on Saturday was a roller-coaster. One can only imagine how it was at Avery Fields in Birmingham, watching it in person. The way the tries were run in during the second half, one could have been forgiven for confusing it with a rally at the Australian Open tennis the way scores came at one end, then the other. When I read that a solo effort from Nick Mason had given a 79^thminute lead to Titans, I was confident enough to go through to the kitchen and put the kettle on. By the time the tea was made, lowly Bournville had been awarded a penalty try to level things and converted a matchwinner to win the encounter 50-43.

I am sure – because I’ve spoken with a good number of people who have expressed this opinion too – that I speak for all Titans followers in saying how pleased I was to hear that Isaac Dalton had rejoined TRFC. It was sad that we didn’t get to bid him farewell when he, understandably enough, left at the end of the relegation season to go back to his hometown club in Honiton. Welcome back, Isaac. It’s great to have you home again in Taunton.

Mark your diaries for this weekend’s Titans fixture. It’s a Friday night clash at Veritas Park under the lights against University of Exeter. The students find themselves in the nether reaches of the National League Two West table, sitting in twelfth place whilst Titans (having played two games more) lie in third. Taunton cannot afford to take anything for granted, however, and Forwards Coach Damian Welch will know better than anyone where the strengths of the academics lie having been their Head Coach last season.

When the two teams met on the Topsham Road back in October it was an away win for Titans by 21-42, though the win was harder fought than the scoreboard may suggest. Experience counted for something in the pack where Elvis Taione scored a try against a team where he could have picked any two opponents and still been older than their combined age. Louie Sinclair had an outstanding game, showing his increased maturity at fly half and scoring a memorable intercept try and, whilst last season’s free-scoring Titan Noah Fenton ran in a score for the students, there was a pacy five-pointer from Rocky Prowse, his replacement on the Taunton wing.

Exeter University arrive having lost at home 7-20 to Redruth last time out. The Saturday XV which represents Exeter University in the National League is the university’s second string. Nonetheless, having won promotion to the National Leagues in 2022 this is the highest level that the ‘Green and White Dynamite’ has achieved in league rugby and they are not to be underestimated.

In Counties 1Tribute Western North, Taunton Warriors complete a January of away fixtures with a Saturday afternoon trip to Nailsea and Blackwell.

Kick-off for Titans against University of Exeter at Veritas Park on Friday night is at 7.30pm.Entry is £15 for adults and free for Under-16s. Parking at Veritas Park on Hyde Lane costs £5. The legendary two-course carvery is taking place with guests able to book tickets via the club office for tables of 2 to 10 diners with service upon arrival from 5.30pm onwards. 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.

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